French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Levitte, Regard sur le design urbain. Intrigues de piétons ordinaires
Art and Visual Culture
Regard sur le design urbain - Intrigues de piétons ordinaires
Agnès Levitte
Thierry Paquot (Preface), Jean-Marc Ferré (Photographer)
PUBLICATION DATE: 24/10/13 PUBLISHER: Éditions du Félin SERIES: Les marches du temps ISBN: 978-2-86645-789-1 EAN: 9782866457891 FORMAT: Paperback NO. OF PAGES: 336 p.
Wallace fountains, Morris columns, Vélib' stations, streetlights, and benches—the urban furniture that is so familiar to us and whose ubiquitous presence is rarely questioned nevertheless possesses a history rooted in the city, an appearance shaped by the gaze, and a philosophy grounded in perception. Agnès Levitte brings these elements together in a fresh approach. Her sensibility as a joyful pedestrian strolling through the streets is matched by that of an erudite theorist with a keen curiosity for organizing the concepts that define what initially stems from mere flânerie.
Thus, this book reveals everyday urban life across all the dimensions of knowledge, sensibility, and pleasure.
Having previously directed the Nantes School of Design, Agnès Levitte teaches the history and theory of design. She is an associate researcher at CRAL (EHESS/CNRS) and continues her research on urban design and perception.
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An article about this book can be read on the nonfiction.fr website:
This volume examines the material culture of the modern metropolis, focusing on the familiar objects that structure public space and pedestrian experience. Moving beyond mere functional utility, the author analyzes how street furniture reflects historical developments, aesthetic choices, and social practices. By blending theoretical rigor with the observant eye of the urban walker, the study connects the design of public amenities to broader questions of civic life, spatial politics, and the sensory apprehension of the built environment.
The work will particularly interest urban planners, design historians, cultural theorists, and general readers curious about the hidden layers of contemporary cities. It offers valuable conceptual tools for understanding how municipal design shapes human behavior and urban mobility. Grounded in contemporary French intellectual traditions concerning space and everyday life, the book enriches our appreciation of the urban landscape, demonstrating how ordinary streetscapes continually mediate our relationship with the public sphere.