Europe Code of Hammurabi (3rd BC) Author: Hammurabi, King of BabylonDate: 3rd Millenium, B.C.Publisher: T. & T. Clark, EdinburghTranslation: C.H.W. Johns, M.A.Source: The Project GutenbergSelections: "Introduction Text, sections 228 - 233"Description: This is the best-preserved ancient law code, enacted by the sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi. It includes laws about the liabilities of builders. Plato's Laws, Greece (360 BC) Author: PlatoDate: 360 BC:Source: Public domain, available hereSelections: Book VIDescription: Laws governing the construction of new cities Building Act of London, Britain (1774) Author: William MeymottDate: 1774Source: Eighteenth century collections online; uiuc librarySelections: Full text, 27 pages plus an indexDescription: A comprehensive set of building regulations covering the whole built-up area that forced conformity on artisan builders. Report from the Poor Law Commissioners on an Inquiry into the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain (1842) Author: Edwin ChadwickDate: 1842Source: Chadwick's Report on Sanitary ConditionsCopyright: Craig Thornber, England, United KingdomSelections: pp. 369-372Description: This famous report of health conditions of the poor in London helped the passage of the Public Health Act of 1848.Assessment: Chadwick’s report doesn’t offer much in the way of a code, but it likely formed the basis of subsequent building codes, particularly since public health drove urban plans and codes in the 19th century in Britain and elsewhere. The book includes a survey of sanitary conditions, discussion of nuisance law and other bases for public regulation of public health, and a number of commentaries or more specific reports by others. Chadwick’s concerns/ recommendations are mostly about cleaning, sewers, road grading, and water supply. There is also a discussion of building codes that prevented spread of fires as exemplars of regulation for public health; regularized, rectangular blocks are seen as desirable for public health esp. planning of sewers; several mentions of overcrowding being a problem suggest limits on building height and bulk, as well as the possibility of setbacks. Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847, Ireland (1847) Author: ParliamentDate: 1847Source: The United Kingdom National Archives: http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/legResults.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&Yea...Selections:Description: Regulations for: Sewers, House Drains, Paving, New Streets, Naming Streets, Ruinous or Dangerous Buildings, Cleansing Streets, Fire, Ventilation, Lodging Houses, Lighting, Water, Slaughter-houses.Assessment: Settled Land Act 1882, Ireland (1882) Author: ParliamentDate: 1882Source: The United Kingdom Statute Law Database: http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&Year=1...Description: The purpose of this act was to promote development and maintenance of privately owned land (much of which was neglected). The act enumerated several improvements that could be financed with Capital Trust Money including transportation, infrastructure, residential, commons, and waterways.Assessment: Housing and Town Planning in Great Britain, including the Housing, Town Planning Act, Britain (1910) Author: W. Addington WillisDate: 1910Publisher: Butterworth & Co., and Shaw & Sons, LondonSelections: Table of Contents, Part II town planning, Appendices incliding Housing, Town Planning Act 1909Description: This treatise by Willis explains the (British) Housing and Town Planning Act of 1909, along with the Housing of the Working Classes act of 1890 and amendments provided in the Housing of the Working Classes Act of 1903. The text of each of these laws is provided as appendices.Assessment: The acts provide the legal basis for slum clearance and for planning of new districts. There are a few aspects relevant to codes: back-to-back housing is prohibited, subterranean dwelling units are prohibited, and provision of water to each dwelling unit is mandated (p161). More importantly, it provides a legal framework. This is a national act, and sets up rules for local municipal units and a “Local Government Board” which is a national-level entity that reviews local actions. The acts are set up to ameliorate overcrowding and poor sanitation. Municipal authorities are empowered to appoint a medical officer. Interestingly, the laws allow the medical officer to use professional judgment. The process works like this: first someone complains, second the medical officer inspects a housing development, and if he says it is unfit the municipal authority has to make a redevelopment scheme. There aren’t many specifics on what this scheme should entail, though demerits are discussed: the officer assesses fitness of housing, narrowness of streets, closeness or bad arrangement of districts, and bad conditions of streets. Responsive Environments, Britain (1985) Author: Ian Bentley, Alan Alcock, Sue McGlynn, Paul Murrain, Graham SmithDate: 1985Publisher: Buildings Research Team, Oxford PolytechnicSelections: Sections 1.1-1.4 (pp. 16-23)Description: This is a manual for professional planners and designers. Its chapters offer principles concerning permeability, variety, robustness, visual appropriateness, richness, and personalization.Assessment: This is a thoughtful, ambitious work. Principles include quantitative information (e.g. parking standards, block size ratios, etc.). This could be used as a reference for a code. An Act for Rebuilding the City of London, England (1667) Author: John Raithby (editor)Date: 1667Publisher: British ParliamentSource: Charles II, 1666-67: An Act for rebuilding the Citty of London.', Statutes of the Realm: volume 5: 1628-80 (1819), pp. 603-612. Available online hereSelections: pp. 603-612Description: The Rebuilding of London Act 1667 is an Act of the Parliament of England passed in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. This Act regulated the rebuilding as well as authorising the City of London Corporation to reopen and widen roads.
