Principle of urban design

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Principle of Urban DesignUP 371

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IDesign of Cities and

Urban Spaces

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Urban areas Man made structure Full of infrastructure and super structure

Heterogeneous group of people Not more than 25% of the area is agricultural

Social component (social capital) includes values, citizens’ laws (norms), culture, traditions, behavior, safety/security, demography….

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Rural areas GOD made structure No infrastructure and superstructure Homogeneous group of people Not less than 75% of the area is an agricultural

man-made (buildings,infrastructure...) and natural elements (land, air, water, climate, open spaces, flora and fauna)…

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“city is composed of different kinds of people; similar people cannot bring a city into existence”

(Aristotle, 384-322 BC)

UP 371Urbanism the way of life people living in the urban center

takes the form of private and public spaces, built and un-built environments

composed of a “fabric” of solids and voids often represented as figure-ground

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creating “figural-space” by giving more importance to the quality and definition of the collective public realm

Being ‘urban’ has a lot to do with people in the public spaces. In fact urbanity could not have developed without the free movement of people in public spaces (streets, squares, open spaces…)

The public space is an integral part of any urban area. The identity and quality of an urban area is not only a factor of the quality of its private spaces but by large the public realm

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Why Urban Design emerged as a Separate Discipline? Urban planning is the discipline of land-use organization which deals with the

• physical, • social, • economic development, • political and managerial ـaspects of urban areas;

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Architecture is concerned with the design of individual buildings;

Landscape design concerned on the features of the natural space;

Transport Planning focuses on road traffic management…

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There was no profession, which deals with the public realm, and which provides a framework on the overall effects of development interventions in the urban scene.

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Urban Design ‘The way places are designed affects our ability to move, see, hear and communicate effectively.

Urban design essentially is a process by which quality in the built environment is facilitated.

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It is the three-dimensional design of a city both at the local and city scales.

It deals with the design of new and regeneration of existing settlements.

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Urban design is the three-dimensional design of a city both at the local and city scales. It deals with the design of new and regeneration of existing settlements.

It is the art of place making or city building; the process of shaping the physical setting for life in cities, towns, villages....

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Urban Design is ‘the relationship between different buildings and the streets, squares, parks, waterways and other spaces which make up the public domain.

the relationship of one part of a town or city with other parts; and the patterns of movement and activity which are thereby established.

Region District Neighborhood

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Acceptable way of Classification of cities 1. pre-industrial city 2. Industrial city and 3. Post-industrial city

UP 3711. The pre-industrial city Concept by the Us Geographer Gideon Sjoberg in the 1960

Islamic cities of the near east, but the idea of the pre-industrial city today covers European cities before the industrial revolution(particularly in the mediaeval period)

An old town with narrow winding streets enclosed by defensive walls

Walled extended family compound Streets are totally irregular as they are merely the spaces left between the compound

UP 3712. The industrial city Many of the larger city of the world, specially in North America and Europe.

Associated with the rapid urbanization

Pre-dominantly agricultural society to an industrialized one

Segregation of functions becomes much more noticeable

Depopulated city center and mainly given to commercial functions

Housing types reflects big social and economic division with in the population

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Housing types reflects big social and economic division with in the population

This rapid urbanization results• Pollution • Congestion• Waste disposal• Unsatisfactory housing• Unemployment(because of ….)• crime

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2. post-industrial city Dating back to the second half of the twentieth century

Cities needed to adjust to other forms of employment in light manufacturing

Demolition and clearance of large area of heavy industrial plant

Replacement of one physical form with the other

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The growth of office towers and luxury high- rises or refurbishing of old waterfronts

Cafe’s and boutiques arise to feed and clothe the new classes.-

Global cities Ideal cities

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World War II impact on cities development large segregated single-use zone areas

unbreakable with too wide streets and

large parking lots that are designed to make cars happy but hostile (unfriendly) for people

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pedestrians-hostile large-buildings-setbacks – usually with high solid fences – that failed to properly define the public realm

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buildings with their backs or sides turned towards the street confronting the pedestrians with long blank walls and building utilities

large street blocks with no cross access or connecting streets (alleyways)

money replaced known social values and structures such as religion

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in addition, public spaces became leftover spaces of the private spaces development, a result of uncoordinated exercises carried out by various professionals

exposed to abuse and problems: unsafe, dirty and dominated by minority user - the car

Due to world war II cities generally became ugly, unhealthy and often with conflicting social relations thus hostile to the majority of their population the poor.

