Alan Balfour

A central theme in his writing is the concept of man-made environments as "landscapes of desire," reflecting both positive and negative aspects of society.

Balfour's approach integrates architectural analysis with social history, examining how the physical characteristics of cities and buildings embody prevalent cultural and societal desires.

Balfour's books are notable for their equal emphasis on architectural details and social historical context, providing a comprehensive view of urban development and its cultural significance.

This ambitious work sets out to view the history of architecture and city planning from the reign of Frederick William I until the breaching of the Wall in 1989, by describing the fortunes of the Leipziger Platz and the Potsdamer Platz, which in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries formed the hub of Berlin’s vehicular traffic and one of its most important commercial and entertainment centers, but were then destroyed by Allied bombing because of their proximity to Hitler’s bunker and were finally divided by the Wall.

Many primary sources weave together to provide different views of the same historical events as told through the eyes of Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

A compact synopsis handy for the reader interested in an introduction to the complex cultural forces of Jewish law, Hellenization, the conflict between Romans and Jews, and the emergence of Islam, it draws from hard-to-find texts and frequently proves useful for understanding biblical narratives.

Balfour was the year 2000 recipient of the Topaz Medallion, the highest recognition given in North America to an educator in architecture.