Street Plans
Why Some Streets Meet at Angles Instead of Squares
Learn how terrain and older routes shape angled street intersections, and spot whether a junction reflects a shifted…
The briefing shelf
All briefings
Explore the briefings by subject, from the geometry of street plans to the edges and shared spaces that give western cities their particular shape.
Districts
Courtyard Block or Perimeter Block: Two Ways to Shape a City Block
Courtyard block or perimeter block? Compare entrances, open space, and building edges to see how each form shapes a…
City Growth
The Streetcar Suburb and the Shape of Early City Growth
Streetcar suburb growth tied homes to fixed routes, shaping residential districts in recognizable bands and corridors…
City Edges
The Boundary Myth: A City Line Does Not Always Mark a Change on the Ground
A city boundary line may cross continuous streets and buildings. Learn how to read the map, spot subtle clues, and…
Public Places
A City Square, Read from Its Entrances
Read a city square through its entrances: notice how openings, paths, and street connections shape the routes people…
Our way of looking
A city is a pattern you can learn to read.
We follow the clues in streets, edges and shared spaces, making urban geography clear without losing the details that make each place distinct.