Urban structure and patterns

 Internal structure and patterns of urban settlements

 Land use zones, including reasons for location and
characteristics
 Commercial
 Residential

 Industrial

 Zone of decay/Transition zone

 Green belt

 Rural-urban fringe

 Factorsinfluencing the morphological structure of a city

 Urban profiles
 Concept of urban profile
 Reasons for shape of urban profile
 URBAN STRUCTURE &
PATTERNS

INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND

PAT T E R N S O F U R B A N
SETTLEMENTS
 What does urban structure refer to?
==== also known as urban morphology which
refers to the external, physical aspects of a city

Urban patterns
==== refers to the shape, ground/street plan,
land-use zone & urban profile of the urban
settlements
 LAND USE ZONES
• manner in which land is used or the division
of land of various urban functions in terms of
functions, e.g. commercial, industrial,
residential, recreational, etc.

• NB: Urban settlements are multifunctional

 PLEASE NOTE!!!

*** land-use is different to land-use zone

*** within ONE land-use zone, you can have
different land-use
@@@ land-use --- function
@@@ land-use zone ---- is the dedicated area
for similar functions
GREEN BELT
ZONE
Central Business District (CBD)
1960’s
 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CBD
• usually in the middle of the town where roads intersect or
where the station is located ~~ most accessible point of the
city
• resulting in the highest land values
• tallest buildings eg. high-rise office blocks and shopping
centres
• very congested, most vehicular & pedestrian traffic
• intensive land-use (densest)
• many high order functions located
Note!!

The tallest buildings are found in the CBD because of:

a) it is the most accessible part of the city
b) the competition in the city (everybody wants to be
there)
c) it will be cheaper to build upwards than outwards
 COMMERCIAL ZONE

1. In CBD
** commercial heart of the city
** often housed in multi-storey buildings eg. Golden Acre
in central Cape Town
** no free parking
2. Ribbon development
** along main roads from CBD
** caters for passerby-motorist
** similar types of functions in certain areas
 COMMERCIAL ZONE

3. Shopping malls/centres
** on outskirts of the city
** all shops under one roof eg. Canal Walk,
Gugulethu Square, etc
** plenty of free parking
** caters for one-stop shopper
Two types :
a. Neighbourhood shopping centres eg. Kensington
shopping centre - along main roads
b. Regional shopping centres eg. Canal Walk
- along national or major roads
INDUSTRIAL ZONE
LIGHT INDUSTRY Heavy industry
 LIGHT INDUSTRIES
1. NEAR THE CITY 2. IN THE SUBURBS
CENTRE (industrial estates)
· central location · large scale manufacturing
· in & around zone of · normally of similar goods
decay · near main roads or freeways
· normally light & small · eg. electrical, food, etc.
· eg. clothing, printing, etc. · cheap & level premises
· found in multi-storey · near facilities such as
buildings electricity, water.
· has to have direct access · eg. Paarden Eiland, Epping,
to customers etc.
 HEAVY INDUSTRIES

• found on outskirts (edge) of cities

• need large, cheap, open & level land
• near source of water
• close to modes of major transport
• associated with air, noise pollution & bad odours
• could be close to residential areas to draw workers
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
 INDUSTRIAL ESTATES

• found on outside the CBDs of cities

• on large, cheap, open & level land
• near source of water (canal) & railway siding
• close to modes of major transport eg N1 or arterial road
• produce and sell similar types of products, eg. Paarden Eiland
== tiles, light electrical products
• Epping == food products, etc.
RESIDENTIAL
ZONE
HIGH INCOME HOUSING
GHOLF ESTATE
*** Golf estates – area set aside for high income
residential areas, privately-owned & surrounding
a golf course
*** Boom or gated housing – multi-storeyed or
single housing development that is secured by either a boom
gate or safety gates & manned by 24-hour security
MIDDLE INCOME RESIDENTIAL

30
Low income Residential Area
HIGH DENSITY LOW INCOME HOUSING
INFORMAL SETTLEMENT
 Type of Where is it found Brief description/characteristics
residential area in a city

High income On outskirts of Large plots, low density, cheaper

residential area city land for expansion, can afford
transport to commute long distances,
surrounded by greenbelt areas, golf
courses close by
Middle income Between CBD Medium-sized plots, housing, trees,
residential area and outskirts can also afford travelling distances by
private car

Low income Near CBD or in Close to work, smaller plots, smaller

residential area zone of decay houses, very few natural vegetation,
use public transport, near factories

Informal Wherever vacant Near industrial areas, haphazard

settlements land could be building pattern, confusing roads,
found mixture of building material, polluted
appearance, etc.
TRANSITION ZONE (ZONE OF DECAY)
 TRANSITION ZONE (ZONE OF
DECAY, BLIGHT ZONE)
• also known as zone of transition
• found just outside the CBD
• usually dilapidated, neglected, slum appearance
• awaiting expansion of CBD or development  shadow effect
• land values still high as developers are moving in with hopes
of renewing this decaying area, e.g. residential, wholesales,
offices, and light industries.
• social problems common, eg. substance abuse, prostitution,
unemployment, etc.
• mixture of functions
GREENBELT ZONE

GREEN BELT AREA

 GREENBELT AREAS

Definition : areas left unspoilt with its natural vegetation or

afforested

Location : anywhere in the city, eg. Central Park in New York,

Cape Town Gardens, etc.
 FUNCTIONS OF A GREENBELT

 filters air pollution

absorbs noise
lowers temperatures
for recreation, aesthetic appeal
provide oxygen
habitat for fauna, flora
prevent uncontrolled / unplanned urban expansion
RURAL-URBAN FRINGE OR TRANSITION
ZONE
 RURAL-URBAN FRINGE (TRANSITION
ZONE)
• found on the periphery (outside) of the city
• develops due to urban expansion
• rural & urban functions meet here
• called a shadow zone : awaits the expansion of the city, thus
land values increase
• urban functions here are large in size eg. power stations,
cemeteries, sewerage works, small holdings (primary activity
that is of an urban nature), stadiums, etc.
 ACTIVITY:
Study the map of the urban settlement,
Glennville
1. (a) Identify the land-use zone at A.
(1x1) (1)
Central Business District
(b) Give ONE reason for your answer.
(1x2) (2)
* found at the highest point of
accessibility
* all transport routes lead to this
zone

