URBAN DESIGN UNIT - I

Urban Design - Definitions

-The art of making Successful Places
-Urban design involves the arrangement and design of buildings, public spaces,
transport systems, services, and amenities.
-Urban design is the process of giving form, shape, and character to groups of
buildings, to whole neighbourhood, and the city.

-Urban design is the design of treatments & relationships between different

buildings, streets, squares, parks & spaces that make up the Public domain.
It is the study of the complex relationships between all the elements of the
Built & Un-built spaces.
The study of Urban Design deals with the relationships between the physical
form of the city and the Social forces that produce it. - Urban design is a
multidisciplinary activity involving planners, architects, landscape architects
and engineers, Working together to create and implement a vision for our cities,
towns and villages, for our neighbourhood and for new and existing
developments.
-Urban design is the collaborative and multi disciplinary process of shaping the
physical setting for life in cities, town and villages, the art of making places,
design in an urban context. Urban design involves the design of buildings, groups
of buildings, spaces and landscapes and the establishment of frameworks and
processes that facilitates successful development.
 Components of Urban Space

Buildings

Buildings are the most pronounced

elements of urban design - they shape
and articulate space by forming the
streetwalls of the city. Well designed
buildings and groups of buildings work
together to create a sense of place.

Public Space

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. Public spaces
range from grand central plazas and squares,
to small, local neighbourhood parks.

Streets

Streets are the connections between spaces

and places, as well as being spaces
themselves.

They are defined by their physical dimension

and character as well as the size, scale, and
character of the buildings that line them.

Streets range from grand avenues such as the

Rajpath, Delhi to small, intimate pedestrian
streets.

The pattern of the street network is part of

what defines a city and what makes each city
unique
Transport

Transport systems connect the parts of cities

and help shape them, and enable movement
throughout the city.

They include road, rail, bicycle, and

pedestrian networks, and together form the
total movement system of a city.

The balance of these various transport

systems is what helps define the quality and
character of cities, and makes them either
friendly or hostile to pedestrians.

The best cities are the ones that elevate the

experience of the pedestrian while
minimizing the dominance of the private
automobile.

Landscape

The landscape is the green part of the city

that weaves throughout - in the form of
urban parks, street trees, plants, flowers,
and water in many forms. The landscape
helps define the character and beauty of a
city and creates soft, contrasting spaces
and elements. Green spaces in cities range
from grand parks such as Central Park in
New York City and the Washington DC
Mall, to small intimate pocket parks.

Urban Design weaves together these components into a coherent,

organized design structure

paris
Urban Design: Elements
Avignon, France
 Urban Design: Aspects

Character
a place with its own identity.

Santorini:

Where setting
becomes the
character

quality of the Public Realm

a place with attractive & successful outdoor areas
Ease of movement
a place that is easy to get to & move through.

Adaptability
A place that can change easily. Buildings may come and go. But the character of
street / space has to be retained.
A place that serves different functions in different times

Diversity
a place with variety & choice
Continuity & Enclosure
a place where public & private spaces re clearly distinguished.
Legibility
a place that has a clear image, easy to understand , clear to find without being lost.
The urban design structure
defines the urban form and the building form

Creative articulation of space is the most prominent aspect of urban design.

The following artistic principles are an integral part of creating form and spatial
definition:

order
unity
balance
proportion
scale
hierarchy
symmetry
hythm
contrast
context
detail
texture
harmony
beauty

Articulation by Balance / Articulation by Symmetry

Articulation by Proportion

Articulation by Detail

Articulation by Hierarchy
Articulation by Context

Articulation by Rhythm

Articulation by Contrast
Articulation by TExture

Articulation by Beauty

Articulation by Order
Interdependencies

ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

This diagramshows the approximate hierarchical relationship between the elements of urban
design, followed by a brief definition of each of the elements.
The section below provides basic explanations for terms that are commonly used for urban
design.

Elements of urban form macro to micro

URBAN STRUCTURE
The overall framework of a region, town or precinct, showing relationships
between zones of built forms, land forms, natural environments, activities
and open spaces. It encompasses broader systems including transport and
infrastructure networks.

URBAN GRAIN
The balance of open space to built form, and the nature and extent of
subdividing an area into smaller parcels or blocks. For example a ‘fine urban
grain’ might constitute a network of small or detailed streetscapes. It takes into
consideration the hierarchy of street types, the physical linkages and movement
between locations, and modes of transport.

DENSITY + MIX
The intensity of development and the range of different uses (such as
residential, commercial, institutional or recreational uses).

HEIGHT + MASSING
The scale of buildings in relation to height and floor area, and how they relate
to surrounding land forms, buildings and streets. It also incorporates building
envelope, site coverage and solar orientation. Height and massing create the
sense of openness or enclosure, and affect the amenity of streets, spaces and
other buildings.

