URBAN DESIGN

Kiran Joshi

Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture

B. Architecture – VIII Semester
January - May 2008

UNIT – I
Introduction to the role and scope
of Urban Design. Comparison with
‘architecture’ and ‘town planning’
Determinants of Urban Form such
as landform, climate, symbolism,
activity patterns,
patterns socio-cultural
socio cultural
factors, materials and techniques
and other contextual references.
Case examples from various
periods in history and different
parts of the world.
Vocabulary of Urban Design.
Urban Pattern, grain, texture,
density, etc.
Concepts of Imageability.
Elements of the City’s Image.
Paths, Nodes, Landmarks, Edges
and Districts – their
characteristics,
h t i ti rolel andd
interrelationships.
Designing parts of the city:
systems of Communication, and
utilities visual expression
utilities, expression, accent
and contrasts, urban character,
landscape features and city
extension areas.
COURSE CONTENT
UNIT – II UNIT – III
Types of Urban Spaces – street, Role of Legislation and Controls in
square, precinct, piazza, etc. design of the built environment
Various elements of Urban Space – Types of Urban Controls – FAR,
their identification, characteristics Incentive Zoning, Density, Planned
and role in the shaping of the Unit Development, Building Height,
space
space. Building Bulk
Bulk, etc
etc.
Changing role of urban spaces Special Provisions of Town
through history. Role of public Planning Acts
places in the contemporary city.
Design principles – Scale and
Enclosure
Case studies of well-known urban
spaces from various periods of
history to illustrate their design and
performance aspects
INTENT
To appreciate the nature and role of various facets of
Urban Design in the making of the Built Environment
 L t
Lecture 1

Introduction to Urban Design

Role and Scope

Comparison with
‘Architecture’ and “Town Planning’
 Scope

WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN?

e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

arrangement, appearance & functionality

of towns and cities, especially,
p y
shaping and uses of urban public space.

Often regarded as a disciplinary subset of Though closely related,

urban planning, landscape architecture, or
architecture.
However, with its increasing prominence in the
activities of these disciplines, it is better
conceptualised as a design practice
that operates at the intersection of all three,
and also requires a good understanding of
a range of other disciplines,
disciplines such as urban
Lecture
‘Urban Design' differs from
‘Urban Planning' in its focus
on physical improvement of
the public environment.
The latter relates more to
management of private
development through
planning schemes and other

economics, political and social theory, etc. development controls.

 ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN SHAPING AND USES OF PUBLIC SPACE
Scope
e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

Urban Design Theory deals primarily with

“Design and Management of Public Space
& the way Public Places are experienced
and used.

Public Space -- 'public

public environment',
environment ,
'public realm' or 'public domain‘ --
includes all manners of spaces used
freelyy on a day-to-day
y y basis byy the
general public -- streets, plazas, parks..
Lecture
Some aspects of privately owned
spaces, such as building facades or
domestic gardens, also contribute to
public space
p p and are, therefore, also
considered by Urban Design Theory.
 ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN SHAPING AND USES OF PUBLIC SPACE
Scope

Public Spaces are frequently subject to overlapping

e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

management responsibilities of:

1 - multiple public agencies or authorities,
2 - the interests of nearby property owners, as well as
3 - requirements of multiple and sometimes competing users.

The design, construction and management of Public Spaces,

therefore, typically demands consultation and negotiation
across a variety of spheres -- Urban Designers rarely have the
degree of artistic liberty or control sometimes available in
design professions such as architecture.

It also typically requires interdisciplinary input with balanced

representation of multiple fields including engineering,
ecology,
gy, local history,
y, and transport
p p planning,
g, amongg others.
Lecture
 SCOPE OF URBAN DESIGN -- ‘Scale’ and ‘Degree of Detail’
Scope
Can range ffrom llayoutt off entire
e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S
ti cities
iti
to design of ‘street furniture’
Can include Preparation of design
guidelines and regulatory frameworks,
or even legislation to control
development, advertising, etc. and, in
this sense, overlap with urban planning.
Lecture
May encompass th
M the ddesign
i off particular
ti l
spaces and structures and, in this
sense, overlap with architecture,
landscape architecture and industrial
design.
May also deal with ‘place
place management’
management
to guide and assist the use and
maintenance of urban areas.
 Scope

CONCERNS OF URBAN DESIGN - 1

e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

Urban Structure
How a place is put together and how its parts relate to each other

Urban Typology, Density and Sustainability

Spatial types & morphologies related to intensity of use, consumption of
resources, production
d ti & maintenance
i t off viable
i bl communities
iti

Accessibility
P idi for
Providing f ease, safety
f t and
d choice
h i when
h moving
i tot and
d through
th h places
l

Legibility and Way-finding

H l i people
Helping l to
t find
fi d their
th i way around
d and
d understand
d t d howh a place
l works
k
Lecture
 CONCERNS OF URBAN DESIGN - 2
Scope
e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

Animation
Designing places to stimulate public activity

Function and Fit

Shaping places to support their varied intended uses

Complementary Mixed Uses

Locating activities to allow constructive interaction between them

Character and Meaning

Recognizing and valuing the differences between one place and another

Order and Incident

Balancing consistency and variety in the urban environment
in the interests of appreciating both
Lecture
 CONCERNS OF URBAN DESIGN - 3
Scope
e One: Inttroduction to Urban Design – Role and S

Continuity and Change

Locating people in time and place, including respect for heritage and support
for contemporary culture

Civil Society
Making places where people are free to encounter each other as civic equals,
Lecture

an important component in building social capital