2. (a) Identify a commercial activity in Glennville

that has decentralised.
(1x1) (1)
shopping centre
2. (b) Give TWO characteristics of this
commercial activity. (2x2) (4)
* houses many activities under ONE
roof
* should offer free parking
* has both low – and high order
activities
* caters for the ONE-STOP shopper
* multi-level
3. (a) Which one of the industries B or C is a light
industry? (1x1) (1)
C
(b) Give ONE reason for your answer. (1x2) (2)
@ closer to CBD
(c) Discuss THREE factors that influenced the
location of the industry at B. (3x2) (6)
# transport – road & railway line
# cheaper land – large area
# produces lots of pollution eg. air – smoke,
noise or odour
# close to power station for electricity
4. (a) Which one of the residential areas D or E can
be classified as a lower income residential
area? (1x1) (1)
D
(b) Give THREE reasons for your answer.
(3x2) (6)
* closer to CBD
* closer to work – rely on public transport
* near to transition zone
* close to airport
* close to industrial area
5. (a) Describe the location of the transition zone
(zone of decay) in relationship with the CBD
of Glennville. (1x2) (2)
~ just outside the CBD
(b) Give TWO characteristics of the transition
zone. (2x2) (4)
= land values still high
= neglected, slum appearance
= high density occupancy
= many unemployed
= lots of social problems
6. (a) Identify FOUR functions found in the rural-
urban fringe of Glennville. (4x1) (4)
@ airport
@ power station
@ sport stadia
@ heavy industry
@ mining activities
 ACTIVITY:
Study the map of Paarl
Discuss the how the following factors influenced the
location of industries in Paarl.
• Relief – on flat land
• Raw materials – near orchards & vineyards
• Water – close to Berg River
• Labour – near residential areas
• Power – powerlines close by or hydro-electricity
generated by water
• Transport – near roads, railway lines
• Market - close to Paarl’s CBD - shops
 ACTIVITY:
Extract of topographical map of Bloemfontein
Identify FIVE functions found in the rural-urban
fringe of Bloemfontein
There are more than five functions in the rural-
urban fringe of Bloemfontein.
See if you can find as many as possible.
• airport
•Bob Rogers park – residential area
• Race course
• Recreation grounds – sports field
• Golf course
• Industrial Estate
• Sewage Dams
Answers to Question 4
4.1.1 Identify the land-use zone marked X.
*** Central Business District or CBD
4.1.2 Give TWO reasons to motivate your answer.
** found in the middle of the city/town
** all transport routes converge here
4.1.3 Explain why the tallest buildings are found in
this land-use zone.
* land values are very high due to competition
* space is limited
* cheaper to build upwards than outwards
Answers to Question 4
4.1.4 Describe ONE advantage and ONE
disadvantage of the ground plan found at X.
Advantages: easy to lay out, easy to construct, easy
to extend, easy to subdivide plots
Disadvantages: many intersections - traffic
congestion, monotonous, many stop streets 
many accidents
4.1.5 Identify the land-use zone at Y.
* transition zone or zone of decay or blight
zone
4.1.6 Describe the characteristics of this land-use
zone.
* usually dilapidated, neglected, slum
appearance
* awaiting expansion of CBD or development 
shadow effect
* land values still high as developers are
moving in with hopes of renewing this decaying
area, e.g. residential, wholesales, offices, and light
industries.
* social problems common, eg. substance abuse,
prostitution, unemployment, etc.
mixture of functions
4.1.7 What type of industries will be located at E?
** heavy industry
4.1.8 Traffic congestion is a major problem in this
area. Suggest possible solution to this growing urban
problem.
(we did not cover this section yet, but here follows the possible answer)
• park-and-ride system just outside the CBD - fewer cars in the
city centre.
• e-tolling system - to limit the number of vehicles
• extra lane in the direction of the heavy traffic during peak
times
• Traffic lights to control the flow of cars
• Staggered starting and closing times will definitely relieve
congestion
• Special bus-truck- and taxi lanes during peak times as buses,
etc. move slower
4.1.9 A regional shopping centre is to be built in this
city either at G or H. Select the most suitable site for
this complex.
** G
4.1.10 Give TWO reasons for the choice of your site.
** on outskirts of city for larger space
** where major transport routes meet
** away from industrial areas for more peaceful
shopping
4.1.11 State reasons for the origination of a
settlement at S.
** unemployment
** high rate of rural depopulation
** lack of formal housing
4.1.12 Describe the physical conditions which
prevails in such a settlement.
** settlements that have built with a combination
of different materials eg. wood, corrugated zinc,
plastic, etc.
** dense /congested
** no clear street pattern
** untarred roads
** squallor appearance
** lack of services eg. water, electricity visible
** use ‘spider network’
** water points
** lack of sanitation (toilets)
** pollution levels high
4.1.13 How could planners provide a more pleasant
environment for the people of this settlement to live
in?
* provide formal structures eg. brick buildings,
etc.
** provision of proper sanitation, clean water,
electricity, refuse removal, these services will
definitely reduce the number of fires.
*** Amenities eg. clinics, schools in area,
community centres, etc. should be provided to
educate people.
**** Municipalities can use the blocking
method by dividing area into sections to space and
allow access for emergency services.