In this text, Ford offers an account of the relationship between urban
architecture - especially vernacular architecture - and the spatial
arrangement and development of cities in North America. From office
towers in the central business district to commercial strips in the edge
city, Ford shows how changes in the built environment parallel changes
in urban economies and human culture. Focusing on ordinary structures
rather than famous landmarks, the book aims to provide a guide to
understanding the changing character of any urban landscape.