8.

No1,2014
BULLETIN OF THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES , vols. 8, no. 1, 2014

Definition and Concept of urban square in view of urban

spaces and buildings
Binqing Zhai
Department of Architecture, Xian Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xian, Shaanxi 710049, PR China

ABSTRACT. (Moughtin, 2003) suggests that one of the most important elements of city design is
the square or plaza. It is possibly the most important way of designing a good setting for public and
commercial buildings in the cities. Streets and squares are the major constituents and elements of
the urban space. The major difference lies in the size and heights or in other words, in the
dimensions of walls which boarder them and by the model of function and circulation which
describe them. Two of the fundamental components of urban places according to Krier (1979-1980)
are squares and roads. Hence, the definition and rules related to this fundamental component will
be considered here. Based on the Canniffe (2011) research, urban space has been ordered and
organized in relative and comparative laws to internal space. Urban squares (also called civic
spaces, town squares, piazzas or plazas, amongst other names) are spaces that form focal points in
the public space network, providing a forum for exchange, both social and economic, and a focus
for civic pride and community expression. 2014 Bull. Georg. Natl.Acad. Sci.
Key words: buildings, spaces and buildings, Definition
Urban space has been organized in comparative laws to interior space. Square and street are the basic components of
the urban space. The main distinction is the dimensions of walls which bound them and by the pattern of function
and circulation which characterize them. In short portrayals, square is produced by the grouping of houses around an
open space and the street is a product of the spread of a settlement once houses have been built along the available
space (Canniffe 2011). Two of the key elements of urban places according to Krier (1979) are streets and squares.
Therefore the definition and principles related to these basic elements will be discussed here.
1. Definiton and Concept of URBAN SQUARE
One of the most important elements of city design is the square or plaza. It is possibly the most important way of
designing a good setting for public and commercial buildings in cities .
Urban squares (also called civic spaces, town squares, piazzas or plazas, amongst other names) are spaces that form
focal points in the public space network, providing a forum for exchange, both social and economic, and a focus for
civic pride and community expression. In spite of the fact that urban squares may be considered focal areas, the
dimensions of these area are investigated not in the expositive expression on centrality yet in that of open spaces.
Urban squares have a tendency to be formal and urban in nature rather than parks and open space, which are
normally soft landscaped, bigger and less seriously utilized. (Australian Government, 2009).
Urban Square additionally uphold the notoriety of activity centers providing a space for an extensive variety of
formal and informal activities that upholds social and cultural life for users of the center. The function is to welcome
individuals to wait and, interface and unite (Australian Government, 2009).
Square is intended for all people. Subsequently the functional amenities ought to be the physical fascination for the
people. Jan Gehl (1971) mentioned that outdoor activities in public open spaces might be isolated into three
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Binqing Zhai

classes, each of which places altogether different requests on the nature: Necessary activities, Optional activities and
Social activities.
In his book A Pattern Language Alexander (1977) describe the Small Public Squares: as A town needs public
squares; they are the largest, most public rooms, that a town has. But when they are too large, they look and
feel deserted.
There are two main methods of categorizing squares by function and by form.
2.1 THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
There have been a number of attempts to classify the form that squares may take. Two of the most influential
theories were outlined by Paul Zucker and Sitte .
2.2 TYPES OF THE SQUARE
Camillo Sitte (1989) determined a square as series of artistic principles;
i) Enclosure - an enclosure is the primary feeling of urbanity, and his overarching principle was that 'public squares
should be enclosed entities'.The key to enclosure in the square is the treatment of its corners. Generally speaking, the
more open the corners of the square the less the sense of enclosure, the more built up or complete they are, the
greater the feeling of being enclosed (Moughtin, 2003).
ii)Positive space - a buildings principals aesthetic was the manner in which its facade defined space and how the
facade was seen from within that space.
iii) Shape - Deep and wide type depending on whether the main building was long and low or tall and narrow.
