Journal of Urbanism

ISSN: 1754-9175 (Print) 1754-9183 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rjou20

URBAN MORPHOLOGY

To cite this article: (2008) URBAN MORPHOLOGY, Journal of Urbanism, 1:1, 91-96, DOI:
10.1080/17549170801905707

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/17549170801905707

Published online: 23 May 2008.

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Journal of Urbanism
Vol. 1, No. 1, March 2008, 91–96

URBAN MORPHOLOGY

Introduction
The study of urban precedent has been a fundamental basis for urban design inquiry and
the identification of timeless principles and practices of urban place making for
generations, from ancient times to today. The approach is shared by classicists,
modernists, and new urbanists alike. The study and documentation of urbanism through
direct observation, measurement, and drawing represent primary methods of urban
analysis with a long history in architecture, planning, and urban design, revealing the
physical characteristics of towns and cities.
The drawings on the following pages, submitted by Professors Jaime Correa and Steve
Fett, represent the ‘‘School of Miami’’ method of urban analysis emphasizing hand-
drawings. In future issues these pages will present a variety of urban morphology
snapshots studying both precedents and contemporary urban places and using a variety of
methods.

ISSN 1754-9175 print/ISSN 1754-9183 online

# 2008 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/17549170801905707
http://www.informaworld.com
92 Urban morphology

Drawings produced by graduate students in the University of Miami School of Architecture’s

Suburb and Town Design Program, Fall 2007, under the direction of Professors Jaime Correa and
Steve Fett. Key: A) Plan of St. Augustine, 1899. B) St. Augustine location map. C) Section of
Spanish Street, 1/16’’ = 1’-0’’. D) Typical residential block, 1:70. E) View of typical residential
street. F) Elevation of Charlotte Street, 3/32’’ = 1’-0’’. G) View of typical commercial street. H)
Typical commercial block, 1:70. I) Section of St. George Street, 1/16’’ = 1’-0’’.
Journal of Urbanism 93
94 Urban morphology

Drawings produced by graduate students in the University of Miami School of Architecture’s

Suburb and Town Design Program, Fall 2007, under the direction of Professors Jaime Correa and
Steve Fett.
Journal of Urbanism 95
96 Urban morphology

Table 1. Morphological comparison.

St Augustine Salem

Date 1899 1890

Documentation area (in acres) 214 163
Lot size
Average width 609 249
Average length 1709 609
Block perimeter
Minimum 7669 6529
Average 17839 16799
Maximum 38139 24179
Number of lots per block
Minimum 2 5
Maximum 24 57
Number of buildings per block
Minimum 1 8
Maximum 35 89
Number of blocks 43 48
Alleys and/or lanes
Yes X
No X
R.O.W. width
(measured from the front lot line)
Minimum 16 11
Maximum 76 62
R.O.W. proportions
(the most common ‘‘mode’’ conditions)
Width 1 (259) 3 (709)
Height 1 (259) 1 (259)
Number of R.O.W.’s
(excludes interior block alleys and pathways)
Continuous 9 2
Discontinuous 8 30
Number of civic buildings 113 30
Publicly owned and managed buildings and
religious buildings
Number of civic open spaces 10 4
Acreage of civic open spaces
Minimum 0.32 0.62
Maximum 2.66 9.90
Percentage of land occupation
Gross (with R.O.W.’s and civic spaces) 18% 32%
Net (without R.O.W.’s and civic spaces) 19% 41%
Urban form (urban geometry)
Regular
Irregular X X

Source: Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, University of Miami Richter Library. Note: The Library of
Congress has ‘‘over 700,000 fire insurance map sheets produced by the Sanborn Map Company for
more than twelve thousand American cities and towns from the 1870s until the 1950s. These maps were
prepared primarily to assist insurance underwriters in determining the risk involved in insuring
individual properties.’’ The maps represent an invaluable resource for urban researchers illustrating the
detailed characteristics of buildings, streets, blocks, utilities, and other physical details of the built
environment. Sanborn Maps are available in public libraries throughout the United States, Canada,
and Mexico and in digital formats through ProQuest.