STREETSCAPE + LANDSCAPE
The design of public spaces such as streets, open spaces and pathways,
and includes landscaping, microclimate, shading and planting.

FACADE + INTERFACE
The relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring buildings
(alignment, setbacks, boundary treatment) and the architectural expression
of their facades (projections, openings, patterns and materials).

DETAILS + MATERIALS
The close-up appearance of objects and surfaces and the selection of materials
in terms of detail, craftsmanship, texture, colour, durability, sustainability and
treatment. It includes street furniture, paving, lighting and signage. It
contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public domain.
PUBLIC REALM
Much of urban design is concerned with the design and management of
publicly used space (also referred to as the public realm or public domain) and
the way this is experienced and used.
The public realm includes the natural and built environment used by the
general public on a day-to-day basis such as streets, plazas, parks, and public
infrastructure. Some aspects of privately owned space such as the bulk and
scale of buildings, or gardens that are visible from the public realm, can also
contribute to the overall result.
At times, there is a blurring of public and private realms, particularly where
privately owned space is publicly used.

TOPOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT

The natural environment includes the topography of landforms, water courses,
flora and fauna—whether natural or introduced. It may be in the form of rivers
and creeks, lakes, bushland, parks and recreational facilities, streetscapes or
private gardens, and is often referred to as ‘green infrastructure’.

SOCIAL + ECONOMIC FABRIC

The non-physical aspects of the urban form which include social factors
(culture, participation, health and well-being) as well as the productive capacity
and economic prosperity of a community. It incorporates aspects such as
demographics and life stages, social interaction and support networks.

SCALE
The size, bulk and perception of a buildings and spaces. Bulk refers to the
height, width and depth of a building in relation to other surrounding buildings,
the street, setbacks and surrounding open space. For example, a large building
set amongst other smaller buildings may seem ‘out of scale’.

URBAN FORM
The arrangement of a built up area. This arrangement is made up of many
components including how close buildings and uses are together; what uses are
located where; and how much of the natural environment is a part of the built
up area.
 Urban Fabric:
The combined pattern of blocks, streets, open spaces and street characters

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

Urban fabric is divided into two typologies: coarse grain and fine grain
Coarse Grain:
Characteristics of the large urban blocks which isolate users of the space from
others around them.
This gives the city dweller very little opportunity to interact with the spaces
through linkages.

Fine Grain:
Features smaller city blocks. More organic because it grows due to the dynamic
and changing needs of city.
Creates higher level of safety. Easier to navigate.
Urban Space

Space and its definition;

enclosure;
built (+ve) versus unbuilt (-ve);
skyscape;
Landform

Above all contribute to Urban space.

 Urban Functions:
Living; Working; Leisure; Mobility; Administration

This relates to the purpose of a land use for residential areas, recreation,
industry etc.
Urban Design – Scale

Urban design operates at 3 scales

the region - city and town

the neighborhood - district and corridor
the block - street and building

Urban Design – Principles

To create productive, sustainable and liveable places for people through leadership
and the integration of design excellence
Urban design – Scope
supports planning policies
Facilitates collaboration
express vision
set design standards
indicate the next steps

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 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.
Need for Urban Design as a Discipline
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 as a Discipline

Aesthetics Strong Visual Impact

Development: New Investment & Employment opportunities

Functional Efficiency

Improved Environmental conditions

Safety

Solutions to unique problems

Community Integration

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
Urbanization – challenges and issues

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.

Outline of Issues:
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
12. Urban Heat Island Effect

Urban Sprawl
The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas.

Urban Sprawl refers to the

migration of a population
from populated towns and
cities to low-density
residential development
over more and more rural
land .

urban sprawl results in :

Increase in Public Expenditure: They can actually play a part in the increases of
public costs because these changes in infrastructures and building must actually
be paid for by someone- and it is usually the taxpayers.

Increased Traffic: Populations will begin to use their cars more often, which
means that there is more traffic on the roads.

Environmental Issues: When you think about going out to develop these lands
you will have to worry about the wildlife that lives in these lands. You will be
displacing them, and it can really cause a ripple in the environment.
Overcrowding
High occupancy rates

Overcrowding or crowding refers to the condition where more people are

located within a given space than is considered tolerable from a safety and
health perspective
Effects on quality of life due to crowding may be due to increased physical
contact, lack of sleep, lack of privacy and poor hygiene, practices.

Shortage of Houses

Housing shortage occurs when

there is a rapid population
growth which causes rapid
increase in demand for housing.
Housing shortage results when
the demand exceeds the supply
of housing.
Reasons:
Rapid population growth
Limited land supply
Migration
Competing land use
High birth rates
Unemployment
Situation where in a person willing to work fails to find a job that earns him
a living.