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Public spaces and Urban Areas Public spaces are everywhere, in and between the places where we live, work and relax. All of us - rich or poor, old or young, men or female – living in cities, towns, villages or the countryside - use public spaces every time we leave our homes

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Public spaces are the streets and paths we use on the way to work, shops, school, or hang out with friends.

the parks and play areas, town centers and waterfronts we visit on weekends or holiday.

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the privately owned and managed places to which the public has free access, such as car-parks, shopping malls, leisure and business parks, and bus or rail stations or terminals.

the front faces of our buildings which are seen from the public space

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The quality of public spaces has a major impact on our lives. It affects our sense of well-being, experience and feeling about the places where we and others live, work and relax

Everybody of us everyday make decisions which, when and how we use places/areas. Many of these decisions are influenced by our perception of the quality and safety of the spaces we encounter

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Degraded public spaces are not a sign of a vibrant community. Concerns about the real or perceived quality of public spaces affect all areas and are bound up with the social and economic life of communities; indicating whether a community is on the up, in decline or in recovery.

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Ugly, dirty and dangerous, poor quality places make people, businesses and investments to move to better places; encourage anti-social behaviours; undermine public confidence; discourage investments and eventually lead to the malfunction of the areas

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Whereas quality environment makes people to visit a place

invest 0n it and pursue healthier lifestyles through exercise such as

walking, cycling and active children's play

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characteristics of Well-organized living spaces giving people a sense of access, comfort, and joy

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making successful vibrant, livable and people-oriented Places; creating community pride

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attracting and maintaining high quality investments

achieving urban regeneration, economic development, real social improvement and sustainable urban areas

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Main Objectives of Urban Design to create places:- which are not only beautiful, but also properly function and reflect the different

social, economy and cultural need of and goals of the current society

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to create a place for the society which is

Healthy settlements that ‘make life more safe,

convenient and pleasant’, which care for the total well being of their citizens

Comfortable space for the day to day activities

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to create successful urban areas by integrating time tasted ideas with new ideas, including how people relate to, feel about, and use their places

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to create a ‘sense of place’ and ensure that an area has identity, where public and private spaces are clearly distinguished yet integrated

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Major Benefits of Urban Design underpins the role of towns and cities as centers of economic, cultural and social activity

helps neighborhoods and communities to be self-sufficiency, permanent thus sustainable

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attracts businesses and investments by improving the quality of the existing area as well creates a condition for small-scale businesses to establish and operate

helps revitalize historic structures/places instead of replacing them with short-term/throw-away structures, visual blights…

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relieves pressure for developments on green-field sites, thus reduces costly urban sprawls

promotes functional and social mix that helps reduce extreme polarization among citizens

improves neighborhood values by making them healthy, safe, memorable and dignified

UP 371 promotes ‘citizens surveillance’ of places, reducing crime and enhancing urban livability

reduces the need for travel - the distance and number of trips - and increases transport choices

reduces air, noise, visual… pollutions

makes all including disadvantaged people feel safe and independent in their world and making

walking feel more enjoyable

UP 371Challenges in Practicing Urban Design Identified a number of gaps between contextual knowledge of urban design and either the design activity or the processes of implementation;

between the formulation of design proposals and the means for their implementation;

between national, regional and city-wide policies and the private and public realm (territory)projects;

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time limitations: creating civilized places takes time, and urban design must be there right at the initial stage of urban planning, or major opportunities are easily lost....

