
A Vigorous Institution
The Living Legacy of Patrick Geddes
Walter Stephen(Editor)
Luath Press Ltd
Will be published approx. on 1. March 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-905222-88-9 (ISBN)
Description
Patrick Geddes (1854-1932) was a polymath. Gardener, biologist, conservationist, town planner, warrior for peace, social evolutionist; he achieved an incredible amount for one man. This book takes a new look at Geddes' life, drawing on newly discovered material to try to come to an understanding of Geddes' drive and success. How much of an anarchist was he? How influential were his home and childhood experiences? Why did he change his name and why - until the publication of this book - was his birth site shrouded in mystery?
'He was one of the outstanding thinkers of his generation, not merely in the world, and not only one of the greatest Scotsmen of the past century but in our entire history.' - Hugh Macdiarmid.
'One might get the impression that Professor Geddes is a vigorous institution, rather than a man.' - Lewis Mumford.
'He was one of the outstanding thinkers of his generation, not merely in the world, and not only one of the greatest Scotsmen of the past century but in our entire history.' - Hugh Macdiarmid.
'One might get the impression that Professor Geddes is a vigorous institution, rather than a man.' - Lewis Mumford.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
294 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-905222-88-9 (9781905222889)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
WALTWER STEPHEN is a former Chairman of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust. Arthur Geddes supervised his university dissertation. Influenced by Patrick Geddes, he set up and ran for 20 years the first successful Urban Studies Centre in Britain, in Cannonball House, apex of a triangle whose other corners are the Outlook Tower and Ramsay Garden. Castlehill Urban Studies Centre was closed to make way for the Press Office for the new Scottish Parliament. aubrey manning is Emeritus Professor of Natural History, University of Edinburgh, with a long career specialising in the study of animal behaviour. He was influential in making natural history accessible by setting up 'twinning' arrangements between undergraduates and teachers and pupils in local schools. Over the last decade he has proved a popular and authoritative presenter of tv and radio series such as Earth Story, Talking Landscapes, Landscape Mysteries and The Sounds of Life.
JAMES MACKINNON is Chief Planner of the Scottish Executive.
MIKE SMALL is the editor of the online Journal of Civics and Generalism (www.patrickgeddes.co.uk) and has been researching, publishing, writing and lecturing on Patrick Geddes since 1995. His interests lie in applying Geddes's ideas through bioregionalism, communalism and direct action.
KENNY MUNRO is a freelance arts consultant and sculptor, happy to be known as a visual thinker and 'creative irritant'. His activities are diverse; working with schools, examining phosphorescent marine plankton and currently exploring international relationships between river communities in Scotland, Australia and India. Once chairman of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop he promotes the role of the arts at the centre of every community as an empowering tool, stimulating practical cross curricular education. His sculptural homage to Sir Patrick Geddes, a granite and bronze pillar entitled 'Evergreen', can be viewed at Rodney Garden, on the river walkway in Perth.
FRANK SPAVEN studied geography with Arthur Geddes, PG's younger son, and was one of the original Patrick Geddes Trustees. As a civil servant at the Scottish Office and the first head of planning at the Highlands and Islands Development Board he was influential in public transport matters. Unsuccessful in the 'McPuff' campaign to keep the Strathmore line open, his critique of the Beeching proposals of 1963 was devastating. He was instrumental in saving the bulk of the Highland rail network from closure. To the end he was active in promoting the living legacy of Sir Patrick Geddes.
ANNE-MICHELLE SLATER is a lecturer at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen. She is interested in Geddes, as his views, exploits and endeavours regularly appear in seemingly unrelated areas of her life: a perfect example of which is the marine station at Cowie. She believes in learning by doing and gets students out of the classroom whenever possible, something of which she hopes Geddes would have approved.
SOFIA LEONARD is a Trustee of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust. For ten years she was Director of the Patrick Geddes Centre for Planning Studies in the Outlook Tower and has an unrivalled knowledge of Geddes's works. She has travelled extensively investigating the legacy of Patrick Geddes.
JAMES MACKINNON is Chief Planner of the Scottish Executive.
