URBAN DESIGN LECTURES

DESIGNING STREETS AND PLAZAS

DESIGNING STREETS
The functional classification system is widely used to define the traffic carrying function of
streets, there are four classifications

DESIGNING STREETS
Principal arterials

Provide long distance trunk line continuous routes within & between urban areas.

Typically, but with some important exceptions, they carry high volumes of traffic at high
speeds.

Freeways, including interstates, are principal arterials

Minor arterials

The backbone of the urban street networks

Are continuous routes through urban areas

They are frequently designed as touring routes.

They carry more than half of all vehicle miles per travel.

They maybe province, town, or city streets.

Most trips contain most of a citys commercial & institutional uses

Collector streets

With continuity over short segments, collector streets are minor tributaries,
gathering traffic from numerous smaller streets & delivering it to and from
minor arterials.

Seldom designated as numbered touring routes, collectors are usually city or

province streets.

Most collectors are bordered by properties with driveways to the street.

Minor streets

Include all streets not on a higher system.

These streets maybe short in length or frequently interrupted by traffic control

devices.

Travel distance to the local streets is short, typically to the collector street.

Speeds are low, 20-30 mph

Local streets often have numerous driveways, as they are the address for most
homes, as well as many non residential land uses not requiring visibility to large
numbers of passing motorists.

Vision

Maintain a strong physical and organizational vision. Solve problems within the framework of a
strong physical vision, adapting structures and service delivery accordingly.

Commitment

Be committed to long delivery timescales and to management and maintenance after delivery.

Integration

Accommodate people and the various ways of travelling in streets. Connect street networks to
help people to choose to travel sustainably.

Adaptation

Take account of climate and culture change in order to deliver sustainable spaces that are fit for
purpose in the 21st century.

Coherence
Deliver well-conceived projects where organizational, political and technical issues are resolved
into a coherent design solution.

DESIGNING WALKABLE STREETS

Convivial Concentration of Pedestrians

Walkable street must contain relatively large numbers of (preferably friendly) pedestrians. This
obvious ingredient would go without saying, except for the fact that there are many who believe
that various physical street design features are sufficient to create walkability.

Residential Densities

In order for a street to draw large numbers of pedestrians, large concentrations of people must
either live within walking distance of the street, or the street needs to be a connecting conduit
between two (or more) highly attractive destinations-destinations that are no more than, say, 3
to 5 blocks from each other.

Human-Scaled Dimensions

People tend to feel most comfortable and safe when they are in "human-scaled" spaces. That is,
spaces that do not dwarf them, make them feel insignificant, or over-exposed.

Active and Diverse Retail

An essential ingredient for a street to be walkable in the more urban area of a town is for the
street to be lined with a rich collection of healthy, diverse, local retail establishments. Such an
assemblage of enterprises ensures people that strolling down such a street will nearly always
reward one with a fascinating cornucopia of sights, smells, sounds and potentially satisfying
purchases-no matter how often the street is walked.

Traffic-Calming

For retail establishments and residences along a street to be healthy, and for pedestrians to feel
comfortable, a walkable street nearly always must contain relatively low-speed motor vehicle
travel. The most important way to provide such modest, comfortable speeds is to provide ample
on-street parking, which not only slows cars but creates an extremely healthy, safe buffer
between the pedestrian and moving motor vehicles. To calm motor vehicle speeds, it is also
important that the street be no more than two or three lanes (ideally two travel lanes with "turn
pockets").

24-Hour Activity

A walkable street must be alive day and night, instead of closing down at 5 pm. 24-hour streets
tend to be not only more interesting and fun, but also much safer due to the benefits of "citizen
surveillance" and "eyes on the street."

Weather Protection

For comfort in hot climates or rainy climates, it is important on more urban sidewalks to provide
awnings or colonnades on the front facades of buildings along the sidewalk. Another extremely
important element is a canopy of tall, formally-aligned, same-species street trees overhanging
the street and sidewalk (and limbed up so as not to obscure the view of retail building facades).

