From theory-building to institution-building: the contributions of Anne Vernez Moudon to urban morphology

Abstract

This paper examines Anne Vernez Moudon’s contributions as a pivotal figure in the field of urban morphology. Employing a combination of a comprehensive literature review, personal interviews with Moudon, and archival research, the paper explores three critical aspects: (i) her research on San Francisco during the 1970s, where she developed a typomorphological method; (ii) her comparative analysis of the three major schools of urban morphology in the 1980s; and (iii) her critical role in facilitating the inaugural meetings of the International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF) in the 1990s. In doing so, it offers a nuanced understanding of Anne Vernez Moudon’s multifaceted impact on the field urban morphology, highlighting not only her theoretical contributions but also her role as a catalyst in the institutional evolution of the field.