Unemployment means lack of employment. In simple way, unemployment means

the state of being unemployed.

Causes:

Mass migration is an
important cause for unemployment
in urban areas.

A city or town can ill-afford to

provide employment opportunities
to all of the migrated people, thus,
causing mass unemployment.

Types:

Unemployment may be categorized as follows:

seasonal unemployment,
industrial unemployment,
educational unemployment,
technological unemployment, and
disguised unemployment.

Agricultural laborers, farmers, workers of sugar mills, rice sellers, cotton ginning
units and ice factories are included in seasonal unemployment.

Workers forced to be unemployed due to saving devices are counted in industrial

unemployment.

Educated unemployment arises when a large number of educated people are

unemployed or unable to secure a job.

Technological unemployment refers to the situation when people have been put
out of work by the introduction of a superior technology in their idea of operation.

Disguised unemployment is a common feature in agriculture. It arises when more

than the required human-resource have been engaged in the cultivation of the
same plot. It is a sort of under employment.
Slums and Squatter Settlements
Slums:

Slums are highly congested areas marked by deteriorated, unsanitary

buildings, poverty and social disorganisation.

Squatter settlement:

The term 'squatter settlement' or 'squatter housing' is defined as any housing

which contravenes existing legislation on the occupation of land of the
construction of dwellings .
Squatters settle on land, especially public or unoccupied land, without right or
title. Squatters include those who settles on public land under regulation by
the government in order to get title to it.

Simplifying
Slums refer to the environmental aspects of the area where a community
resides, while squatters refer to the legality of the rl and ownership and other
infrastructure provisions.
Causes for slums:

Decentralization:
When it take place, the rich and middle class people move out to the extended
portions (scope) of the town and thus the poor people are left unattended in the
overcrowded central area of the town. ( Gentrification)

Economic conditions:
The most important characteristic in slums is poverty. This is fact that people
live in slums because they can’t afford to pay the rent set up by the market
conditions.

Improper use of land:

If the land fit for the residence are used for industries or vice-versa, the slums
may be formed.

Lack of zoning:
If the town is not divided into suitable zones and development is allowed to take
place at random, the slums may be created.

Migrants:
The persons migrating from the surrounding areas may occupy, usually illegally,
the vacant or empty places in or outside the city. The colonies of squatters may
result into slums.

Repairs and maintenance:

If cheap houses, constructed by the land owner for the purpose of collecting
rents, are not properly maintained, the formation of slums may develop.

Transport
Here are five major challenges for transit in urban areas:
Traffic congestion:
The sheer number of vehicles on city roads
each day just carrying a single person on their
daily commute to work is huge, in addition to
it, delivery trucks and vans, service vehicles,
and buses and taxis can lead to massive
gridlock. This results in
• rising tensions
• more fuel use
• higher amounts of air pollution
• slower commuting times
• finding a place to park

Long commutes:
Increased traffic, road construction, and a
population that increasingly lives in one part of
the city and works in another all contribute to
longer commute times.

Secondary infrastructure:
The supporting element of ensuring adequate
rider parking areas can be a boon to increased
public transit usage, as park-n-ride stops allow
for riders to leave their vehicles safely on the
outskirts of a city and avoid parking hassles.

Sprawling cities:
As many cities grow increasingly outward,
urban and suburban sprawl places both
residential and commercial real estate further
away from the center, and this
decentralization leads to not only increasingly
complex transit and road systems, but also to
long commutes and drive-time traffic woes.
Some cities may choose to focus on an 'infill'
development process to tighten up city centers,
or to use strict zoning guidelines to keep
industry and residential areas separated, but no
matter the approach, the trend toward
decentralization looks to continue.
Large fleets, large costs:
Transit agencies in urban areas, which
manage larger fleets of vehicles and
more employees, have their challenges
cut out for them in terms of keeping
maintenance costs and tasks under
control, as well as attracting, training,
and retaining a skilled workforce, which
contributes to increased safety and
fewer lost-time accidents. The adoption
of technology systems for better route
scheduling, maintenance tracking, and
employee scheduling can help reduce
costs and downtime, as can the
implementation of better tracking,
mapping, and communications systems
on the vehicles themselves.
Water
A water crisis is when there is not enough potable water for a
population, which in turn leads to drought, famine and death.
Causes of Water Crisis

1. Water Pollution
polluted due to poor sanitation and lack of waste
treatment plants.

2. Groundwater over drafting

The excessive use of groundwater in our agricultural industries is leading to
diminished yields and wasted water. Over 70% of our water is used to grow
crops and most is wasted due to leaky pipes and poor watering techniques.

3. Overuse and misuse of water

This leads to more water being wasted and squandered for pointless reasons and
leads to further escalations of the crisis.

