“PLANetizen has named “Squares: A Public Places Design Guide for Urbanists,” by UNM Assistant Professor Mark C. Childs, School of Architecture and Planning, among the top 10 books published in 2004.
PLANetizen is a public-interest information exchange provided by Urban Insight for the urban planning, design and development community. They provide a daily, one-stop source for urban planning news, job opportunities, commentary and events. Urban Insight is an Internet consulting and Web development firm experienced in the application of Internet technologies to the urban environment.
The list of top 10 books was compiled by the PLANetizen editorial staff based on a number of criteria, including editorial reviews, sales rankings, popularity, Planetizen reader nominations, number of references, recommendations from experts and the book’s potential impact on the urban planning, development and design professions.
In their review of the book, PLANetizen editors noted, “In ‘Squares: A Public Places Design Guide for Urbanists,’ Mark C. Childs has created an elegant, easy-to-read, and well-organized traditional planning handbook to help designers, planners, public officials, students, developers and community leaders understand the history and theories of public spaces, in order to create convivial places that meet the needs of their community…Collectively, Squares is a useful reference material for those interested in creating or improving upon public open space in their community.”