Urban Design

Session 1
Introduction, Need, Scope and Objectives

Nolli’s plan – Rome

(Figure ground)
Source: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/442549100853624740/
WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN?
WHAT IS IT RELATED TO?
WHAT ARE ITS COMPONENTS/ELEMENTS/DIMENSIONS?
Ancient town of Matera, Southern Italy
Source: https://willettte.com/tag/ancient-cities/
Athens, Acropolis.
Source: http://www.acropolisofathens.gr/aoa/the-acropolis/getting-there/
Machu Pichu, Peru. Incan settlement ruins.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/71570422/Ancient-cities-Top-10-lost-cities-of-the-world /
Rome.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/71570422/Ancient-cities-Top-10-lost-cities-of-the-world /
Rome.
Source: http://erinamsili.blogspot.in/2011/01/new-years-eve-rome-style.html
St. Peters square, Rome.
Source: http://www.hws.edu/alumni/rome/
Arc de Tromphe, Paris
Source: http://www.travelforteens.com/top-ten-must-see-views-world//
Varanasi
Source: http://www.airpano.com/360Degree-VirtualTour.php?3D=india_varanasi
Madurai
Source: http://www.indian-temples-history.in/2011/02/madurai-meenakshi-amman-temple-photos.html
Greece
Source: http://www.eurail.com/europe-by-train/greece
Venice
Source: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/city-of-venice-to-ban-mother-and-father-terms-on-official-forms
Central Park in Manhattan
Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3190266/A-drone-s-eye-view-awe-inspiring-waterfalls-astonishing-cities-incredible-aerial-pictures-worlds-greatest-sights.html
Barcelona
Source: oxbridgeacademicprograms.wordpress.com
Tokyo
Source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/398639004491043106/
New York
Source: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=cities+aerial+view&client=firefox-b-
ab&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihqaCThs7UAhVMNo8KHXrPAckQsAQIKw&biw=1280&bih=639#imgrc=epG1Ec5jK_0rHM:/
Mumbai
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/501518108474701117/:/
Mumbai
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/575053446145793172/:/
Shanghai
Source: http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-auto-10-biggest-markets-for-luxury-cars-in-the-world/20130321.htm
Ahmedabad
Source: http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-special-indias-20-most-livable-cities-mumbai-is-no-1/20140106.htm
Jodhpur
Source: http://www.sensationalcolor.com/color-meaning/color-around-the-world/india-colorful-jodhpur-rajasthan-the-blue-city-1880#.WUnzrLgoTKQ
Bikaner
Source: http://www.mygola.com/bikaner-d45525
Delhi
Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/37858453088763068/
 URBAN CITIES

IRREDUCIBLE PLURAL TEXT

As coined by Prof. P.V K Rameshwar, Cept University, Ahmedabad

 The art of creating and shaping cities and towns.

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 neighborhoods, and the city.

It is a framework that orders the elements into a network of streets, squares, and
blocks.

Urban design blends architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning together
to make urban areas functional and attractive.
Source:www.urbandesign.org
 Urban design is about making connections between people and places, movement
and urban form, nature and the built fabric. Urban design draws together the many
strands of place-making, environmental stewardship, social equity and economic
viability into the creation of places with distinct beauty and identity.

Urban design is derived from but transcends planning and transportation policy,
architectural design, development economics, engineering and landscape. It draws
these and other strands together creating a vision for an area and then deploying the
resources and skills needed to bring the vision to life.

"The building of cities is one of man's greatest achievements." -Edmund Bacon

Source:www.urbandesign.org
 Urban Design
The art of creating and shaping cities and towns.

Urban design

• 3d manifestation of master plan

• Futuristic, both planning and
• Two dimensional architecture
• Single client
• Regional Planning:- • Multiple client – population of an
area • Effective control and
Master planning, time bound
development plans, • Less control, No fixed timeframe,
continuing process • Smaller scale and
Town planning schemes defined area
• Physical and Non- • Geographical area, no defined
boundaries, system network with • Determinant process
Physical planning
a set of objectives
• Works with various layers –
Planning human, built/open, Networking,
Architecture
Communication and their
interrelationships.
 The evolution of cities

The first cities obviously were built when

humankind had got beyond the struggle for
mere existence.

Both depended on sophisticated

agriculture, including the rearing of
livestock.

