In 'The Dutch urban block and the public realm', Susanne Komossa uses typomorphological research to analyse the development of the Dutch urban block as an architectural model over the past four hundred years. The urban block is the link between city dwellers’ everyday lives and the urban public realm. This clearly written and amply documented study calls for the small-scale urban economy and the public realm to be treated as essential components of the city when new urban plans and models are developed.