UNIT-1

INTRODUCTION
TO
URBAN DESIGN
⦿ Urban design blends architecture, landscaping,
and city planning together to make urban areas
functional and attractive.

⦿ Urban design is the process of shaping the

physical setting for life in cities, towns and villages.
It is the art of making places. It involves
the design of buildings, groups of buildings,
spaces and landscapes, and establishing the
processes that make successful development
possible.
 Urban design involves place-making
 This process is achieved by establishing identifiable
neighborhoods, unique architecture, aesthetically
pleasing public places and vistas, identifiable
landmarks and focal points, and a human element
established by compatible scales of development
according to the needs of the local community.

 Urban design practice areas range in scale from

small public spaces or streets to neighborhoods,
city-wide systems, or whole regions.
Urban design operates at 3 scales:

Macro level Meso level Micro level

 Why is Urban Design Needed?
 Design can help enhance a city’s advantages:
physical needs of citizens; safety, security and protection; an
environment free of pollution, noise, accidents, and crime; a
conducive social environment ..a sense of community; an
appropriate image and prestige; creativity and self-expression
in neighborhoods; aesthetically pleasantness as a place of
culture and a work of art.
 Design can help diminish a city’s
disadvantages: containment of size & population;& social
stratification
 The Scope of Urban Design

The need for UD as a discipline has arisen as a

result of political, social and economic
changes.

Other issues include the impact of environmental

issues and quality of life on the nature of the city
and how urban form can best be adapted to our
current and future needs.
 Criteria for Urban Design:
What may dictate an urban design undertaking?

 Appeal (…how places look….)

 Function …(how places work…);
 Quality of urban areas; (ambience)
 Community well-being: Vitality;
safety;
 Objectives of Urban Design
 Aesthetics: Strong Visual Impact

 Development: New Investment & Employment opportunities

 Functional Efficiency

 Improved Environmental conditions

 Safety

 Solutions to unique problems

 Community Integration
 Objectives of Urban Design
To provide safety and comfort of pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit,
freight and other vehicles
• Create appropriate transitions from highway facilities to urban streets
• Provide adequate space and linkages for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit and freight
vehicles
• Provide a walkable pedestrian-oriented environment that is supportive of transit
• To improve public safety
• Emphasize design features which buffer pedestrians from moving traffic

Reinforce the sense of place and give structure and orientation to the
urban experience
• Maintain key views and vistas to the city skyline, natural features and iconic elements
• Reveal the features of the natural and urban landscape that contribute to unique identity
and sense of place
• Create an appropriate sense of arrival and departure into and from the City
• Establish a vocabulary of elements that integrate well with the urban context and that
enhance its legibility
• Enhance intuitive way-finding and a sense of orientation and destination
• Provide lighting that not only meets functional requirements but enhances the scenic
qualities and night-time experience of the city
Contribute positively to the fabric of the city and the unique qualities
of adjacent neighborhoods
• Support the preservation of historic buildings and the achievement of the urban
potential of adjacent neighborhoods consistent with approved Neighborhood Plans
• Complement the context and qualities of adjacent neighborhoods with an appropriate
scale, massing and character of the built form
• Foster opportunities for future development and maintain the viability of existing uses
• Minimize leftover spaces that become opportunities for anti-social behavior

Contribute to the sustainability of the urban environment

• Incorporate best management practices in the design of the storm water system
• Utilize elements that promote energy conservation
• Encourage the use of local and recycled materials
• Encourage an urban environment that supports healthy and active living
• Protect and preserve natural and cultural resources
Principles of Urban Design

•Legibility
•Permeability
•Adaptability
•Diversity
•Public Realm
•Character
•Continuity & Enclosure
•Ease of Movement
•Sustainability
Permeability

Permeability or connectivity describes the extent to

which urban forms permit (or restrict) movement of
people or vehicles in different directions (street grid).
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN
In shaping a dynamic, distinctive and delightful city, we consider the
following elements. They help to guide developments and enhance the quality
and character of our built environment.
Building form:
Variation in building height, volume, and the way in which
buildings are grouped together, are examples of how building form
contributes to the unique character of specific areas.

Building forms are guided by specific uses of buildings. As they have an

impact on the streetscape, it is important that their forms respond
to their surroundings.
Open Spaces :
Open spaces can be grand central plazas and squares, or small, lush
pocket parks. They can also be soothing sanctuaries amid the urban hurly-burly
or packed with people. These open spaces also act as landmarks and unique
setting for events and celebrations.