The depth of a square was best related to the need to appreciate the main building (ratio 1-2depth:1height) while the
corresponding width depended on the perspective effect (ratio less than 3width:1height).
iv) Monuments - The center should be kept free, and provide something as a focus, along the edge of the square or
off-center. The positioning of the monuments had a functional logic and aesthetically is pleasing (Sitte, 1989).
On the other hand Zucker (1959) outlined five types of urban squares as:
i) The Closed square Piazza San Marco, Venice;
A closed square is a complete enclosure interrupted only by streets leading into it. The imperative component is the
layout plan and regularly displaying a normal geometric shape and in some cases a redundancy of architectural
components (Place des Vosges, Paris) or building facade types. A set of grouped squares with a rhythmical rotation
of two or more sorts focused on the corners or on the focal parts of every side. (Place Vendome, Paris), or framing
the streets running into the square (Place des Victoires, Paris) (Matthew Carmona, 2010).
Close Square is a self-contained space used as a gathering place. Usually it has strong sense of enclosure and
convenient connections to streets. It is usually refers as an area that framed by buildings (Moughtin, 2003).
ii)The Dominated square the space is directed towards the main building
Recognizing some buildings create a sense-of-space in front them is characterized by a building or group of
buildings towards which the space is directed and to which all other surrounding structures are related. The
dominant features may be a building, a view that provided a strong sense of space such as Piazza del Campidoglio,
Rome (Zucker, 1959).
iii) The Nuclear square space form around a center
It has a central feature as a vertical nucleus that sufficiently powerful to create a sense-of-space around itself and to
charge the space with a force that keeps the whole nucleus together.
iv) The Group squares spatial units combined to form larger compositions
The squares may be linked by means of an axis or axial relationships such as the Place Royale, Place de la Carriere
and the Hemicycle in Nancy or have non-axial relations being such as Piazza San Marco, Venice that grouped
around a dominant building.
The Amorphous square - unlimited space, lacking definite form; shapeless; or of no particular type; or lacking
organization; formless.
Amorphous Square shared at least some of the necessary qualities with other types, and it sometimes appeared to be
unorganized or formless. For example, Trafalgar Square in London is not successful in terms of creating sense of
space that relates to the size of the square.
Based on Sitte (1909) and the City Planning According to Artistic Principles, Out of his analyses of squares some
rules are abstracted here :
There are two categories of city squares: the deep type and the wide type. Whether a plaza is deep or wide usually
becomes apparent when the observer stands opposite the major building that dominates the whole layout.
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The minimum dimension of a plaza equals roughly the height of the principle building. The maximum is the
double of that size.
The maximum length is 143; the maximum width is 58 meters.
Square plazas do not look very good, and overly long plazas (1:3) begin to lose charm. Triangle plazas are always
unattractive.
Public squares should be enclosed entities. When we transform an open space within a city into a plaza in
essential it is closed off from the outside.
If possible, only one street should open each point, and each street should enter the plaza at a different angle.
Irregularities don't have an obnoxious impact whatsoever. It is peculiar that truly broadly irregular squares of old
towns frequently don't turn awful toward all.
The center of plazas should be kept free.
2.3 SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN SQUARE
2.3.1 Accessibility of public space
Square is more a co space (community, communication, continuity) than a dis space (discontinuity,
discrimination, disparity) (Racine, 1999). Open spaces have receptiveness imperatives which as per Lehrer (1998),
inferred generally from social practices that actualize social exclusion. Fyfe and Bannister (1996) suggest unlimited
physical receptiveness just additionally to accentuate the social approachability of open space. As respects the urban
square, Korosec-Serfaty and Kauffmann, (1974) define it more precisely as a meeting place where recreational
activities, commercial trading, religion and politics are practiced (Such as Dataran Merdeka).
