Mapping the Imagined Future: The Roles of Visual Representation in the 1945 City of Manchester Plan

Abstract

<jats:p>Visual representations have often played a crucial role in imagining future urban forms. In the aftermath of the Second World War, a noteworthy new genre of urban plan was published in Britain, most deploying seductively optimistic illustrations of ways forward not only for the reconstruction of bomb-damaged towns and cities but also for places left largely undamaged. Visual representations have often played a crucial role in imagining future urban forms. In the aftermath of the Second World War, a noteworthy new genre of urban plan was published in Britain, most deploying seductively optimistic illustrations of ways forward not only for the reconstruction of bomb-damaged towns and cities but also for places left largely undamaged. This paper assesses the contribution of visual elements in this,process with a detailed case study of the maps, statistical charts, architectural drawings and photographs enrolled into the 1945 City of Manchester Plan. The cultural production of these visual representations is evaluated. Our analysis interprets the form, symbology and active work of different imagery in the process of reimagining Manchester, but also assesses the role of these images as markers of a particular moment in the cultural economy of the city. This analysis is carried out in relation to the ethos of the <jats:italic>Plan</jats:italic> as a whole.</jats:p>

Relics of War: Damaged Structures and Their Replacement or Management in Modern Landscapes

“…Many of the pre-1947 plans were highly illustrated and quite specific in their physical planning proposals. They were often visually appealing and effective at communicating ideas of the future city [31,32], but lacked implementation powers. After the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947, which introduced radical new planning mechanisms, the situation was reversed.…”

The Routledge handbook of planning history

“…Considering the personal influence of individual planners, there has been some work on transnational transmission of ideas and experiences: this has tended to focus on the flow from the victorious Allies to the conquered Axis countries, or from Britain to the (former) Empire (Lai 1999;Amati and Freestone 2009), together with consideration of the influence in this period of communist ideas despite the Cold War . Scholars have also examined the nature of the plans and their use of various means of communication (Perkins and Dodge 2012;Gutschow 2013). In part this informs their effectiveness in conveying their messages to various readerships, and the use of large-scale public exhibitions to do so was, perhaps surprisingly, broad (Larkham and Lilley 2012), although some exhibitions had limited impact (Amati 2014).…”