4. Disease
A large quantity of the available groundwater in the worst effected parts of the
world is ridden with disease due to the lack of proper water treatment and
recycling.
5. Climate change
Climate change is changing the way water evaporates and where it rains,
pushing rainfall further south in both hemispheres

6. Mismanagement
Improper training and education leads to needless waste of safe clean water
every day, as well as overuse in areas that don ’t require so much water.

7. Corruption
Simply put. Some of the people who have the power to help those people in
need just don’t care.

8. Lack of institutions
Lesser developed countries have no institutions to advise on water treatment
and management, this leads to mismanagement and waste

9. Lack of infrastructure
Poor regions often don’t have the funds or education to implement proper
infrastructure such as waste treatment and recycling plants

10. Loss of groundwater

Due to climate change, human expansion and development is leading to loss
of groundwater worldwide.

11. Unfair pricing of water

Areas of extreme poverty often have to pay extortionate rates in order to
purchase clean water. Those who have no money have to drink from holes in
the dirt, or puddles on the roadside
Effects of Water Crisis

1. Death
2. Disease
3. Warfare
4. Lack of irrigation
5. Lack of sanitation
6. Lack of hygiene
7. Agricultural problems
8. Livestock problems
9. Malnutrition
10. Birth defects
11. Poor education
12. Poor Healthcare
13. Societal impact

Sewage Problems
Picture Gallery
Urban Crime

An action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the

state and is punishable by the law.

Causes for urban crime

1. Poverty
2. Public Disorder
3. Unemployment
4. Houselessness
5. Mental Disorders
6. Increasing Vulnerable Population and migration
7. Lack of enforcement of strict Laws
8. Corruption
9. Unsafe and Unfriendly environments
10. Poor planning strategies
11. Influx of illegal workers

Trash Disposal
Unplanned disposals often ends in landfills

Landfills are sites designated for dumping rubbish, garbage, or other sorts of
solidwastes. Historically, they are the most common means
of disposing solid wastewhich is either buried or left to pile in heaps. ... Here
are the causes, effects, and solutions to landfills
Serious Causes of Landfills
1.Solid waste
Solid waste is the number one contributor of landfill waste disposal. The bulk of
these wastes eventually end up in the landfills. Examples of the solid waste
materials include wood, paper, plastic, broken furniture, glass, grounded cars,
obsolete electronic products, and hospital and market waste. Because most of
these waste materials are non-biodegradable, they heap in the landfills where they
stay for years.
2. Agricultural waste
Agricultural wastes arise from waste materials generated from animal manure,
crop, and farm remains. The solid wastes like the animal manure and other
agricultural by products are collected and dumped in the landfills. These
agricultural remnants are highly toxic and can contaminate the land and water
resources.
3. Industry, manufacturing, and construction waste
Industrial processes, construction activities and power plants produce a wide
range of solid byproducts and residues. The predominant waste products are
generated from oil refineries, power plants, construction works, pharmaceuticals,
and agricultural product producers. The solid wastes usually find way to the
landfills.
4. Urbanization and population growth
Increasing urbanization and population growth rate is considerably accountable
for the increased number of landfills across the world. With the increase of
population and urban growth, the demand for manufactured products and
materials increases
Drastic Effects of Landfills
1.Air pollution and atmospheric effects
2.Ground water pollution
3. Health effects
4.Soil and land pollution
5.Economic costs
6.Landfill fires

Impressive Solutions of Landfills

1.Design and implementation of integrated waste management
2.Recycle, Re-use, and reduce
• Respect the planet
• Rethink our consumption needs
• Reduce wastage
• Reuse products
• Recycle materials
Pollution

urban air - polluted with gases from burning fossil fuels and exhaust fumes
from automobiles, factories, power generators and also harmful fumes from
chemicals such as paints, plastics and toxic spills.

Urban Land – polluted by dumping waste, plastics, inorganic matter, e waste and
carbon particles into barren and unoccupied lands.

Urban water bodies – polluted by dumping solid wastes, leakage in sewers

bypassing the waterbodies, industrial wastes & byproducts, throwing of plastic
products on to the waterbodies.

Seven types of pollution:

Water Pollution
Air Pollution
Soil Pollution
Thermal Pollution
Radioactive Pollution
Noise Pollution
Light Pollution

urban heat isla nd

(UHI) is an urban area or metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its
surrounding rural areas due to human activities.
Surfaces that were once permeable and moist become impermeable and dry. These
changes cause urban regions to become warmer than their rural surroundings,
forming an "island" of higher temperatures in the landscape.
Heat islands occur on the surface and in the atmosphere

Cars and air conditioners in urban areas convert energy to heat and release
the heat into the air
By replacing vegetation with structures evaporative cooling advantages of
vegetation is lost