2.3.2 The economic dimension
The economic issues of substantial towns have accelerated a modification of the functions of squares. The wish from
urban communities to pull in outer capital and visitors has expedited a developing homogenization and
commodification of these open spaces, which builds social exclusion (Mordue, 2007). The management of open
spaces or squares is imperative to minimize lacking upkeep and absence of outline and social controlto avoid antisocial behavior and deterioration as per Carmona and de Magalhaes (2006). Provided that we think about a square as
a focal and central area (i.e. a position of face to face time and fascination and a center for transport, job,
administrations) the economic theory expects that the vicinity of these characteristics increments property values
and the vicinity of public buildings and tourism for sure has a positive effects (Benoit Faye, 2012) towards the
encompassing qualities.
2.3.3 Fundamental urbanistic and architectural characteristics.
The square is may be a zone interfacing base systems serving a city for group infrastructures or as a tourist
attraction. These sizes are develops, of which it is watched just their qualities of changing force. A square is hence
considered a set of attributes dependent upon an arrangement of perceptions over periods. (Benoit Faye, November
2012)
2. DEFINTION AND CONCEPT OF THE STREET
The street is a result of the spread of settlement once houses have been based all accessible space around its focal
square. It gives a framework for the appropriation of area and offers access to distinct plots. It has a more
significantly functional character than the square, which by excellence of its size is a more engaging place to hang
loose than the street, in whose limits one is automatically gotten up to speed in the clamor of traffic. Its building
background is just observed in passing. The street layouts which we have inherited in our towns were contrived for
very distinctive functional purposes. They were to the scale of the human, the horse and carriage. The street is
inadmissible for the stream of mechanized movement, whilst remaining proper to human activity. It seldom works
as a self-sufficient segregated space, concerning illustration on account of villages built along a single road. It is
primarily to be recognized as a component of a network. Our memorable towns have made us acquainted with the
endless assorted qualities of spatial relationships processed by such an unpredictable layout (Krier, 1979).
Taking into account Krier (1979) the functions which are suitable to the square are: commercial activities, for
example the market, yet most importantly activities of a social and cultural nature. The station of public
administrative offices, community halls, youth centers, libraries, theatres and concert halls, cafes, bars and so on
.where conceivable on account of central squares, these ought to be functions which create action twenty four hours
a day. Residential use ought not be rejected in any of these cases.

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Road, it holds no association with the original significance of the term. Surely the mechanized transportation of
individuals and merchandise is one of the essential functions of the town, yet it requires no scenery in the space
around it (Krier, 1979).
Based on Moughtin (2003), several terms such as, street, path, avenue, highway, way, route, have been used almost
interchangeably. It would be possible to extend this list to include other words such as, road, boulevard, mall and
promenade, which have similar meanings.
Street is pronto a demonstration of riding on horseback and a normal line of communication between places, used by
horses, travellers by walking or vehicles. Alternately it is any path, way or course to some end or journey. The
attention is on movement between places, the rule lines of communication between places a two-dimensional
ribbon, running on the surface of the landscape, extended it by bridge or underneath by tunnel. A Street might have
these characteristic, however its more regular significance is a road in a town or village, nearly wide instead of a
lane or alley. All the more significantly it is a road, that is the straight surface along which movement happens
between the adjacent houses 'it runs between two lines of houses or shops,' says a glossary definition (Moughtin,
2003).
One specific characteristic of the road or the lane which is contradictory with the street is the movement of quick
moving or heavy traffic with all its designing necessities. It was most likely the rise of the utilitarian needs of
vehicular movement to a configuration authoritative opinion by vanguard parts of the Modern Movements in
architecture and city planning which helped the disregard of the road and its architecture. Le Corbusier (1976) is one
of the main offenders: Our streets no longer work. Streets are an obsolete notion. There ought not to be such a thing
as streets; we have to create something that will replace them. Later he said: No pedestrian will ever again meet a
high-speed vehicle.
From another point of view five principal functions of the street based on Moughtin (2003) are as below:
Place, Movement, Access, Parking, Drainage, utilities and street lighting
3.1 PRINCIPLES OF STREET
3.1.1 STREET LENGTH
Sitte suggests that the arrangement of a public square ought not to have dimensions where the length of its enclosing
walls is more than the ratio 3:1. Beyond this limit insistent, converging rooflines vanishing towards the horizon
suggest movement, the dynamic urban space most suitable to the path (Moughtin, 2003).
