Christian Wichmann Matthiessen · 1980
This review evaluates Housing, the fifth volume of the Atlas of Spatial Development. Drawing mainly on the 1968 housing census, the volume uses approximately 150 thematic choropleth maps to portray dwelling size, housing standards, and construction activity across the Federal Republic of Germany. Its limited attention to temporal change gives the atlas a static character, while the dated evidence reduces its practical relevance for planners and policymakers. Nevertheless, it offers researchers and teachers a valuable overview of West German social geography and urbanization, supported by exemplary thematic cartography.
Michael Blakemore · 1981
Michael Blakemore reviews the first five published thematic volumes of BfLR's Atlas zur Raumentwicklung—work, population, housing, leisure, and land use—within a planned eleven-volume series intended for planners, educational and research institutions, and other users in and outside West Germany. Each volume has about 10–14 large map sheets, moving from an early-1970s overview through temporal and regional comparisons, local examples, European Economic Community comparisons, and updates. Multilingual titles accompany charts and German explanatory text. Although most data date from the late 1960s and early 1970s, Blakemore praises their coherent analysis and graphic presentation. He examines colour schemes, graduated symbols, legends, and computer-assisted production, including storage and generalization of base-map geometry. His criticisms include the delayed administrative-boundaries reference volume, confusing colours on some maps, and partially obscured text. The population sheet 4.12 communicates patterns at several viewing distances, whereas the greens on land-use sheet 7.04 become confusing at a distance. Blakemore nevertheless judges the atlas valuable for West German regional planning and small-group teaching, and credits its use of computers with freeing cartographers to concentrate on design.
