Amsterdam's Canal District - Origins, Evolution, and Future Prospects - Grand Format

In terms of design, scale, and blending of eco-logicical and aesthetic function, Amsterdam's seventeenth-century Canal District is a European marvel. Its survival for four centuries is a testament to its ingenuity, reflected in its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010. The Canal District today is an extraordinary example of resilient historic design and cultural heritage in a living city, but it is not without present-day challenges : in recent years, its urban ecology has become subject to severe pressures of global tourism and gentrification.
Richly illustrated with photographs and maps, this edited collection brings together seventeen reputable scholars to debate questions about the origins, evolution, and future of the Canal District. With these differing approaches and perspectives, the book breaks new ground in our understanding of the District's historic design, its evolution over four hundred years, and the fundamental issues in future-facing strategies and policies.
While the main focus is clearly on Amsterdam, the discussions in this collection have an important bearing on broader questions of urban historic preservation and enduring urban design.