The need for a coherent picture of the place we live in is unavoidable. In this manner, the imperative to build the perfect city is intrinsic to our human being. Of course, this complete city does not necessarily need to be the 'City of God' that St Augustus dreamed of, but somewhere along the line it will need to be just as persuasive - just as compelling. Furthermore, this young profession may need a vision for more practical reasons. Looking back to the early years of the last century one has only to consider the power of the early egalitarian and utopian visions of Modernism or the Garden City movement to realise that if urban design is ever to mean something to more than a few professionals, it must create a vision that the population at large can buy into and cherish.
Successful movements create accessible dreams for society as a whole.
If urban design wants to become more than just a pressure group it will, surely, need to create an inclusive vision too. Yet if a dream is needed the only problem is finding one that fits. Of course, Lord Rogers thinks he has the answer. High density, urban settlements, public transport focused and driven by sophisticated post-modern tastes. Fresh, clean, modern and definitely urban, the trim and architecturally stylish estates of the Netherlands animate the Rogers document.