# The Urban Form Standard **Rediscovering the Dimensions of Good Urbanism** For centuries, great neighborhoods from Charleston to Barcelona have shared a hidden DNA: the fundamental dimensions that make places walkable, adaptable, and economically sustainable. This book reveals those dimensions through an exhaustive quantitative analysis of urban form. ## What You'll Discover Drawing from over 100 neighborhoods designated as **_Great Places in America_** by the American Planning Association—plus exemplary international cities—we've uncovered the surprisingly consistent patterns that underlie successful urbanism. These patterns transcend culture, climate, and century. This isn't theory. It's measurement. We've analyzed thousands of blocks, streets, and lots to bring you: - **The Four Rules of Good Urban Form** that form the foundation for a neighborhood's future success - **Master Street Plans**: The most powerful (and most neglected) tool in city planning - **Deep Time Design**: Why boundary lines matter more than buildings - **The Mathematics of Adaptability**: How highly composite numbers create flexible cities - **Real-World Applications**: From greenfield development to urban infill ## Why This Matters Now We're building cities faster than ever before—and getting it wrong at unprecedented scales. While ancient Roman street grids still function perfectly after 2,000 years, many post-WWII developments are already failing after just 70. The difference? Understanding the permanent framework of cities: the streets, blocks, and lots that outlive buildings, businesses, and even civilizations. ## Who This Is For - **City Planners & Urban Designers** seeking evidence-based design standards - **Developers & Architects** who want to build and design places that last - **Public Officials** making decisions about their community's future - **Citizens** working to improve their neighborhoods Ready to discover what makes great places great? **Start with [[Chapter 1 - The Permanent Framework]] →** *** ### About This Project _The Urban Form Standard_ began at the Doug Allen Institute as an effort to quantify what makes cities work. By studying the physical dimensions of the world's best neighborhoods, we've created a practical guide for building better places—one block at a time. [[About the Author]] | [[Bibliography]] | [Urban Form Atlas](https://dougalleninstitute.org/urban-form-atlas/) _The Urban Form Standard is licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)_