Wide Sidewalks

It goes without saying that a walkable street should provide sufficiently wide sidewalks. In
general, such sidewalks should range from 8 to 20 feet in width, depending on the pedestrian
volumes expected. Note that there is too much of a good thing when it comes to sidewalks.

Unobtrusive Equipment

dumpsters near (or on) sidewalks tend to create an unsightly and often smelly character for the
sidewalk. For these reasons, a walkable street keeps dumpsters remote from public, street side
sidewalks, or has dumpsters use compatible, attractive screening. Similarly, outdoor mechanical

equipment (such as heating and air conditioning equipment) can create an unattractive, noisy
ambience for a public sidewalk.

Active Building Fronts

Increasingly, streets are neglected and degraded by buildings that turn their back to the street.
On a walkable street, the fronts of buildings face the streetside sidewalk. Having doors and
ample windows facing the street creates visual interest for the pedestrian, and energizes the
street by providing a view of the inside of the building and having pedestrians enter and exit the
building onto the sidewalk. Doors facing the street substantially reduce pedestrian walking
distances.

Modest Turn Radii and Crossing Distances

An important way to create safety and human-scaled dimensions is to create a street which has
modest turn radii at street and driveway intersections. Small "corner curves" slow down the
speed of turning motor vehicles, and can substantially reduce pedestrian crossing distances. In
addition to the value of small turn radii, features such as landscape islands, "bulb-outs" and
landscaped street medians can provide a street with attractive features and significant safety
increases for the pedestrian crossing a street.

Proximity

For a street to be truly walkable, destinations from residences to places of work, school, parks,
and shopping need to be in close proximity (no more than approximately one-quarter mile from
homes). Note that a useful way to reduce walking distances is, when possible and appropriate,
to align sidewalks diagonally.

Short Block Lengths

Block lengths on a street must be short to create modest walking distances. Generally, a block
should be no more than 500 feet in length-preferably 200 to 300 feet in length. Short block
lengths are an effective way to reduce motor vehicle speeds. It is no coincidence that the most
walkable cities have the shortest block lengths.

Vista Termination

A powerful means of creating a memorable, picturesque street is to locate important civic

buildings such as churches, city halls and libraries at the termination of a street vista. Such
termination emphasizes the importance and visibility of buildings that are located in such
places, which is precisely what should be done with the most important civic buildings in a
community.

Appropriate Businesses

Walkable streets tend to heavily regulate or prohibit the establishment of car-oriented

businesses. Such businesses-because they depend on attracting large volumes of motor
vehicles-are typically create visual blight, and excessively scaled for large vehicles instead of
pedestrians. Often, such businesses deploy glaring, flashing lighting, and can be the source of
substantial levels of noise pollution. Walkable streets therefore commonly prohibit "Big Box"
retail, drive-through's, auto sales and service, stand-alone parking lots, car washes, and gas
stations.

Urban Plazas

A plaza is an urban form that draws people together for passive enjoyment

-- J.B. Jackson, 1985

Typically, it will be paved, enclosed by high-density structures, and surrounded by streets, or in

contact with them.

-- Kevin Lynch, 1981

Mostly hard-surfaced, outdoor public space from which cars are excluded.

URBAN PLAZAS

Main function:

Strolling

Sitting

Eating

Watching the world go by

Unlike a sidewalk, it is a place in its own right rather than a place to pass through

Predominant ground surface is hard; if trees & grass are predominant ground surface, it is a park

The street plaza

A street plaza is a small portion of public open space immediately adjacent to the sidewalk and
closely connected to the street.

The corporate people

The corporate foyer is part of a new, generally high-rise building complex. Its main function is to
provide an elegant entry and image for its corporate sponsor.

It is usually privately owned but accessible to the public. It is sometimes locked after business
hours.

The Urban oasis

The urban oasis is a type of plaza that is more heavily planted, has a garden or park image, and
is partially secluded from the street.

Its location & design is deliberately set this place apart from the noise & activity of the city.

The transit Foyer

The transit foyer is a plaza type of space created for easy access in and out of heavily used public
transit terminals.

Although the detailing may not encourage any activity but passing through, the captive audience
of transit users sometimes draws street entertainers, vendors, and people watchers.

