Over the past decade there has been a growing understanding that the aesthetic attributes of our cities and towns have been spoiled in many cases, and that the quality of our surroundings have much to contribute to our well-being. This has given rise to the evolution of what is now called urban design theory. This book presents a holistic approach to the aesthetic renewal of our cities and towns. The author stresses that visual quality control is especially important in the case of new construction, where aesthetic planning must be based on a clear description of the existing city structure.