The wide street so favored by the way specialist is most unsatisfactory for shopping. The narrow pedestrianized city
street with enduring enclosing walls somewhat higher than street width are best for their reason and additionally
being an engaging place. They are still to be discovered, notwithstanding movement specialists' best considerations,
in urban areas like Nottingham and additionally smaller towns, for example Stamford or King's Lynn. The point
when street are narrow, 69 m and flanking structures three or four stories it gives 'the feeling of he sense of
completeness and enclosure to the pictures in the streets' (Moughtin, 2003).
The Essex outline guide proposes that a ratio, height to width, of 1:1 is not excessively tight for solace however that
1:2.5 is as open as might be endured. Narrow streets likewise expedite shopping: movement from side to side for
window looking has no obstacle and undoubtedly is welcomed by the physical form of the development. Aesthetic
components, for example scale and proportion are in no way, shape or form the main contemplations in street
design; different elements may of necessity be of more importance. One such functional thought molding street form
is climate (Moughtin, 2003).
3.1.2 UNITY IN STREET DESIGN
There are various components which contribute to a unified street design, perhaps the most significant being that the
form of the buildings might as well show up as surfaces instead of as mass. The point when buildings undertake
strong three-dimensional form the mass of the buildings overwhelms the scene and the space loses its essentialness.
The point is when the buildings went along a street they have different forms, styles and treatment the space loses
definition. The consequence is improvement like Maid Marion Way in Nottingham (Moughtin, 2003).
There are situations where buildings having lands of mass, that is, those seen in three dimensions, are successfully
integrated into a urban scene commanded at ground level by enclosed streets and squares; the prime case being San
Gimignano (Moughtin, 2003).
In conclusion dependent upon Moughtin (2003) there are two primary forms for the European city street. In the first
and foremost, streets appear to be carved out of an original block of solid material. The other idea lays street on the
buildings as three-dimensional articles. This last idea in its purer appearances, for example Frank Lloyd Wright's
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Broadacre requires for its implementation substantial areas of low-density development, decentralization of
functions, finish and unlimited flexibility of movement for the cars.
3.1.3 THE FORM OF THE STREET
The arrangement, shape or form of the street has not appropriated the point by point attention given to the design of
the public square. The form of the street might be examined regarding various polar qualities, for example straight
or curved, long or short, wide or narrow, enclosed or open, formal or informal. Street form can additionally be broke
down regarding scale,proportion, contrast, rhythm or connections with different streets and squares (Moughtin,
2003).
Characterizing a street as a way for vehicles is not the same as outlining it as a 'path'. The traffic route composed by
the architect to serve such a variety of travelers auto units for every hour assigns the street to the level of a sewer, a
course which facilitates the efficient movement of effluent (Moughtin, 2003).
A sense of place in street design is best realized whether the spatial volume characterized by the frontages is
recognized as the positive form. As per Gibberd: 'The street is not building frontage however a space about which
homes are assembled to form an arrangement of street pictures; or on the other hand the street is a space that may be
expanded into more extensive spaces, for example closes or squares.' (Gibberd, 1955)
For a street to function as a place or exterior room in the city it should own comparative characteristics of enclosure
as people in public square: 'The perfect street must form a totally enclosed unit (Moughtin, 2003).
In light of Crawford (2005), he accepts that the informal, irregular street plans frequently went out when ways
transformed into streets as individuals started to erect buildings along them. In hilly country, paths that have been
defeated by people and animals normally expect the most extreme review to remember close its most reduced useful
quality. In so doing, they take after the forms of the site. In even landscape, seepage characteristics and delicate soils
correspondingly compel the area of ways and normally support firmer soils and drier sites.