Great public spaces are the living room of the city - the place where people come
together to enjoy the city and each other. Public spaces make high quality life in
the city possible - they form the stage and backdrop to the drama of life
Pedestrian network:
Well-connected pedestrian networks to allow people to move easily and
comfortably within the city, and facilitate the use of public transportation.
It connects open spaces, points of interest and parks, and can be at different
levels, allowing you to appreciate the city from different perspectives.

Walking to the Esplanade from City Hall MRT takes only about 15 minutes via the City Link underground
pedestrian network. The link-way is also lined with shopping and dining options.
Other pedestrian networks include pedestrian malls, promenades, covered walkways and link-ways,
through-block links and overhead linkages.
Vehicular access:
The location of car parks and drop-off points affect the way vehicles navigate their
way around the city. It also influences how pedestrians experience the city. It is
important to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic to avoid
causing danger and conflict to pedestrians.

For example, the drop-off point at Mandarin Gallery used to be located in front of the buildings along the
main Orchard Road pedestrian mall. This mix of vehicular and pedestrian traffic was not ideal, and caused
disruptions to pedestrians. After Mandarin Gallery was refurbished , the drop-off point was relocated to
the side, along Orchard Link. This opened up the front of the development for activity generating uses and
also provides pedestrians with a safer and more pleasant environment.
Streetscape:
Streets can make our interaction with our city richer and memorable. The
character of the street is contributed by active uses at the street level including
signage, lighting, landscaping, building form and architecture.

For example, the experience of walking along the Singapore River is designed to respond to the river and
to play up its attributes. Buildings are located away from the river to provide a wide promenade next to
the river for pedestrians. The front sections of new buildings cannot be higher than 4 storeys, to
complement the existing conserved buildings and also preserve a sense of openness, preventing visitors
from feeling dwarved by looming buildings along the river. Alfresco dining and landscaping along the
river promenade also adds to the riverine ambience.
Night Lighting:
Night lighting extends the life of the city, beyond twilight and sunset. It also
enhances the character of a place and experience of the city at night.

Through our Night Lighting Master Plan, we encourage building owners in the CBD, Marina Bay and
Marina Centre areas, whose buildings contribute to our signature skyline, to incorporate lighting to key
building elements such as building crowns, sky gardens, building facades, and covered walkways so that a
unquie three-dimensional skyline can be appreciated at night.

Illuminated skyline around Marina Bay

 Urban Space

Space and its definition; enclosure; built (+ve) versus unbuilt (-ve);
skyscape; landform
 Urban Functions:
Living; Working; Leisure; Mobility; Administration

This relates to the purpose of a land use for

residential areas, recreation, industry etc.
 Urban Fabric:

Urban fabric is the physical form of towns and cities. Like textiles, urban
fabric comes in many different types and weaves.
Urban fabric:
The physical aspect of
urbanism, emphasizing
building types, open
space, frontages, and
streetscapes but
excluding environmental,
economic and
sociocultural aspects.

Urban fabrics is divided

into two typologies:
coarse grain and fine
grain
What is Urbanisation?
Urbanisation is the increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.

What causes urbanisation?

Urbanisation occurs because people move from rural areas (countryside) to urban
areas (towns and cities). This usually occurs when a country is still developing.

The three main causes of urbanisation since 1950 are:

1.Rural to urban migration is happening on a massive scale due to population

pressure and lack of resources in rural areas. This are 'push' factors.

2. People living in rural areas are 'pulled' to the city. Often they believe that the
standard of living in urban areas will be much better than in rural areas.

3. Due to available infrastructure facilities.

Some of the major problems of urbanisation are:

1. Urban Sprawl
2. Overcrowding
3. Shortage of Houses
4. Unemployment
5. Slums and Squatter Settlements
6. Transport
7. Water
8. Sewerage Problems
9. Trash Disposal
10. Urban Crimes
11. Problem of Urban Pollution!
URBAN ISSUES/PROBLEMS
URBAN ISSUES/PROBLEMS
 ABILITIES AND ACTIVITIES OF
URBAN DESIGNERS

Analysis: An audit of the characteristics of a site to give a sense of

place

Collaboration: the need for urban designers to work with others,

including with local communities

Policy Formulation: required to deal with the breadth of urban

design issues and activities

Design Generation: Building, landscape and engineering design, site

planning, master planning, framework design, illustrative
design, and visioning

Implementation: attention to how plans and proposals could be

implemented requires a capacity for initiative, innovation,
creativity, negotiation, collaboration, and management.
 Lets identify & discuss the

URBAN PROBLEMS/ISSUES

&

SUGGEST FEW SOLUTIONS

PROBLEMS CREATED DUE TO
TRAFFIC IN CITIES