MIKE SMALL is the editor of the online Journal of Civics and Generalism (www.patrickgeddes.co.uk) and has been researching, publishing, writing and lecturing on Patrick Geddes since 1995. His interests lie in applying Geddes's ideas through bioregionalism, communalism and direct action.
KENNY MUNRO is a freelance arts consultant and sculptor, happy to be known as a visual thinker and 'creative irritant'. His activities are diverse; working with schools, examining phosphorescent marine plankton and currently exploring international relationships between river communities in Scotland, Australia and India. Once chairman of Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop he promotes the role of the arts at the centre of every community as an empowering tool, stimulating practical cross curricular education. His sculptural homage to Sir Patrick Geddes, a granite and bronze pillar entitled 'Evergreen', can be viewed at Rodney Garden, on the river walkway in Perth.
FRANK SPAVEN studied geography with Arthur Geddes, PG's younger son, and was one of the original Patrick Geddes Trustees. As a civil servant at the Scottish Office and the first head of planning at the Highlands and Islands Development Board he was influential in public transport matters. Unsuccessful in the 'McPuff' campaign to keep the Strathmore line open, his critique of the Beeching proposals of 1963 was devastating. He was instrumental in saving the bulk of the Highland rail network from closure. To the end he was active in promoting the living legacy of Sir Patrick Geddes.
ANNE-MICHELLE SLATER is a lecturer at the School of Law, University of Aberdeen. She is interested in Geddes, as his views, exploits and endeavours regularly appear in seemingly unrelated areas of her life: a perfect example of which is the marine station at Cowie. She believes in learning by doing and gets students out of the classroom whenever possible, something of which she hopes Geddes would have approved.
SOFIA LEONARD is a Trustee of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust. For ten years she was Director of the Patrick Geddes Centre for Planning Studies in the Outlook Tower and has an unrivalled knowledge of Geddes's works. She has travelled extensively investigating the legacy of Patrick Geddes.
Editor
Contributions
Content
Illustrations - Colour Plates 7
Illustrations - Figures 9
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
Walter Stephen
The Regeneration of Edinburgh by Patrick Geddes 27
Aubrey Manning
Making Planning Respected and Respectable: 31
Lessons from Geddes
James Mackinnon
Universalism and the Genus Loci: Geddes in Cyprus, Italy, 41
Catalonia and Japan
Mike Small
Bengal Boats and Rickshaw Roads 57
Kenny Munro
Overkill 71
Frank Spaven
Dunbar to Berwick: A Special Part of the East Coast Main Line 79
Frank Spaven
Where was Peter Geddes Born? 85
Walter Stephen
The Light Before the Darkness 103
Miss Geddes's Dresden Establishment 121
Walter Stephen
Through A Glass, Clearly: Behind the Photographs of the 135
First Survey of Edinburgh by Patrick Geddes
Sofia Leonard
Cartoons by Hendrik Willem Van Loon: Geddes, 155
Van Loon and Mumford
Walter Stephen
A Geddes Chronology 169
Select Bibliography 173
Illustrations - Figures 9
Acknowledgements 11
Introduction 13
Walter Stephen
The Regeneration of Edinburgh by Patrick Geddes 27
Aubrey Manning
Making Planning Respected and Respectable: 31
Lessons from Geddes
James Mackinnon
Universalism and the Genus Loci: Geddes in Cyprus, Italy, 41
Catalonia and Japan
Mike Small
Bengal Boats and Rickshaw Roads 57
Kenny Munro
Overkill 71
Frank Spaven
Dunbar to Berwick: A Special Part of the East Coast Main Line 79
Frank Spaven
Where was Peter Geddes Born? 85
Walter Stephen
The Light Before the Darkness 103
Miss Geddes's Dresden Establishment 121
Walter Stephen
Through A Glass, Clearly: Behind the Photographs of the 135
First Survey of Edinburgh by Patrick Geddes
Sofia Leonard
Cartoons by Hendrik Willem Van Loon: Geddes, 155
Van Loon and Mumford
Walter Stephen
A Geddes Chronology 169
Select Bibliography 173