UP 371Urban Design Principles Good qualities in urban design are achieved through the application of urban design principles

The principles are not rigid which should be followed slavishly (unquestioning)

Good design results from a consideration of the widest range of concerns and issues – imaginative and creative resolution of potential conflicts

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IPermeability

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The number of alternative ways through an environment is a measure of an area's permeability. People can move around with greater ease and with more choice through a permeable environment than through an un-permeable one.

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New development should maximize permeability both within the site and in the wider area

It would often be desirable for paths into a site to join rather than forming a series of dead-ends

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New development will be expected to exploit opportunities to improve choice and convenience of movement

Permeability ‐ is the ease with which one can move through and get to various locations. Such places are integrated or connected physically to their surrounding areas.

UP 371A successful movement systemprovides the maximum choice for people to make their journey

takes into full account all modes of movement;

by foot, by cycle, by public transport and by car(in that order of importance)makes clear connections to existing roads and facilities

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physical and Visual Permeability A well‐designed movement system should contribute to the development of interconnected street networks both physically and visually

Large block size decreases permeabilityToo many turns in the public spaces kill visual permeability

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Where isWhere is

the village that is dead end

May be let us try that

way

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Public‐Private spaces Interface One of the basic sources of choice steams from our ability to live both public and private life in private and public spaces

The private and public spaces are interdependent and complementary spaces

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Thus people should be allowed to access (physical and/or visual) across the two spaces interface

But, making everywhere accessible to everyone will erode privacy and degrade the quality of urban life

UP 371 Both physical and visual permeability occurs at front/entrances to buildings or gardens increasing the level of activities around its edges

This implies: many entrances and public private activities to be located round the edge of the public spaces; and

private activities to be located at the back, way from visual contact with the public realm

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Private space Public space

UP 371Perimeter Blocks Locating public activities of the private space at the front (near the public realm) and the private activities at the back implies a perimeter block urban structure.

In the perimeter block, buildings will always have faces: the public/front face of the building which faces the street where the entrances are; the private/back face of the building, which faces the inside of the block.

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Perimeter Blocks

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II Variety

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Variety- is about the presences of different activities forms and people

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Variety/mixed-use can be appropriate at different scales from national to local environments; city to town or to village; neighborhoods or street; or in single structure.

Creating variety can help to attract people to live, work and play in the same area and helps to determine how well a place is used, and what economic and social activities it will support.

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Places are more active when they have windows and doors which connect to the street rather than blank facades.

Places feel safer with buildings overlooking them. Living spaces above shops will encourage evening activities on city streets because the streets are overlooked and feel safer.

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Variety:- VitalityVitality (strong) Places those are vibrant safe comfortable varied fun and active

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Sustainable Cities and neighborhoods will need to embrace density, diversity and mix of uses, users, building types, and public spaces

UP 371This results from a closely unite mix of uses (e.g. offices, residences, coffee shops etc.),

with sufficient density, and which are accessible to a diversity of users (e.g. children, youth, seniors, high-income, low-income, etc.).

Dense mixed use neighborhoods also allow for the effective functioning of all types of business, social and cultural activities with very low inputs of energy for transportation and logistics, thus increasing the resilience of these neighborhoods.

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Mixing tenures promotes social diversity and it is therefore important to spread different building types and tenures across this range. Mixing different tenures throughout an area ensure that a variety of housing types and ownership patterns are sprinkled, rather than clustered into exclusive enclaves.

UP 371Successful communities require a full range of local services and facilities, including commercial, educational, health, spiritual and civic uses. These need to be conveniently sited and connected to residential areas by safe and comfortable routes.

A successful and sustainable local neighborhood is a product of the distances people have to walk to access daily facilities, the presence of a sufficient range of such facilities to support their needs, and places and spaces where a variety of activities can take place.

