Edmund Bacon (architect)
The visionary planner who reshaped post-war Philadelphia, championing pedestrian malls, historic preservation, and a human-scale downtown.
1910–2005 (age 95)·American urban planner and architect·Birthday: May 2·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Edmund Bacon was Philadelphia's master builder for two transformative decades. As the head of the City Planning Commission from 1949 to 1970, he wielded unprecedented influence, pushing a comprehensive vision to drag the city out of its industrial decline. He was not a mere bureaucrat but a charismatic and sometimes controversial evangelist for urban design. Bacon championed Society Hill's revival, turning a dilapidated neighborhood into a model of historic preservation and modern living. He pushed through the creation of Market East and the pedestrian-friendly Love Park, and his advocacy was crucial in locating Penn's Landing along the Delaware River. His philosophy, detailed in his book 'Design of Cities,' emphasized visual sequences and experiential movement through urban space. While some of his ideas, like the razing of areas for urban renewal, are now contested, his fundamental belief that cities should be designed for people left an indelible mark.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Edmund was born in 1910, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edmund Was Born
The biggest hits of 1910
Edmund's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1910Born
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1915Started school
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Became a teenager
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1926Could drive
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1928Could vote
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Turned 21
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1940Turned 30
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 40
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 50
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 60
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1980Turned 70
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1990Turned 80
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2005Died at 95
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
Key Achievements
- Served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission for over 20 years, from 1949 to 1970.
- Authored the influential urban design book 'Design of Cities,' first published in 1967.
- Led the planning and redevelopment of Society Hill, a landmark project in historic preservation and urban renewal.
- Was instrumental in the creation of Penn's Center, Market East, and the pedestrian plaza at Love Park (JFK Plaza).
- Featured on the cover of Time magazine on May 3, 1964, with the headline 'How to Save the Cities.'
Did You Know?
He is the father of actor Kevin Bacon and musician Michael Bacon.
He appeared in a famous 1959 TV segment with a young CBS reporter named Mike Wallace, debating city planning over a model of Philadelphia.
He studied at Cornell University and later at the Cranbrook Academy of Art under Eliel Saarinen.
He was a talented sketcher and often used his own drawings to illustrate his planning concepts.
“The city is not a problem. The city is a living organism, and we are part of it.”