…that mankind first of all must’ eat, drink,

have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue
politics, science, art, religion etc’.
Catal Huyuk in Central Anatolia (Asian Turkey c. 6500 BC)
The presence of great rivers made irrigation possible but it had to be organized:

The successful practice of irrigation involves an elaborate control system. A system of main
channels feeds subsidiary channels, watering the fields when the necessary sluice gates are
closed.

The implications therefore are that there must be some central communal organization and the
beginnings of a code of laws which the organization enforces …the evidence that there was an
efficient communal organization is to be seen in the great defensive systems

Small wonder then, that the first cities show evidence of social stratification and the
development of craft specializations.
‘ Surplus ‘ – a triggering concept; leading to trade and exchanges.
So, four things in the first place, made the city possible:

1. the separation of the built-up area from the surrounding countryside, possibly by defensive
walls;

2. the development of irrigation systems for intensive agriculture;

3. and the development of craft- specialties to serve not only the needs or the desires of the
urban population but also as bases for trade.

4. the development of power structures by which the irrigation systems, and other aspects of
urban life, could be controlled—usually by kings and priests;
 Urban Design – the background

• In history, there are many carefully planned cities existing in Asia, America, Europe,
Africa and Classical Chinese, Greek, Roman etc.
• European medieval cities are regarded as exemplars of undesigned or organic city
development.
• Several cities were designed in grid pattern in the middle ages (9th -14th century);
considering defensive techniques, Focusing on stimulating economic growth and
generating revenue.
• The beginning of modern urban design in Europe are associated with the
Renaissance. Design of streets, public spaces was connected to the social norms or
philosophical and religious beliefs. Formal expressions and geometry.
 Urban Design – the background

• Planning and architecture went through a paradigm shift at the turn of 20th
century.
• The industrialized cities grew at a tremendous rate, largely dictated by private
business concerns.
• The evils of urban life for the working poor were becoming increasingly evident as a
matter for public concern.
• Several Planning efforts by Ebenezer Howard (Garden cities) came to light.
 Urban Design – the background

• Urban design was first used as a distinctive term when Harvard University hosted a
series of Urban design conferences from 1956.
• Joseph Lluis Sert : The architect of urban design. (1953-1969) – most influential
practioner and was the Dean of Harvard University's Graduate School where he
founded and directed the department of urban design.
• Urban design conference held in Harvard (1956) and Pennsylvania (1959)
Universities.
• Conference in Pennsylvania – Kevin Lynch, Jane Jacobs, Lewis Mumford, Ian
Mcharg (notable urban thinkers)
 Urban Design – the background
The term ‘urban design’ came into being in North America in the late 1950s, replacing
and superseding the more traditional, narrower and somewhat outmoded term ‘civic
design’.
Typified by the City Beautiful Movement, the latter was associated with a highly
artistic and physical (visual and spatial) approach to urban design, focusing on the
siting and design of major civic buildings – city halls, opera houses, and museums –
and their relationship to open spaces.
Contemporary urban design is more expansive than this. It is primarily concerned with
the quality of the public realm – both physical and socio-cultural – and the making
(and managing) of meaningful ‘places’ for people to enjoy and use.
More recently the quest for more sustainable urban form has become a more explicit
component.
 Urban designer
• Convert the regional
planning guidelines to reality
• Determining the appropriate
land uses, movement,
pattern, scale, architectural
level details, openings and
visual aspects
• Maintaining the character of
the city
• Areas designed according to
the activity and life pattern.
 Objectives
• Establish a comprehensive spatial development framework and a set of development
policies.

• A direct response to people’s needs and creating a livable environment. It covers all
dimensions like visual, perceptual, social, cultural, historic and symbolic resources of
community.

• Increase the functional efficiency by relating the circulation, urban activities and use of land
to physical form.

• Accommodating urban growth and should be capable of adapting variables of unpredicted

growth.

• Economically feasible solutions, geared to incremental implementation over a substantial

time period.

• Solving the environmental deficiencies that exist in terms of physical, visual, perceptual,
social and psychological terms.
 Functions
• Analytical function: provides survey and identification of visual and other human sensory qualities,
development qualities, functional qualities, opportunities and limitations of a particular urban place.

• An explicit articulation of design objectives, design evaluation criteria.

