Alison Isenberg Livres

This book presents a major new urban history focused on the design and development of postwar San Francisco, highlighting the formative decades when U.S. cities evolved amid competing visions. Alison Isenberg shifts the narrative from the traditional focus on architects and planners to the often-overlooked artists and activists who were crucial in rebuilding San Francisco from the 1940s to the 1970s. Unlike previous accounts that centered on New York City and the dichotomy of development versus preservation, Isenberg examines the vibrant and contentious battles in San Francisco over significant projects like Ghirardelli Square and the Transamerica Pyramid. The large-scale redevelopment in the 1950s led to rivalries that fostered a diverse array of arts professionals, including model makers, publicists, graphic designers, and preservationists, who contributed innovative ideas to urban planning. This rebuilding period sparked critiques of the inequitable competition for urban land and ignited discussions on responsible land stewardship. Isenberg also challenges the notion of male dominance in postwar urban design, revealing how women played vital roles in city building long before the feminist movements of the 1970s. This evocative portrayal of San Francisco offers a fresh perspective on the ongoing struggles to shape urban futures.