Smooth City: Against Urban Perfection, Towards Collective Alternatives

Synopsis

What happens when cities become too clean, too efficient, and too controlled? In Smooth City, architectural critic René Boer argues that the global pursuit of frictionless urban living has come at the cost of democracy, diversity, and public life. From Amsterdam and London to Dubai, Hong Kong, and Cairo, Boer examines how surveillance, privatization, tourism, and carefully managed public spaces are reshaping cities into polished environments that leave little room for spontaneity, dissent, or difference.

Blending architecture, urban theory, politics, and cultural criticism, Smooth City offers a compelling critique of contemporary city-making while imagining more open, imperfect, and genuinely public alternatives. An essential read for anyone interested in how our built environments shape the way we live together.

About the Author

René Boer is a Dutch critic, curator, and writer working at the intersection of architecture, urbanism, design, and cultural heritage. Based in Amsterdam, he is a founding partner of Loom: Weaving New Worlds and an editor at Failed Architecture. His work focuses on the social and political dimensions of the built environment, exploring how cities can become more equitable, democratic, and inclusive.

Publisher
Valiz

Publication Date
October 3, 2023

Format
Paperback

Pages
272

Subjects
Architecture · Urban Studies · Cultural Criticism · Design · Politics

ISBN
9789493246201