Urban Form Atlas

A collection of urban form maps and infographics of great neighborhoods around the world.

Announcing Volume 2

We are thrilled to announce the launch of Volume 2 of The Urban Form Atlas! Following the success of Volume 1, we’re expanding on Doug Allen’s legendary course, “The History of Urban Form.” Together, we’ll explore the lineage of American urbanism, from Ancient Greece to colonial America and beyond. As professional planners and designers, we saw a need for a collection of scaled maps and analyses, one that can be used as a reference for current and future projects. There are a number of books on good urban design practices, but none that focus on urban form in this way. This project fills that gap.

Click here to support Volume 2 with an advance purchase

Similar to the first volume, each neighborhood will be featured on an 11″x15″ plate (10 in total) and will include detailed analyses of the neighborhood’s urban form (its streets, lots, and blocks), including block size and geometry, right-of-way widths, and alleys. A map of property lines (over a subtle aerial photograph) is shown at a scale of 1″=200′. Doug Allen asked at the start of his course, “How did we arrive here at the corner of 5th Street and West Peachtree Street [in Atlanta]?” This framing encapsulates our focus for Volume 2: we will track the lineage of American urbanism from Ancient Greece, through Italy and the rest of Europe, and finally into colonial America and the present day. Along the way, we’ll take “x-rays” of these great places, revealing the underlying urban forms that act as their foundations.

Some of the significant sites under consideration for this volume (subject to change) include:

• Miletus, Turkey
• Pompei, Italy
• Rome, Italy
• Richeliue, France
• Versailles, France
• London, England
• Savannah, Georgia
• Philadelphia, PA
• Paris, France
• Florence, Italy
• Riverside, IL
• Atlanta, Georgia

You can support the research and development of Volume 2 of The Urban Form Atlas through advance purchase of a printed set ($240) or a digital PDF ($60). You can also sponsor an individual plate of your choosing ($2,000). Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. All purchases and contributions can be made online and are tax-deductible. Anticipated completion of Volume 2 is Spring 2026.

Volume 1

This first volume features 10 American cities and neighborhoods. Initially funded via Kickstarter.

Thank you to everyone who supported us and to our sponsors Historical Concepts, Architectural Overflow, and DPZ!

Digital and printed versions of Volume 1 are still available for purchase. Proceeds support the Institute.

Cities and neighborhoods included in Volume 1:

• • New York NY – West Village
  • Boston MA – Back Bay
  • Charleston SC – South of Broad
  • Los Angeles CA – Arts District
  • Minneapolis MN – Linden Hills
  • Santa Fe NM – Downtown
  • St. Augustine FL – Downtown
  • New Orleans LA – Marigny
  • Lake Oswego OR – First Addition
  • Austin TX – East Austin