The Living City - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

The Living City

J.M. Syken

Course Outline

Through the viewing of archival/documentary film/s produced in the 1930s/40s/50s, we will examine the development and operation of mid-20th Century city/s with a focus on New York City – America’s (and the western hemisphere’s) largest city. We will begin with a review of how cities grow based on geography, commerce, population movements, technological advancements etc.

As well, we will examine the functions of a city’s infrastructure including water and power supply, transportation (roads, bridges, subways, commuter trains, ship terminals and airports) and commerce (i.e. outdoor advertising). We’ll also examine the two main means of communication at mid-century; radio and newspapers, and look at the critical issue of adequate housing in a large city.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Understand/appreciate the growth and development of cities;
Understand/appreciate the infrastructure needs of a city;
Understand/appreciate the transportation needs of a city;
Understand/appreciate the commerce and industry of a city;
Understand/appreciate the means of communication of a city; and
Understand/appreciate the housing needs of a city.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for architects, engineers, contractors and other design/construction professionals.

Benefit to Attendees

The attendee/s will gain an intimate knowledge and insight into the history and technology that created the modern city in the middle of the 20th Century.

Course Introduction

The course incorporates the viewing of several archival/documentary films broken down as follows;

Part 1 – Development
Part 2 – Infrastructure
Part 3 – Transportation
Part 4 – Commerce
Part 5 – Communications
Part 6 – Housing

Part 1 examines the development of cities based on location, need etc. Part 2 examines the infrastructure of a city including water and electrical power supply and the operation of city streets. Part 3 examines the transportation needs of a city including road, rail, subway, bus, ship and airplane. Part 4 examines the commercial needs of a city with a focus on outdoor advertising (before the television age). Part 5 examines both print and radio communication and Part 6 focuses on the critical issue of housing in a large American city at mid-century.

Course Content

Part 1 – Development;
TITLE: Growth of Cities (1941)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/growth_of_cities
DURATION: 10:40
Part 2 – Infrastructure;
TITLE: City Water Supply (1941)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/CityWate1941
DURATION: 10:39
TITLE: My Dad’s Company (1946)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/MyDadsCo1946
DURATION: 21:35

TITLE: Seeing Green (1937)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/SeeingGr1937
DURATION: 09:04
Part 3 – Transportation;
TITLE: Arteries of New York City (1941)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Arteries1941
DURATION: 09:27
TITLE: Third Avenue El (1955)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/ThirdAve1950
DURATION: 10:34
TITLE: Manhattan Waterfront (1936)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/ManhattanWat
DURATION: 10:21
TITLE: London Airport (1949)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/london_airport_TNA
DURATION: 09:29
Part 4 – Commerce;
TITLE: Behind the Bright Lights (1935)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/Behindth1935
DURATION: 07:09
TITLE: To Market, To Market – Part 1 (1942)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/ToMarket1942
DURATION: 20:10
TITLE: To Market, To Market – Part 2 (1942)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/ToMarket1942_2
DURATION: 04:37
Part 5 – Communications;
TITLE: On the Air (1937)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/OntheAir1937
DURATION: 09:55
TITLE: 17 Days: The Story of Newspaper History in the Making (1945)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/17DaysTh1945
DURATION: 16:33
Part 6 – Housing;
TITLE: For the Living (1949)
LINK: http://archive.org/details/FortheLi1949
DURATION: 21:09

Course Summary

Humans are herd animals; we need to be with and interact with others of our species on a daily basis. Nowhere is that more easily achieved than in a modern city. The poet wrote: No Man is an Island but, paradoxically, some of the greatest cities of the world are isolated; geographically speaking that is (i.e. Manhattan). Cities are a catalyst for social, economic cultural and technological change. By necessity, they must adapt themselves to the realities of human needs on a large scale. They are always a work-in-progress, ever changing in order to fulfill their great purpose: bring people together in work, school and play in order that they may realize their full potential as human beings.

Related Links

For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-I8GDklsN4
(Film - "Taken for a Ride" - 56:24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sjb4D7zLlc4
Film: "Story of a City: New York" (1946) - 16:11)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6LzB6rMDtA&feature=youtu.be
(Film: Where Does NYC's Trash Go? - 07:57)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MlyAvUfh8E
(Film: Why the East Sides of Cities are Poorer than the West - 03:41)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi6r3hZe5Tg
(Film: City of the Future: Singapore - 44:24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1jHdnZ2U3o
(Film: The First Cities in History - 46:56)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7URYYiNdbXQ
(Film: How Cities Work: Water - 49:59)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxtx0j--dUY
(Film: Industrial Revelations Europe: The City - 23:22)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmtKv2VUwOo
(Film: The Great Skyline Transformations by 2025 - 06:34)

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.