Reflections

In the last decade, the trend changed from 'mass housing' to 'housing by the masses'. I
would not be surprised if in the next decade, the trend changed from 'mass transport' to
'transport by the masses'. With the design of pollution free cars (doing 100 miles per
gallon) already on the drawing board, the cars may still have the last laugh before the
turn of the century. The least we can do is to keep our options open.
The book contains some of Correa's articles written almost two decades ago. Since
then, the perception of cities (both by Correa and others) has considerably changed.
Therefore, at times, some of his propositions (like New Bombay or MRT and his
allusions to Akbar being a great builder or to the creative instincts of Hindemith) do
not square up with his propositions for housing. Nor do they share the same aesthetics.
But the book is to be welcomed, for it is written and illustrated in a simple and concise
manner. It is accessible even to the lay reader. And it is an important contribution,
because cities concern citizens and not just planners. Citizens must get concerned if
the crisis of cities is to be dealt with successfully.
DEBONAIR – April '86
56