The Book of Codes: Anthology of Urban Design Determinants

Project Description

The result of this project, an anthology of the codes, laws and related documents is The Codes Project, a web-based, searchable archive drawn from a broad array of historical documents. Documents are selected from around the world and multiple time periods, from ancient times to the present. Together, these documents will constitute a rich cultural resource for urban planners, architects, and all others involved in the construction of place.

It is estimated that the virtual book, when complete, will include at least 150 sources. Original sources are scanned and accessed via the website in pdf format. In addition, the website includes a short summary of each code. Editorial summaries may also include commentary. To the extent possible, the web site also includes an indication of the effect of codes on actual built form.

While some codes consist of a single page, other codes consist of thick volumes of material. Therefore, in some cases, selected material will be scanned rather than the entire code. Copyright permissions may be needed for some codes, but the majority of materials, due to their historical nature, will be in the public domain.

ASU Project Staff

Professor Emily Talen serves as the Project Director. In addition, there is an editorial team who responsible for assembling and selecting the materials to be included in the web publication. The editorial team is also responsible for composing the content and organization of the website.

Funding

This project is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts under Grant Number 07-4200-7028, from August 2007 to August 2009.