Both grids and irregular forms could be seen in San Francisco. Grid was infringed upon the majority of the city,
however in the steepest areas; irregular arrangements were created that permitted the slopes to be mounted at
additional reasonable evaluations. Where the grid plan was imposed on steep landscape, it could be seen amazingly
steep, risky streets, with gradients approaching 20%. It is basically crazy to manufacture vehicular streets this steep
(Crawford, 2005).Contemporary US sprawl development is infrequently gridded. The streets are typically curved
and off and on again regard geography. They assume that all travel is via auto and regularly preclude walkways
totally, in spite of the fact that there is dependably plentiful space for them. People walking or cycling must make
long bypasses to achieve nearby destinations, as the web of connections is weak, and no privileges of-way were left
for an interfacing system of paths (Crawford, 2005).
While during the Industrial Era Streets became so broad that a square could only be defined if its dimensions were
huge, hence this shift of emphasis from the design of squares to the design of streets: it had become nearly
impossible to make squares.
Sitte (1989) continues to explain, using the example of an arcade, why the creation of enclosure had become
impossible. (For example, Pariss Rue de Rivoli, given by Raymond Unwin.) The repeating arches of the arcade
cannot create enclosure because they are separated by such wide streets. There is no doubt; the situation became
worse and worse when the need of cars came to dominate city design.
Modernism took up the automobile as an icon for the era. This led directly to Corbusiers towers-in-a-park scheme,
with broad highways connecting different parts of the city.
While the New Urbanists comprehend the need to prevent autos from dominating the urban scene, they have yet to
acknowledge that with the expectation that autos remain the default transport mode and must be suited in planning
and design, no extensive change is conceivable. Indeed, the best community will find itself surrounded by occupied
highways (Crawford, 2005).
3. FUNCTIONS OF THE SQUARE AND STREET
Moughtin (2003) In his book, mentioned there ought to be several squares laid out in different parts of the city, some
for the exposing of merchandises to sale in time of peace; and others for the exercises proper for youth; and others
for laying up stores in time of war, . . ..
Activity in a square is important for its vitality and, therefore, also for its visual attraction. Vitruvius when writing
about the design of the forum said it should be proportionate to the number of inhabitants, so that it may not be too
small a space to be useful, nor look like a desert waste for lack of population (Vitruvius, 1960).
He goes on further to detail the various types of market square and associates these with zones in the city:
Nevertheless, even in countries like Britain the square and the street still have an important function in the context of
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urban design. The types of space needed in a city are: the setting for a civic building; the principal meeting places;
places for great ceremonial occasions; spaces for entertainment around buildings such as theatres, cinemas,
restaurants and cafes; spaces for shopping, shopping street, arcades and markets; spaces around which offices are
grouped; spaces of a semi-public nature around which residential accommodation is arranged; and, finally, the
spaces associated with urban traffic junctions (Moughtin, 2003).
In his book, Moughtin (2003) discuss about St Peters Square in Rome as one of the best examples of square.
However, something more than an important node in Romes urban fabric; it is the center of the Catholic universe.
St Peters Cathedral and piazza is the center of a world community. It is therefore on a grand scale. However every
community, every physically distinct area, keeping in mind the end goal to be given fitting definition requires its
center. Centers of small communities won't be on the scale of St Peter's and its piazza however by establishing the
identity of the district, neighborhood or area they will have essential aesthetic and symbolic meaning. Every center
might as well have the unified form of a place, an enclosure (Moughtin, 2003).
In view of Moughtin (2003), there is doubtlessly that the small cozy medieval square discovered in urban areas like
New York or towns like Stamford are a safe place where people can stop, relax and get away from the mad bustle of
modern urban life. On the other hand street as a link it facilitates the movement of people as pedestrians or within
vehicles and also the movement of goods to sustain the wider market and some particular uses within the street. Its
expressive function additionally incorporates recreation, conservation and entertainment and also use as a site for
ritual observations (Moughtin, 2003).
Applying the principles of good urban design at the scales of the quarter, city and region, Street and squares supports
the notion of sustainable development.
Urban form can be affected by the design of street and square as elements of the city quarter. A city not dominated
by the motorcar but one where movement is largely by public transport, or on foot, or by bicycle, opens up a whole
new prospect for the design of public space (Moughtin, 2003).
