Knox’ in-situ studies present 50 especially significant city districts from the whole of Europe and North America in words and pictures. His field research focuses on typologically outstanding city districts that have developed a high degree of individuality.

Cities are the symbiosis of diverse districts: the smaller units serve to provide an important identity function: business centers and amusement districts such as the City and the West End in London, technology and science quarters (Adlershof in Berlin), designer districts such as the Zona Tortona in Milan and the Fashion District in New York. Two other factors that play a major role are the conversion of industrial wastelands and new districts colored by a supranational capitalism or a sustainable or dubious planning – such as the Vauban residential quarter in Freiburg in South Germany or the Lower Ninth District in New Orleans. Paul Knox also always analyzes how and why these districts have turned out the way they are: outlining their visible and also their hidden and often blurred “biography”. A fascinating journey through space and time!

Knox’ in-situ studies present 50 especially significant city districts from the whole of Europe and North America in words and pictures. His field research focuses on typologically outstanding city districts that have developed a high degree of individuality.

Cities are the symbiosis of diverse districts: the smaller units serve to provide an important identity function: business centers and amusement districts such as the City and the West End in London, technology and science quarters (Adlershof in Berlin), designer districts such as the Zona Tortona in Milan and the Fashion District in New York. Two other factors that play a major role are the conversion of industrial wastelands and new districts colored by a supranational capitalism or a sustainable or dubious planning – such as the Vauban residential quarter in Freiburg in South Germany or the Lower Ninth District in New Orleans. Paul Knox also always analyzes how and why these districts have turned out the way they are: outlining their visible and also their hidden and often blurred “biography”. A fascinating journey through space and time!


Paul Knox is University Distinguished Professor and Executive Director of Long Range Planning at the College of Architecture and Urban Studies at Virginia Tech, in the United States. He is also co-author of the publication Small Town Sustainability.