1. The document discusses ekistics, which is defined as the science of human settlements. It examines how humans inhabit settlements and provides a conceptual framework for understanding them.
2. Ekistics studies the basic elements that make up human settlements: nature, humans, society, physical structures (shells), and connecting networks.
3. It then presents a classification system of different types of settlements based on population size, ranging from an individual person to a global city. The largest settlements discussed are megacities with populations over 50 million people.
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Ekistics - Defining What is a Polis? What does it consist of
2. There are several approaches that attempt to define what a city (polis) consists of. Ekistics
was introduced as the science of human settlements (Doxiades, 1968).
Ekistics studies how human settlements were inhabited by humans and provides a
conceptual framework for a better understanding of human settlements. The foundation of
the concept is in nature, which contains ecological systems, within which humans form
social network and societies and build the „shells‟ which are the physical structures
providing comfortable living conditions.
The basic elements of human settlements in the ekistics studies are described below
(Doxiades, 1968, p.12):
1. “Nature, providing the foundation upon which the settlements are created and the
frame within which they can function”
2. “Human”
3. “Society”
4. “Shells, or the structures within which a human lives and carry out his different
functions”
5. “Networks, or the natural and human-made systems which facilitate the functioning of
the settlements, as for example roads, cycling corridors and infrastructure in general.”
Resource efficiency in an urban context: Defining the framework of eco-municipalities
3. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
EKISTIC ELEMENTS
The 5 elements, which
compose the
human settlements:
Nature, Anthropos (Man),
Society, Shells and
Networks.
A classification of settlements according to their size, presented on the basis of
a logarithmic scale, running from Anthropos (ekistic unit 1), as the smallest unit
of measurement, to the whole earth (ekistic unit 15). The ekistic logarithmic
scale can be presented graphically, showing area or number of people
corresponding to each unit, etc., so that it can be used as a basis for the
measurement and classification of many dimensions in human settlements.
EKISTIC POPULATION
The maximum number of people for each of the Ekistic units.
ie
House Group: 40 people max.
(from: 6-40 is a „House Group‟)
EKISTIC UNITS
A classification of parts of whole human settlements, starting from
unit 1 corresponding to Anthropos, and ending with unit 15,
corresponding to Ecumenopolis. From unit 4, which corresponds to
community class I, to unit 15, which corresponds to community
class XII.
Ekistic Units
Select, with your mouse, each EKISTIC UNIT to see the definition
according to the „Ekistic Logarithmic Scale and C.A. Doxiades.
When you have read the definition click the definition with your
mouse to clear it and then select another EKISTIC UNIT.
(press the right arrow to clear these instructions but before you do that…
when you have read Unit 15 return here, and press the right arrow to continue with
the powerpoint)
4. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
ANTHROPOS
One of the five ekistic elements, it is the Greek word for human
being, used instead of the English word, “Man” (άμθρωπος),
since it has no connotation distinguishing sex or age but means
men and women equally, belonging to all age groups.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 1
That is: 1 person
5. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
ROOM
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 2
That is: 2 people
6. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
HOUSE
This term replaces „dwelling‟.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 5
That is: 3-5 people
7. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
HOUSE GROUP
This replaces „dwelling group‟.
Also known as:
Hamlet:
A small settlement, generally one smaller than a village; also known as a thorp.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 40
That is: 6-40 people
8. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
SMALL NEIGHBOURHOOD
NEIGHBOURHOOD
A district, esp. one forming a community within a town or city.
Also known as a:
Village:
A group of houses and associated buildings, larger than a hamlet and smaller than a town, situated
in a rural area.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 250
That is: 41-250 people
9. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
NEIGHBOURHOOD
A district, esp. one forming a community within a town or city.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 1,500
That is: 251-1,500 people
10. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
SMALL POLIS
POLIS
A city-state in ancient Greece. A City.
Etymology:
"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis (πόλις) "city, one's city; the state, citizens," from
PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur,puram "city, citadel,"
Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
Online Etymology Dictionary: Polis
Also known as a:
Town:
An urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is larger than a
village but smaller than a city.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 10,000
That is: 1,501-10,000 people
11. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
POLIS
A city-state in ancient Greece. A City.
