Cities Quote by Robert Hughes
“Everything that would be said against the Eixample's heirs, from Le Corbusier's 'ville radieuse' to Oscar Niemeyer's Brasilia, was already said, with far less justice, about the Eixample itself. And all its critics concurred that the basic mistake was to have left the planning of a city in the hands of a socialist.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Shock of the New, 1980
Critics claim the Eixample’s planning failed because it was left to socialist ideals, echoing earlier critiques of modernist cities.
In simple terms: Eixample criticized for socialist planning.
Key Takeaway
Recognize political influences on urban design.
Themes
urban planning
politics
modernism
critique
Mood
analytical
critical
reflective
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- city council meetings
- architecture courses
- public policy debates
- community planning
- urban redevelopment
Key Concepts
socialist planning
modernist ideals
urban critique
Questions to Reflect On
- How do political ideologies shape city layouts?
- What alternatives could balance equity and livability?
A Different Perspective
Critics may overlook benefits of mixed-use, human-scale design.
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