Building Cities According to Art Principles

Camillo Sitte (1843-1903), an Austrian architect and art historian. His book City Planning According to Artistic Principles ("Der Städtebau nach seinen künstlerischen Grundsätzen") became the focal point of urban discussions, particularly in Austria and Germany, since its publication in 1889.

Can we avoid the ugliness of the urban environment created by the Industrial Revolution? Amidst the great upheavals experienced by our societies, can we create a contemporary beauty, a beautiful urban environment? It is certain that old cities are dead, but what are the aesthetic principles that allowed them to possess artistic beauty?