Principles of Urban Design

LECTURE 2

Abhishek K. Venkitaraman Iyer

Assistant Professor
Faculty of Architecture, MIT

Contents
Elements of urban design- user type, activities, culture and cities, growth of
cities, elements of successful cities

URBAN GRAIN
The balance of open space to built form, and the nature and extent of subdividing
an area into smaller parcels or blocks. For example a fine urban grain might constitute
a network of small or detailed streetscapes.

It takes into
consideration the
hierarchy of
street types, the
physical linkages
and movement
between
locations, and
modes of
transport

URBAN STRUCTURE
The overall framework of a region, town or precinct, showing
relationships between zones of built forms, land forms, natural
environments, activities and open spaces. It encompasses broader systems
including transport and infrastructure networks.

DENSITY + MIX
The intensity of development and the range of different uses (such as residential,
commercial, institutional or recreational uses).
HEIGHT + MASSING
The scale of buildings in relation to height and floor area, and how they relate to
surrounding land forms, buildings and streets. It also incorporates building envelope, site
coverage and solar orientation. Height and massing create the sense of openness or
enclosure, and affect the amenity of streets, spaces and other buildings.

STREETSCAPE + LANDSCAPE
The design of public spaces such as streets, open spaces and pathways, and
includes landscaping, microclimate, shading and planting.
FACADE + INTERFACE
The relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring buildings
(alignment, setbacks, boundary treatment) and the architectural expression of
their facades (projections, openings, patterns and materials).
DETAILS + MATERIALS
The close-up appearance of objects and surfaces and the selection of materials
in terms of detail, craftsmanship, texture, colour, durability, sustainability and
treatment. It includes street furniture, paving, lighting and signage. It
contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public domain.

Streetscape from Kalpathy,Kerala

PUBLIC REALM
The public realm includes the natural and built environment used by the general public
on a day-to-day basis such as streets, plazas, parks, and public infrastructure. Some
aspects of privately owned space such as the bulk and scale of buildings, or gardens that
are visible from the public realm, can also contribute to the overall result.
TOPOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT
The natural environment includes the topography of landforms, water courses, flora
and faunawhether natural or introduced. It may be in the form of rivers and
creeks, lakes, bushland, parks and recreational facilities, streetscapes or private gardens,
and is often referred to as green infrastructure.

SOCIAL + ECONOMIC FABRIC

The non-physical aspects of the urban form which include social factors
(culture, participation, health and well-being) as well as the productive
capacity and economic prosperity of a community. It incorporates aspects such
as demographics and life stages, social interaction and support networks.

Cities and Culture

Londons cultural landscape

SCALE
The size, bulk and perception of a buildings and spaces. Bulk refers to
the height, width and depth of a building in relation to other surrounding
buildings, the street, setbacks and surrounding open space. For example, a
large building set amongst other smaller buildings may seem out of scale.

URBAN FORM
The arrangement of a built up area. This arrangement is made up of
many components including how close buildings and uses are together;
what uses are located where; and how much of the natural environment is
a part of the built up area.

Elements of Urban Design

Buildings
Buildings are the most pronounced elements of urban design - they shape
and articulate space by forming the streetwalls of the city. Well designed
buildings and groups of buildings work together to create a sense of place.

Public Space
Great public spaces are the living room of the city - the place where people
come together to enjoy the city and each other. Public spaces make high
quality life in the city possible - they form the stage and backdrop to the
drama of life. Public spaces range from grand central plazas and squares, to
small, local neighbourhood parks.

Urban Square ?...

An urban square is an
open public space
commonly found in the
heart of a city used for
community gatherings.

a forum for exchange,

both social and
economic ideas

Their significance and

intensity of meaning is
expressed through
harder intensively
used landscaping.

They tend to be formal

and urban in nature in
contrast to parks and
open space, which are
typically soft
landscaped, larger and
less intensively used.

Piazza Grande - Roman

Piazza del Campo,Siena, Italy

Classification of Urban Squares

Ceremonial

Rossio ,Lisboa,Portugal
court

elm court, london

Cathedral, Temple

St.Peters Rome
street,
shopping

Times square,new york

Traffic Circle

Xinghai Square - Dalian

Social

Trafalgar square,UK

Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland

37000 m

Access &
linkages

Pioneer Courthouse Square has been successful mostly because of its central location downtown. The
public art adds charm and helps define the space. The steps lend themselves perfectly to public
performances but also to a spur of the moment decision to sit down .

Water body

Buildings as enclosure

Informal seating
area

Columns creating
Boundary

Public activities

Streets

Streets are the connections between spaces and places, as well as being
spaces themselves.
They are defined by their physical dimension and character as well
as the size, scale, and character of the buildings that line them.
Streets range from grand avenues to small, intimate pedestrian streets.
The pattern of the street network is part of what defines a city and what
makes each city unique.

Jaisalmer

Paris

STREETS

ESPLANADE

STREETS

alley

alley

STREETS

alley

Roorkee

McLeodganj
Traditional Character of Indian Streets

Bodh Gaya,Bihar

McLeodganj

Transport
Transport systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them, and
enable movement throughout the city.
They include road, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian networks, and together
form the total movement system of a city. The balance of these various
transport systems is what helps define the quality and character of cities,
and makes them either friendly or hostile to pedestrians. The best cities are
the ones that elevate the experience of the pedestrian while minimizing the
dominance of the private automobile.

Landscape
The landscape is the green part of the city that weaves throughout - in the
form of urban parks, street trees, plants, flowers, and water in many forms.
The landscape helps define the character and beauty of a city and creates
soft, contrasting spaces and elements. Green spaces in cities range from
grand parks such as Central Park in New York City and the Washington DC
Mall, to small intimate pocket parks.

SUCCESSFUL CITIES ARE

vibrant,
livable urban settings that continue to adapt to changing
circumstances by incorporating
and promoting balanced natural, cultural, economic, social and
built environments
and implement related actions that value community well-being
as a whole,
to provide a higher quality of life for their citizens

1. Connectivity: facilitating efficient internal and external movement of

people and goods while minimizing detrimental environmental and
social effects;
2. Culture of Collaboration: support for respectful and cooperative
interdisciplinary processes and varied views to achieve common purpose;
3. Culture of Innovation: promotion of innovative ways of addressing
emerging local and global economic, environmental and social challenges;
4. Distinctiveness: capturing the sense of place by celebrating geographic
location in the planning and design of the city;
5. Entrepreneurial Governance: fostering creative and visionary
leadership within administrative, elected and volunteer areas;

6. Master Planning and Community Design: advocacy for a clear vision

and implementation of a high quality built environment;
7. Quality Education: creating synergies across educational delivery models
and with local and regional governments;
8. Quality of Life: recognition that a high quality of life attracts investment,
people and innovation;
9. Livability: promotion of high quality urbanism, urban spaces and places
that create attractive urban living;

10. Social Conscience: recognition that healthy cities are socially and
culturally diverse and require a supportive social network;
11. Sustainability: commitment to meaningful economic, environmental, and
social sustainability in policy and action; and 12. Vibrant Economy: an
economy that has resiliency, builds on local strengths and promotes
community wellbeing.