The street as a plaza

Pedestrian and Transit Malls

When a street is closed to traffic, it has the potential to take on the role of a plaza.

Most often located in the traditional downtown area.

It has modified paving, increased planting, & some level of street furniture.

The grand Public Place

The grand public place comes closest to our image of the old-world town square or piazza.

When located near a diversity of land uses, it tends to attract users from a greater distance and
in greater variety than do other plazas.

It is usually publicly owned and is often considered as heart of the city.

Historic Context

To create an environment that is reflective of the collective memories of the general public

The design should honor and preserve the relics and historical buildings within the area. It
should be able to manifest the area's unique historical and cultural resources as well as their
historical significance.

Urban Image

An easily identifiable symbol for the city and the country's heritage

the Plaza as a bold yet elegant gateway to the nation's capital, while easily approached by the
people

DESIGNING PLAZAS
Urban Texture

The design should provide a low to medium degree of development on the areas covered, and
should comply with the building height limitations within the area in order to maintain the
existing visuals and urban landscape.

Land Use

By taking into account of the perception of the general public toward the Plaza and the
utilization of the surrounding environment, the design may incorporate cultural, educational,
commemorative spaces figures and other public facilities

Security Considerations

Security in the area should not be compromised due to flawed designs. The design should allow
for comprehensive security measures, monitoring over the entire area, and the setting of
security safety zones when necessary.

Public Activities
The Plaza's design should satisfy the need of the different public activities to be held in front of
the structure and in nearby areas. The design should incorporate a meaningful theme that
addresses the requirements of such public activities, and should allow for sufficient space for
the following activities:

Commemorative activities

Activities of the general public

Pedestrian Circulation
With a comprehensive public transportation network, the development of the Core District will
focus on pedestrian zones in the future. The area's design should provide access to the different
public transportation systems such as the mass rapid transit system and public buses. In

addition, parking requirements of the users vehicles at the nearby offices, together with their
traffic route, should also be taken into account. Within reasonable traffic situation confines,
streets may be integrated to form a convenient, comfortable zone for the pedestrians.
Evacuation and Exits during Emergencies

Due to the different mass activities that take place in the area, evacuation and safety measures
during emergencies should be taken into account.

Nightscape

The design should consider the after-hour artificial illumination of the public buildings in the
Core District . The design should provide adequate nighttime lighting for public activities.

Green Environment

The design should provide plant & water feature for a relaxing environment. This solution can
eliminate noise pollution in the Core District

RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENT
Ian Bentley
1. PERMEABILITY
In designing cities, permeability takes first consideration the circulation of people and vehicles
within and around the city.
2. VARIETY

Variety, the second quality of a responsive environment,

refers to the range of uses that a place provides, for example, housing, shopping,
employment, recreation, and so forth. Location of these activities are influenced by
functional design, politics, decisions of developers , and economic condition of the place

The more accessible the place, the more the experiences these places offer.

Variety exists in a city if there are many different activities present; if there are allotted
spaces and services in the future, and if these space to space and human to human
activities are compatible with each other.

In order to maximize the variety of uses of the place, the designer must: 1) determine
the level of demands for various uses 2) determine the most number of mix uses
feasible economically and functionally.

Setback: clients and planners are more interested in monetary benefits rather than the
variety of the place

3. LEGIBILITY

Activity patterns-what is happening in a city

Physical forms-things that an observer see in a city

It is how the arrangement of cities is understood by the observer.

Cities of the past were known for their physical aspects: old buildings, streets
Legibility is minimized in modern cities
4. ROBUSTNESS
Multi use of urban spaces classified into
4.1 Small scale

Hardscape and softscape

Active and passive spaces

4.2 Large scale

building height

building setback

access

5. VISUAL APPROPRIATENESS
Designing the details of the city
People gives meaning to whatever is seen in the environment even though the interpretation is not
parallel with the designers intentions

Understanding the environment can be seen through

Legibility

Variety

Robustness

6. RICHNESS
Sensorial experiences the observer gain as seen through

The different sources of experiences

Change of focus

Use senses in enjoying the place