• Generation of alternative concepts for future development as well as full illustrative images of
desirable and possible consequences.

• Development of standards, incentives, policies, control techniques and priority programs to achieve
the qualitative values proposal.

• Provisions for verbal statements, illustrative graphics and communication media capable of engaging
all levels of community and choice of options of future form.

• Integration of all elements of planning process, continuous revision possibilities to adapt to urban
growth variables.
 Scope
Urban
design • Applicability of UD can be classified according to elements of
Regional
physical design like residential areas, neighborhood planning,
circulation system, river front development.
Metropolitan
• Outcome of UD project may be a completed project with
detail design of building or it can be a framework for overall
City level growth conceived as self adjusting and continuously changing
process.

District level • Implications of Urban design – policy framework guidelines

for development and detail implementary measures including
building and site.
Sector level
• Includes public participation, decision making, Research
function.
Project level
 Urban design at Regional level

• Classification of Natural and Man-

made things
• Topographic analysis
• Identifying developing regions
• Networks
• Wilderness , Flora and Fauna,
Landscape
• Tourism, Infrastructure
• Preservation, Conservation,
Revitalization of the region

Image source: Google,

Alba Iulia - Sebes - Teius, Territorial Development Project ~ Romania, 2008
 Urban design at Metropolitan level

• Development plans, Structure

plans(workable solutions),
Transportation networking, Activity and
Land use
• Overall form of the city – open, built,
green areas, Infrastructure
• Hierarchy of spaces – (open areas)
• Transportation – Nodes, Links,
Hierarchy of roads, highways, modes of
transport, generators, new intrusions
• Approach to city and Imageability Image source: Google,
Six Urban districts of Tehran
• Views and Vistas, Skyline
• Special sites- Typology, development
regulations, Guidelines
 Urban design at City level
• Planning for urban open spaces – Use, hierarchy, types
• Pedestrian circulation – Formal/informal/Processional/Casual, Activity, Connecting other
modes of transport, Accent, Event
• Landscaping – Preservation of natural resources, planting of trees
• Urban lighting – Quantitative and Qualitative aspects
• Street furniture
• Urban art and sculpture – Landmarks, sense of scale
• Street hardware

Image source: Google,

Mitchell street Central
Hermanus, Capetown
 Urban design at City level
• Rehabilitating old Neighborhood
• Historic preservation
• Suburban Centers and development and New towns

Image source: Google,

Belfast City Centre Public Realm Plan
Old Delhi
Darjeeling
Ganges
Crowded Indian city
Kolkatta
Mumbai
Mumbai
 Urban design…

• 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 neighbourhoods, and the city.
• It is a framework that orders the elements into a network of streets, squares, and blocks.
• Urban design blends architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning together to
make urban areas functional and attractive.
• Urban design is about making connections between people and places, movement and
urban form, nature and the built fabric.
• Urban design draws together the many strands of place-making, environmental stewardship,
social equity and economic viability into the creation of places with distinct beauty and
identity.
• Urban design is derived from but transcends planning and transportation policy,
architectural design, development economics, engineering and landscape. It draws these
and other strands together creating a vision for an area and then deploying the resources
and skills needed to bring the vision to life.

Content source: www.urban design.org

 Conducting a Urban Design Survey

A. City as a whole
1. Shape of the city

2. Size of the city

3. Access to city

B. City as parts

C. Micro level analysis of each area

1. Topography – cliff, slope, hilly etc

2. Microclimate – Humidity, Sun, Rainfall, Wind etc

3. Shape – Physical outline in horizontal ( Radio-centric, Star, Linear, Ring, Rectilinear, Branched)

4. Size – Population and Physical extent, Density

5. Pattern, Texture and Grain

6. Pathways or Roads, Landmarks, Districts, Nodes, Edges (Imageability aspects)

7. Open spaces
 Conducting a Urban Design Survey

8. 8. Views and Vistas

9. 9. Magnets, generators or Linkages
10. Special activity centres and Overall activity structure
11. Hubs of intense visual experience
12. Pedestrian areas
13. Urban Signage
14. Point of Conflict
15. Historic special districts
16. Community structure – ethnic groupings
17. Urban Blighted areas
18. Entry points
19. Non physical aspects like festivals, emotional aspects, intangible elements