Three Significant developments but no paradigm shifts

The history of modern urban planning dates from 1850’s. There have been a number of important shifts in town planning theory since the end of Second World War in 1945. Although there has been some changes in planning theory but it still needs some answer to justify the questions arises during the trans formative revolutionary process. Such questions are like what have been the most significant changes? And how significant have their changes been?

To justify these questions Nigel Taylor, a principal lecturer in school of planning and architecture and also a author of our week 11 seminar articles named as “Anglo- American Town Planning Theory since 1945: Three Significant developments but no paradigm shifts” has given his overview of evolution of town planning thoughts since 1945 and an interpretation of the most significant shifts in planning thought over this period. The development of planning theory has been started from Britain and North America but the revolutionary thoughts and ideas have been influential elsewhere.

According to Taylor there has been three major shift occurred in planning theory since 1945. The first one was the shift from the urban design tradition of planning to the systems and rational process views of planning, emerged during 1960s. The second was a shift from a substantive to a procedural conception of planning, evolved further through 1970s and 1980s. Since then planner were not only designer, they were known by facilitator, which takes other people views to make planning judgement. The third one was shift from the modernist to postmodernist ways of thinking. Planners role now became more managerial rather just designer.

Although there have been significant shifts in planning thought since 1945, there have also been significant continuities. Therefore, the shifts in town planning thought over this period can be regarded as development rather than as a paradigm shift of planning.