Placemaking Through Myths, Experience, and Drawing

By Phillip James Tabb

This book reveals the profound connections between placemaking, mythology, and experience as focused on creating vital and meaningful places through the process of drawing. By delving into these concepts, Tabb explores how we can unlock powerful tools for designers, architects, planners, and communities. Exploring ancient stories, embarking on journeys to historic places, and cultivating the art of drawing, six different drawing techniques are covered, including in-situ sketching, studio-enhanced drawing, mythic landscapes, diagrams, watercolors, and conceptual masterplans. These drawing techniques relate to dwelling by showcasing a range of experiences including becoming more present, capturing immediate impressions, and envisioning future developments. By analyzing these drawings, planners and designers can learn from the featured places, architectural examples and best design practices, gaining practical insights into the complex interplay of factors that contribute to successful placemaking. This book is based upon research and drawings completed by the author over the past 25 years.

This book is essential for practitioners, designers, artists and students interested in concepts of place, myths, experience, and drawing.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041124112
• ISBN13: 9781041124115
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 300 Pages