The readable city

Urbanistic, sociological and philosophical questions concerning the relationship between the individual and the city

Abstract

The aim of the study is the philosophical interpretation of the diverse relationship between the individual and the urban space in regard to the disciplines of urbanism, architectural theory and urban sociology. Our investigation has three main aspects – philosophical, urbanistic and theory of architecture. These are complemented with aspects of urban, cultural and literary history. The fundament of the urbanistic approach is the theory elaborated by the North American urban planner Kevin Lynch, in his book The
Image of the City, published in 1960. In the article the nature of urban life appears as an essential problem within the framework of modern and „postmodern” reality, which becomes relevant in respect of of the relationship between the individual citizens and
the urban space and built environment interpreted as the „surrounding world” for them. The conclusion of the study outlines a possible future of big cities, taking into account the diversity of social stratification, individual value choices and the manifold of lifestyles derived from these factors. In this context, the controlling role of political power has crucial role, which always acts against the spontaneous organization of urban existence. The methodological principle of the study is an interdisciplinary approach to urbanism, which can contribute to a more accurate understanding of the relationship between the individual and the rapidly changing surrounding world.