According to Jabareen (2006) based on a thematic analysis, he identifies seven design concepts repeated and
significant themes of sustainable urban forms: compactness, sustainable transport, density, mixed land uses,
diversity, passive solar design, and greening.
On the other hand the form of cities is influenced more by the arrangement of their streets and squares than by any
other consideration. City form has changed dramatically through the ages. Changes are driven by a multitude of
influences of street and square of which the most important are: values, size, artistic sensibility, design techniques,
building methods, paving techniques, and transport technology (Crawford, 2005).
Piazza Navona in Rome is a square whose sides are in the ratio of approximately 1:5. The walls of the present
square closely follow the shape of the original structure. There is an emphasis on the length of the space which is
reflected in the bold, horizontal treatment of the facade of Sant Agnese. The forward position of the cupola, between
the twin towers of the facade, also encourages indirect views of this imposing feature in the square as opposed to the
more usual frontal perspective. The Piazza Navona is a square dominated by the fountains of a great civic artist who
gave to it its essential character. He changed the direction of movement of those using the piazza by directing
attention away from the long axis and towards the facade of the church. A public square can be dominated by a vista
or void rather than a building or piece of great sculpture. Many of the lovely hill towns of southern Italy have
examples of public squares where the surrounding buildings on three sides form the space. The fourth side of the
square is a belvedere giving magnificent views of the countryside (Moughtin, 2003).
It is approached by narrow streets which widen out into a space surrounded by two- and three-story buildings. It is
here that the main market takes place once a week around a lovely ornamental fountain. The square has a rhythmic
arcade on three sides, enclosed corners and a main central arch and from the port straight through the heart of the
city there is a large street (Moughtin, 2003). The street is reachable through walking and therefore it is following the
sustainable transportation and since the buildings on 3 sides are mixed use it affect the form of the city from that
point of view. Based on Kasioumi (2011) Sustainable urbanism calls for limitations to urban growth, high utilization
of built-up areas, and re-use of existing sites within city limits, therefore in Piazza Navona Mixed-use or
heterogeneous zoning allows compatible land uses to locate in close proximity to one another and thereby decrease
the travel distances between activities and urban forms is the relationship between urban forms and energy
consumption which will affect it along the times. On the other hand diversity of activity is seen in Piazza Navona,
which according to Jane Jacobs (1961) in dense, diversified city areas, people still walk and due to different
activities it is diverse.
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Many writers on urban form seem predisposed towards the rigid grid form and often find grids where they exist only
in an approximate form. Based on Crawford (2005) it is argued that the grid is less well suited to application in car
free cities than medieval patterns, which provide efficient radial routes to goods, services, and transport located at
the center of the district. This can be relating to sustainable transport that to a large extent, the transport technologies
affect the form of the cities. (Jabareen, 2006)
The sustainable city, or more correctly, a city that approximates to a sustainable form, is a compact and flexible
structure in which the parts are connected to each other and to the whole, with a clearly articulated public space. The
public realm connects the different quarters to each other across the city, while also linking individual homes to
workplaces, schools, social institutions and places of recreation (Moughtin, 2003).
Lord Rogers Task Force describes the compact city in this way: Urban areas are organized in concentric bands of
density, with higher densities around public transport nodes (rail, bus and underground stations) and lower densities
in less connected areas. The effect of this compact layout is to establish a clear urban boundary, contain urban
sprawl and reduce car use (Moughtin, 2003).
Sustainable urban forms require densities much higher than the 2030 dwellings per hectare currently widely used in
suburban developments like in UK (Moughtin, 2003).
There is no reason why densities should be uniform throughout the city. For example, there is a sound argument for
increasing densities in areas close to important transport interchanges. Such nodes of activity could support higher
population densities, and a mix of diverse land uses becoming pyramids of intensity within the urban scene
(Moughtin, 2003).
One of the main attractions of city living is proximity to work, shops and basic social, educational and leisure uses.