Etymology:
"ancient Greek city-state," 1894, from Greek polis (πόλις) "city, one's city; the state, citizens,"
from PIE *pele- "citadel, enclosed space, often on high ground" (cf. Sanskrit pur, puram "city,
citadel," Lithuanian pilis "fortress").
Online Etymology Dictionary: Polis
Also known as a:
City:
A large town.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 75,000
That is: 10,001-75,000 people
12. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
SMALL METROPOLIS
Metropolis:
A major, multi-centre urban area with more than 50,000 people incorporating other small
settlements, both urban and rural, growing dynamically to sizes as high as ten million people. The
average population of such settlements between 50,000 and ten million inhabitants is of the
order of 2.5 million, while about one half of these settlements have a population varying between
50,000 and 100,000. (μητρόπολη)
Glossary DOXIADES: Metropolis
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 500,000
That is: 75,001-500,000
13. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
METROPOLIS
Etymology:
• From Greek metropolis "mother city" (μητρόπολις) (from which others have been
colonized), also "capital city," from meter (μήτηρ) "mother" + polis (πόλις) "city" –
(parent state of a colony)
• Meaning "chief town or capital city of a province" is first attested 1580s, earlier
metropol (late 14c.).
• "seat of a metropolitan bishop," 1530s, from Late Latin metropolis.
Online Etymology Dictionary: Metropolis
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 4,000,000
That is: 501,000-4,000,000
14. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
SMALL MEGALOPOLIS
MEGALOPOLIS
Also known as a:
Megapolis (Μεγάπολις) or Megaregion is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent
metropolitan areas, built by merging several cities and their suburbs.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 25,000,000
That is: 4,000,001-25,000,000
15. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
MEGALOPOLIS
A very large, heavily populated city or urban complex. (Μεγαλόπολις)
Also known as a:
Megapolis (Μεγάπολις) or Megaregion is typically defined as a chain of roughly adjacent metropolitan
areas, built by merging several cities and their suburbs.
Etymology:
1832 from combination form of Greek MEGAS (Μέγας) (genitive megalou «μεγάλου») “great” + POLIS
(πόλις) “city”. The word was used in classical times as an epithet (descriptive word; adjective used
as noun) of great cities (Athens, Syracuse, Alexandria), and it also was the name of a former city in
Arcadia.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 150,000,000
That is: 25,000,001-150,000,000
16. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
SMALL EPEROPOLIS
EPEROPOLIS (ηπειρόπολις)
Derived from the Greek words epeiros (ήπειρος), "continent" and polis (πόλις), "city," it replaces the
old term "urbanized continent”, which corresponded to ekistic unit 14 and community class XI.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 750,000,000
That is: 150,000,001-750,000,000
17. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
EPEROPOLIS
Derived from the Greek words epeiros (ήπειρος), "continent" and polis (πόλις), "city," it replaces
the old term "urbanized continent”, which corresponded to ekistic unit 14 and community class XI.
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 7,500,000,000
That is: 750,000,001-7,500,000,000
18. Community Scale
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ekistic
units Anthropos
Room
House
HouseGroup
(hamlet)
Small
Neighbourhood
(village)
Neighbourhood
SmallPolis
(town)
Polis
(city)
SmallMetropolis
Metropolis
SmallMegalopolis
Megalopolis
SmallEperopolis
Eperopolis
Ecumenopolis
(GlobalCity)
EkisticElements
Nature
Anthropos
Society
Shells
Networks
Synthesis:
Human Settlements
EKISTIC
POPULATION:
T = Thousand
M = Million
1
2
5
40
250
1.5T
10T
75T
500T
4M
25M
150M
750M
7,500M
50,000M
ECUMENOPOLIS
Ecumenopolis (from Greek: οικουμέμη, meaning world, and πόλις (polis) meaning city, thus a
city made of the whole world; pl. ecumenopolises or ecumenopoleis) is a word invented in
1967 by the Greek city planner Constantinos Doxiadis to represent the idea that in the future
urban areas and megalopolises would eventually fuse and there would be a single continuous
worldwide city as a progression from the current urbanization and population growth trends.
Academic Dictionaries and Encyclopedias: Ecumenopolis
Also known as:
Global City, Planet City, Universal City, City of the Universe, City of the Future
EKTISTIC POPULATION: 50,000,000,000
That is: 7,500,000,001-50,000,000,000