Winner of the 2020 IPHS Koos Bosma Prize

American Colonisation and the City Beautiful explores the history of city planning and the evolution of the built environment in the Philippines between 1916 and 1935. In so doing, it highlights the activities of the Bureau of Public Works' Division of Architecture as part of Philippine national development and decolonisation.

Morley provides new archival materials which deliver significant insight into the dynamics associated with both governance and city planning during the American colonial era in the Philippines, with links between prominent American university educators and Filipino architecture students. The book discusses the two cities of Tayabas and Iloilo which highlight the significant role in the urban design of places beyond the typical historiographical focus of Manila and Baguio. These examples will aid in further understanding the appearance and meaning of Philippine cities during an important era in the nation's history.

Including numerous black and white images, this book is essential for academics, researchers and students of city and urban planning, the history and development of Southeast Asia and those interested in colonial relations.

About the Author

Ian Morley is an Associate Professor based in the Department of History at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. A graduate of the Centre for Urban History, Leicester University, UK, and the School of Architectural Studies, University of Sheffield, UK, he has published widely on the American colonial urban environment in the Philippines. The former book review editor for Urban Morphology: Journal of the International Seminar on Urban Form, he is currently the Membership Secretary of the International Planning History Society. Prof. Morley has also worked with media outlets such as The Discovery Channel, Voom!, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal Asia, and Agence France-Presse.

Reviews

Emerging from the long design shadow of Daniel Burnham's American imperialism in the interwar years of the 20th century, a cadre of Filipino architect-planners imagineered a subtly disruptive and hybridised interpretation of the city beautiful movement that intermingled patriotism, independence and modernity. In revealing a hitherto hidden story this intensively researched and nuanced study of city planning under decolonisation revealingly documents an intriguing new chapter in both Philippine and global planning history.

Robert Freestone, Faculty of Built Environment, University of New South Wales

Book Information
ISBN 9781032475141
Author Ian Morley
Format Paperback
Page Count 268
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 390g