Author and blogger David Prowler takes a lighthearted and pictorial look at what the layout of a town's streets unveils about a city's history and aspirations.
The way a city's streets are laid out reveals much more than just a planner's vision. It tells a story of a town's history. In his article, author David Prowler examines how street grids reveal a city's fears, values, past and future. For example, regarding San Francisco, he notes:
"San Francisco's layout ignores hills and even water. The city exploded during the Gold Rush, and the exuberant disregard of obstacles is reflected in the streets."
For a more visual excursion to street grid history, see his article in UrbDeZine.
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