URBAN DESIGN

Kiran Joshi

Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture

B. Architecture – VIII Semester
January - May 2008
 COURSE CONTENT
UNIT – I UNIT – II UNIT – III
Introduction to the role and scope Types of Urban Spaces – street, Role of Legislation and Controls in
of Urban Design. Comparison with square, precinct, piazza, etc. design of the built environment
‘architecture’ and ‘town planning’ Various elements of Urban Space – Types of Urban Controls – FAR,
Determinants of Urban Form such their identification, characteristics Incentive Zoning, Density, Planned
as landform, climate, symbolism, and role in the shaping of the Unit Development, Building Height,
activity patterns,
patterns socio-cultural
socio cultural space
space. Building Bulk
Bulk, etc
etc.
factors, materials and techniques Changing role of urban spaces Special Provisions of Town
and other contextual references. through history. Role of public Planning Acts
Case examples from various places in the contemporary city.
periods in history and different Design principles – Scale and
parts of the world. Enclosure
Vocabulary of Urban Design. Case studies of well-known urban
Urban Pattern, grain, texture, spaces from various periods of
density, etc. history to illustrate their design and
Concepts of Imageability. performance aspects
Elements of the City’s Image.
Paths, Nodes, Landmarks, Edges
and Districts – their
characteristics,
h t i ti rolel andd INTENT
interrelationships. To appreciate the nature and role of various facets of
Designing parts of the city:
systems of Communication, and Urban Design in the making of the Built Environment
utilities visual expression
utilities, expression, accent
and contrasts, urban character,
landscape features and city
extension areas.
 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 ‘Urban Design' differs from
architecture. ‘Urban Planning' in its focus
on physical improvement of
However, with its increasing prominence in the the public environment.
activities of these disciplines, it is better
conceptualised as a design practice The latter relates more to
that operates at the intersection of all three, management of private
and also requires a good understanding of development through
a range of other disciplines,
disciplines such as urban planning schemes and other
Lecture

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 , Some aspects of privately owned
'public realm' or 'public domain‘ -- spaces, such as building facades or
includes all manners of spaces used domestic gardens, also contribute to
freelyy on a day-to-day
y y basis byy the public space
p p and are, therefore, also
general public -- streets, plazas, parks.. considered by Urban Design Theory.
Lecture
 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 May encompass th
M the ddesign
i off particular
ti l
to design of ‘street furniture’ spaces and structures and, in this
sense, overlap with architecture,
landscape architecture and industrial
Can include Preparation of design design.
guidelines and regulatory frameworks,
or even legislation to control May also deal with ‘place
place management’
management
development, advertising, etc. and, in to guide and assist the use and
this sense, overlap with urban planning. maintenance of urban areas.
Lecture
 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