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| Melun-Sénart masterplan by OMA |
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| Nollie plan of Rome |
One of the recurring themes in rationalism is that of rules or guidelines which are set out a priori and which subtly influence the development of whatever subject they apply to.
In the case of the city these rules/paradigms/directing-forces can be direct restrictions on zoning, such as in OMAs Melun-Sénart plan or they could be indirect factors such as the economic, political, historical and technological context which guided the growth of Rome.
In every case the influence of these forces is tacit, not overt. These pieces of paper now contain information of a sort. Someone drawing upon them would struggle to avoid responding to that information. Their hand might tend to follow the paths marked out. Their plan of Edinburgh or Dundee might start to take on some of the characteristics of a French new town or renaissance Rome.
p.s. Is this why no one can draw properly on lined paper?