Whether we are talking about mixing uses in the same neighborhood, a mix within a street or urban block, or the
mixing of uses vertically within a building, good urban design should encourage more people to live near to those
services which they require on a regular basis. Many activities can exist in close proximity: most businesses and
urban services can live harmoniously in a residential area (Moughtin, 2003).
In a more general perspective, there are many influential theorists that have studied how urban life is influenced by
urban form by observing peoples behavior in public space (Jacobs 1961; Whyte and York 1980; Gehl 1987). Jane
Jacobs, in her essential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), came to a number of
conclusions about how urban life and movement patterns of people in cities is effected by urban form. One of her
observations that have got a great impact on later urban design discourse is the notion that small blocks and a street
network give more potential choices for pedestrians and results in a lively and diverse urban life. The pedestrian
flows result in a higher degree of interaction between residents and others, as well as more locations with a
sufficient flow for businesses to survive. The results of William H. Whytes (1980) observation studies also show
the significance of the street structure for human movement patterns. He concludes among other things that relations
between squares and streets are the single most important variable for the extent to which the square will be used
and generate interaction between people (Hernbck, 2012).
People tend to prefer the seemingly shortest available route and use to a lesser extent roads whose direction or goal
is not clearly visible. Observations of public space is the common denominator And the notion that it is the spaces
created between buildings, the street network, that have influence over urban life more than the built environment
itself (Hernbck, 2012).
Based on Jacobs (1961) Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs. Think
of a city and what comes to mind? Its streets. If a citys streets look interesting, the city looks interesting; if they
look dull, the city looks dull (Jacobs, 1965).
There may, indeed, be a relationship between the pattern of crime and environmental form. it seems to strike a note
of common sense when Jacobs asserts: The first thing to understand is that public peace the sidewalk and street
peace of cities is not kept primarily by the police, necessary as police are (Jacobs, 1965).
It is, therefore, necessary to examine the function and role of the street within the urban fabric so that the designer is
better able to understand and give form to this important element of city design. The street in addition to being a
physical element in the city is also a social fact. The street provides a link between buildings, both within the street,
and in the city at large. As a link it facilitates the movement of people as pedestrians or within vehicles and also the
movement of goods to sustain the wider market and some particular uses within the street. It has the less tangible
function in facilitating communication and interaction between people and groups (Moughtin, 2003).
Moughtin (2003) discussed the changes that have taken place recently in the social patterns of life in large western
cities. Thirty years ago, for example, many housewives would walk to the shop; they would also walk the children to
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school. More trips are now made by car to the supermarket, the school and leisure outings. Whether male or female,
young or old, a greater number of social interactions occur at the destination rather than during the trip. In the design
of cities it would be unwise to ignore these changes which have occurred. In total these kinds of streets and squares
are not completely reflecting the sustainable transport and even mixed use, therefore as a result it will affect the
form of the city.
The street and the square are both important elements of the public realm: each street and each square has its own
individual identity and design requirements. Nevertheless, as features of a linked public realm they take on added
significance, as indeed Sitte (1989) noted in his studies.
From another point of view busy metropolitan traffic junctions such as New Yorks Times Square are squares in
name only and should be designed bearing in mind their primary function, the efficient movement of city traffic. A
large square such as New Yorks Washington Square is framed by buildings on all sides yet being too large for the
surrounding heterogeneous structures it lacks enclosure. Its enlarged proportions are such that it has become
something other than a city square (Moughtin, 2003).
A city served by an integrated transport system, where the tram, light rail, metro or bus serves the bulk of the
population, is able to develop within the interstices of the transport system; a parallel network of public spaces
designed for pedestrian use, which link the home to the center and to the countryside through a series of streets,
squares and green corridors such as the one in Liverpool (Moughtin, 2003).
There is little doubt that the introduction of new forms of transport running on the streets in the city center will
transform the Form of the city like Nottingham. This is not a minor adjustment in the urban scene. The presence of
such a vehicle in Market Square, for example, will bring life right into the heart of the city. If it mirrors similar
developments in France, it can only improve the image of the city (Moughtin, 2003).
