A theoretical assessment of the 'neotraditional' settlement form by dimensions of performance

The 'neotraditional' town is receiving increasing popular, professional, and scholarly attention. Its proponents argue that its design features provide a viable alternative to the modern city and its sprawling suburbs. That critical and normative argument is assessed in this paper by means of Lynch's <I>A Theory of Good City Form </I>and the five performance dimensions given therein. The theory aids in synthesizing otherwise disparate elements of the neotraditional discourse, while subjecting it to a comprehensive and normative critique. The paper is concluded with an assessment of the neotraditional town design in deference to the performance dimensions.