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UP 371Effects of segregationSlums and deteriorating areas are not accidents, imperfections mistakes or exceptions; they are the result of land-use separation;

The root cause of slums is found in the places that have imposed a rule of oversimplification: the suburbia;

Simplified urban pattern with none or less richness, complexity, surprise or choice; eclipses the essence of urban life-diversity;

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Rapidly reduces the urban system’s capacity to adapt: ’adaptability’ is essential for social as well as biological success;

Caused standardization and regimentation of human life;

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Creates socially primitive communities and visually monotonous large areas with on incentive for exploration and discovery;

Locks people into lifestyle dominated by fear of conflicts, disorder, complex interaction…; ‘a desire to be surrounded by peers’

Environmental degradation, social strife and marginalization of the less-affluent groups;

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Drive people apart and alienate them from each other, allowing minimum social contact;

Increases the area taken by highways and vast car parking lots;

In diversified urban areas children have an array of educational experiences and exploration, thus ample opportunities to express their biological needs.

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Cause of segregation1.Urban-succession is the cyclical replacement of an area by social groups in urban areas,

2.Urban gentrification is where renewal of a deteriorated area makes an area a favorable for the high income to return.

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3.Project approach’ in city development without reference to the surrounding urban pattern, street network , walkway, scale:

Large-scale projects constructed on large parcels of land

Large corporations displaced the traditional urban decision-makers; destroying the balance between the forces of change and the forces that oppose such changers;

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4.Socio-cultural preferences formalized and reinforced by social class systems and the planning… tool, zoning.

UP 3715.Cultural preference: some societies, space is used ‘ space is used ‘ as a way of indicating status…’, thus becoming a cause for spatial segregation;

6.Anti-urban attitudes or suburbanization;

Unbalanced economic growth causes inequality and breaks-up community due to the emergence of spatial segregation;

UP 3717.Excessively higher land and real-estate prices and lack of mass-transit facilities.

Economic barriers erected by private and public sector developers, supported by planners protect the needs of the few affluent groups.

Better housing clustered in good location, command higher prices, enjoy high-quality services, thus high property taxes, laying barrier for the less affluent groups;

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8.Professional planners often support or sometimes aggravate the situation by reinforcing segregated patterns thus easily become instruments of the powerful groups.

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Mixed use development works well in higher densities because there are more people to support the variety of activities.

A successful mix of use results when the uses are compatible and interact with each other positively.

A successful mix is achieved when the range of uses and services create a balanced community, without increasing the need for cars

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Narrow frontage plot allow small scale activities to flourish.

To promote social inclusion, social housing should be distinguished from private housing by its design or its location.

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III Legibility

UP 371 Kelvin Lynch (1960s) legibility of a city and its elements

• Interviewed urbanites in Boston Jersey City, and Los Angeles

• Most established a “generalized mental picture of the external physical world”

UP 371The Image of The City and Its Elements

Paths: “channels along which the observer customarily moves”

Edges: “the boundaries between two areas”

Districts: “represent medium-to-large sections of the city”

Nodes: “points of intense activity” Landmarks: “physical reference points”

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Paths

“channels along which the observer customarily…moves” - Kevin Lynch

UP 371“An edge is defined as a boundary between two areas, including shores, walls, wide streets, breaks between buildings, and open spaces.” - Kevin Lynch

Edge

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Districts “represent medium-to-large sections of

the city”

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Nodes “points of intense activity, focal points intersections or loci”

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How design affect choice ?The design of a place affects the choices people can make, at many levels.

Where people can go (permeability) What Available range of uses (Variety) How easily people can understand the opportunities given (Legibility)

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How people can use a given place for different purposes (Robustness)

How the detailed appearance of a place makes people aware of the choice available (Visual Appropriateness)

People choice of sensory experiences (Richness)

The extent to which people can put their own stamp on a place (Personalization)

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Cont… Character Continuity & Enclosure Quality of the Public Realm Ease of Movement Legibility Adaptability Diversity

UP 371What is the people perception on cities ? The economic success of a city is increasingly dependent on how it is perceived and remembered.

There seems to be a public image of any given city which is the overlap of many individual images. Or perhaps there is a series of public images, each held by some significant number of citizens.

Such group images are necessary if an individual is to operate successfully within his environment and to cooperate with his fellows.