The tram is an urbane solution to transport problems in the city: its size and scale is compatible with the street scene.
The tram will replace a litter of untidy parked cars that degrade the townscape in many city squares and streets. The
resulting pedestrian-friendly and pollution-free environment is ideal for better appreciation of the streets and squares
that adorn our cities (Moughtin, 2003).
4. DISCUSSION
Sustainability concept concerns quality of urban life and an emphasis on equity for the least advantaged sections of
present and future generations. The term has been mostly used for social, environmental and economic concerns.
The design of a sustainable space necessitates a balance within three major elements that define especially the
walking space- as a node (Erem, 2007) :
The economics of space consumption of users as defined by pedestrian needs.
The spatial environment as dictated by the relationship of movement and non-movement within a given pedestrian
space
The socio-cultural history of the streets as a potential window to discover the pedestrian street culture of the past.
A sustainable city with streets and squares oriented for pedestrians and ornamented with a greenery streetscape can
be enough for anyone wandering around the streets of a city. Yet a city with a clear and readable identity with in
minor and macro scale will achieve a higher standard of the urban living. There are clear links between the attraction
of the city and its quality of life(Rogerson, 1999).
This interaction is related to the spatiality of contemporary society. The competitiveness of a city like Istanbul
having a clear identity and being easily legible despite its complexity becomes important for global competitiveness.
The competitiveness of cities reflects not only their current capacity to engage with global capital, but also is a
function of their heritage, resulting in a spatially differentiated pattern of uniqueness (Erem, 2007).
Sustainability oriented street design takes an active role in satisfying inhabitants. In planning debates of
sustainability and urban rehabilitation, pedestrian needs take significance in planning agendas (Desyllas, 2006) .
A legible design has positive and powerful influence on behavior of people and can establish urban sustainability in
architectural manner. An environment with easier legibility gives people sense of belonging calling on integration of
local culture, sense of place, source of pride, historical significance and contextual sensitivity (Mumford, 200).
Especially pedestrians convert natural or man-made space into a social phenomenon , in the process dictating
boundaries and attaching meaning to it (Gans, 2002).
Sustainable urban spaces should have two interacting elements. First legible environment that supports
psychological or physiological human needs within movement or non-movement spaces to wander and the second is
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Definition and Concept of urban square in view of urban spaces and buildings

115

that the reader such as pedestrians who need hierarchy, mobility, protection, ease, enjoyment and identity (Erem,
2007). The noticeable parts of the city in an order and in an ease to organize them (Lynch, 1960).
urban form is the spatial pattern of human activities at a certain point in time (Erem, 2007). In general sense, urban
form can be classified into three categories: density, diversity and spatial- structure pattern. Density measures the
degree of activity intensity. Diversity refers to spatial scale or grain at which different spatial uses interact. The
increase in density makes a street or square hard to recognize. Diversity reinforced with density carries the
environment to chaos. Spatial-structure pattern is an overall shape of a city. It is the sum of all the density and
diversity level. The legibility of the environment is affected by the geometrical configuration of the physical
components. These components either mental or touchable configure the city. This configuration may be simple or
complex. So the level of reading is absolutely influenced by the complexity of the environment. The degree of
complexity is an important variable for sustainable city design in cognitive manner (Erem, 2007).
5. CONCLUSION
The Urban Square and street are still the most important elements in city design. They are the settings for the most
important civic and religious buildings, a place for fine sculpture, fountains and lighting and, above all else, a place
where people meet and socialize.
When such public places are designed according to principles they create a sense of place. The most important
physical quality of such spaces is enclosure. The methods of enclosure are many though the principles are few.
The Street and Square play a major role in establishing community image and Affect the health, vitality, quality of
life and economic welfare of a city. Streets have to fulfill a complex variety of functions in order to meet people
needs as places for living, working, learning & moving around.
In summarize Urban form can be affected by the design of street and square as elements of the city quarter.

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116

Binqing Zhai

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