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In 1929 the neighborhood concept was published separately in two forms. First was the neighborhood idea of Clarence Stein and Henry Wright, exemplified in their plan for Radburn. Second was the Neighborhood Unit idea of Clarence Perry. Since then, for the past seven decades, the concept has been applied and adapted internationally. Over this period the concept=s original principles of neighborhood physical design, in both its forms, have varied with little controversy. What has been and is still an issue is the nature of the relationship between the neighborhood's physical arrangement and the social interaction among its residents. The conceptual framework adopted for analysis of this issue is to consider three basic approaches to the physical-social relationship: the equivocal, opportunistic, and deterministic modes. These approaches comprise a physical design-social interaction continuum of the neighborhood concept. Applications of the concept in North America, Britain, and elsewhere are examined and identified with one of the three approaches on the design-interaction continuum. In addition, comparisons of the original concepts of Stein and Wright with those of Perry, and their applications, are briefly undertaken. After review of seventy years of studies it is concluded that when considering the relation between neighborhood physical arrangement and social interaction that residential design should focus on users at the micro-neighborhood scale using an opportunistic approach. A Neighborhood Concept Retrospective 3 Introduction The year 1999 marked the 70th anniversary of the publication of the neighborhood concept. This concept was one of the major landmarks in shaping urban form during the 20 century. Two forms of the concept appeared in the same year, 1929. First there was the innovative idea by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright for neighborhoods as exemplified in their plan for Radburn (Adams, 1929). Then came the neighborhood unit idea by Clarence Perry (1929). In his monograph Perry referred to the Radburn plan. Whereas Stein and Wright presented the concept in the form of a specific town, that of Radburn, New Jersey, Perry illustrated his idea in a generic form. On the occasion of Radburn=s 50th anniversary it was still lauded as an important model (Gallery, 1979; Goldberger, 1979; Jailer, 1979). A major issue has arisen in the applications of both forms of the concept over the past seven decades. This has been the assumptions regarding the nature of the relationship between the way the physical environment is arranged and the linkage with social interaction between neighborhood residents. This paper will examine the different approaches taken by architects, planners, and others in viewing this relationship. Physical Design Principles Clarence Stein and Henry Wright. The principles of Stein and Wright were most clearly seen in their plan for Radburn (Adams, 1929, pp.264-269). Their basic concept was of a hierarchy beginning with a group about twenty or so houses. These were arranged around a cul-de-sac court for motor vehicles. While the back of each house faced this cul-de-sac, the front of the house faced onto a garden. A pedestrian pathway parallel to the cul-de-sac ran between the gardens of all the houses. The furthest house was within a one-minute walk of a parkway. This parkway consisted of an open green space surrounded by a cluster of cul-de-sac court groups. Some parkways had located within them small schools and community rooms. The cluster of culde-sac court groups along with the parkway as a backbone comprised a superblock.