UP 371 People use advantage of the layout when they can grasp the place

The quality which makes a place graspable is called legibility

Legibility is important at two levels: Physical form and Activity Patterns

o physical form is just the form of the place (@ aesthetic level)

o Patterns of use concerned with the functional use of a place

UP 371The traditional city In traditional city places that look important were important. Places of public relevance could easily be identified

where privacy and security permitted, many buildings allowed the passer- by to see the activities inside

UP 371The modern City In most Modern cities places that are important owned by companies which occupy key city center positions. They visually overwhelm publicly-relevant places and facilities confusing important activity patterns

The confusion is made worse because important public buildings and publicly –irrelevant private ones often look alike

UP 371 The point of legible layout is that people are able to form clear accurate images of it.

Various researches has explored that there is an overlap between different peoples mental images of a given environment.

Kevin lynch in 1960s shows that the these shared features can be grouped

In his experiment, he used Los Angeles, Boston, and Jersey City as case studies.

By analyzing the results of this work, Lynch would be able to observe specifically what a city's built environment is important to the people who live there.

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One of Lynch's innovations was the concept of place legibility, which is essentially the ease with which people understand the layout of a place.

By introducing this idea, Lynch was able to isolate distinct features of a city, and see what specifically is making it so vibrant, and attractive to people

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To understand the layout of a city, people first and foremost create a mental map.

Mental maps of a city are mental representations of what the city contains, and its layout according to the individual.

These mental representations, along with the actual city, contain many unique elements, which are defined by Lynch as a network of paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks.

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1 .Paths. Paths are the channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves.

They may be streets, walkways, transit lines, canals, railroads.

For many people, these are the predominant elements in their image.

People observe the city while moving through it, and along these paths the other environmental elements are arranged and related.

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2 Edges. Edges are the linear elements not used or considered as paths by the observer.

They are the boundaries between two phases, linear breaks in continuity: shores, railroad cuts, edges of development walls.

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3 Districts. Districts are the medium-to-large sections of the city, conceived of as having two-dimensional extent, which the observer mentally enters “inside of,” and which are recognizable as having some common, identifying character.

Always identifiable from the inside, they are also used for exterior reference if visible from the outside.

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4. Nodes Nodes are points, the strategic spots in a city into which an observer can enter, and which are the intensive foci to and from which he is traveling.

They may be primarily junctions, places of a break in transportation, a crossing or convergence of paths, moments of shift from one structure to another.

UP 3715 Landmarks. Landmarks are another type of point-reference, but in this case the observer does not enter within them, they are external.

They are usually a rather simply defined physical object: building, sign, store, mountain or etc.

Their use involves the singling out of one element from a host of possibilities.

Some landmarks are distant ones, typically seen from many angles and distances, over the tops of smaller elements, and used as radial references.

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The steps for utilizing these elements of legibility are To know the physical form worth taking as models for legible layout

To think in terms of these elements Public participation is important for legibility analysis. (to add the inputs of the public)

Consider the permeable path as the dominant element in the creation of mental image

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Permeability is the extent to which an environment allows peoples a choice of access through it and from other place to it.

Permeability is important in two scales• The connection of the site to the city as a whole

• The connection of the site to its immediate surrounding

In this process paths can be reinforce by giving each path a strong character and by bringing out relative importance of each path

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All paths should have their own identity to avoid similarity.

This can be done by height consideration, functional identity, detailed architectural consideration and etc.

Nodes should be given certain significance. All nodes should not be given equal emphasis

UP 371 The degree of emphasis on nodes depends on three main factors

I.The functional role of the streets forming the junctions (The more functional role the streets have the more concern given to spatial emphasis to relate between the form and the use)

II.The activities in adjacent buildings(like above the more public relevant buildings the more spatial relevance is needed)

III.The expectations set by other nodes within the district concerned(These focus on the major and minor node based on their relative importance)

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IV Robustness

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Design Private and public open spaces

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V Accessibility

SAFETY AND SECURITYCRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

NATURAL SURVEILLANCETERRITORIAL REINFORCEMENTNATURAL ACCESS CONTROLACTIVITY SUPPORT:TARGET HARDENING

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sustainable Urban

Development

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Principle of urban design

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