The Horizontal Metropolis: A Radical Project

We usually think of cities as dense and vertical—but in reality most cities extend vast distances in a more horizontal fashion, with less density and lower-rising buildings. This book invites us to rethink the relationship between that center and its periphery, revealing that dispersed condition as a potential asset rather than a limit, offering the possibility of constructing a sustainable and innovative new urban dimension. Taking up the concept of “desakota,” which describes areas—typically occurring in Asia—situated outside the traditional urban zone, The Horizontal Metropolis investigates such areas alongside examples in the United States, Italy, and Switzerland, highlighting the advantages of the concept and its relevance to economic, ecological, and social questions. 

Chiara Cavalieri is an architect and urbanist. She works as a researcher and lecturer at Università IUAV di Venezia and as a post-doctoral researcher at EPFL in Lausanne. Paola Viganò is a cofounder of the Milano-based urban design firm Studio 015. She also teaches as a professor of urban theory and design at at Università IUAV di Venezia and at EPFL in Lausanne.