City image, urban form & functions

ConstantinosDoxiadis’ Ekistics
• Developed byConstantinosDoxiadisin his book“Ekistics: An Introduction to the
Science of Human Settlements” (1968) & “Ecumenopolis” (1975)

• Is derived from the ancient Greek term “oikizo” meaning “creating a settlement”

– Human settlement – settlement inhabited by Man

– Goal of human settlement – it should satisfy Man, i.e., guarantee happiness and
safety of Man
 Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants

• Cities as urban nightmares

– Pollution and environmental degradation

– Clogged arteries and congested streets

 Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants

• Lack of sufficient housing, facilities

and services

• Irrational structure
 Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants
• Man has alienated himself

from his surroundings –

social, cultural, and natural

surroundings.
 Rationale

• The elements of contemporary cities, such as transportation, zoning, and

communication, were no longer in balance.
 Rationale
• Emergence of increasingly large and complex settlements, tending to
regional conurbations and even to world-wide city (“ecumenopolis”).
– Unprecedented urban growthdue to improved living conditions, accompanied by
urban migration
 Rationale
• Greatest problem facing cities is that of managing growth.
World’s Largest Cities, 2003
Urban Slum Incidence, 2001
Control of Corruption, 2001
 Ekistics and the sciences directly contributing to it.

An interdisciplinary effort “to arrive at a

Economics
proper conception and implementation

of the facts, concepts, and ideas

related to human settlement Cultural Disciplines Social Sciences

Ekistics

Technical Political Science &

Disciplines Administration
 5EkisticElements

Anthropos

Networks Society

Shells Nature
5 Ekistics Elements
1. Man– In the center is the individual human being
2. Society– deals with people and their interaction with population trends, group
behavior, social customs, occupation, income, and government
– Preservation of values
5 Ekistics Elements

3. Nature– represents the ecosystem

within which man and society operate

and cities and settlements are placed

• “Carrying capacity”

4. Shells– used as the generic term for all

buildings and structures

5 Ekistics Elements

5. Networks– for transportation, communication and utilities that support

the settlements and tie them together with their organization and
structure
EkisticUnits
EkisticLogarithmic Scale
Ecumenopolis
 Concept of theDynapolis

• In all settlements, we can draw a distinction bet. Thecentral part, thehomogeneous partsw/c
are mostly residential, thecirculatory part, and the parts accommodatingspecial functions.
Concept of theDynapolis

• Ideal growth should allow for the stability of the homogenous parts (residential) while
letting the center grow with the least disruption of existing form, structure and
function.
 Conclusion

 Analysis, planning and design must take place within thelarger vision of the

concept ofecumenopolis.

 The city must be treated as a dynamic settlement. The use of theconcept

ofdynapolisallows for growth and change.

 To deal with the overwhelming forces of growth and change, humancommunities

must be created and preserved as stable building blocks, which can be replicated

within the dynamically growing and changing city.

Definition – urban design
Planner’s View
People’s View
 Kevin Lynch’s The Image of the City (1960)

5 Elements of Urban Images:

1. Paths
2. Edges
3. Districts
4. Nodes
5. Landmarks
 5 Elements of Urban Images

1. Paths– are movement channels and form the predominant elements in

people’s image of the city.

Examples - Streets, walkways, canals, railways, etc.

 5 Elements of Urban Images

2. Edges– are boundaries that break or run parallel to the urban textures,

which is composed of a texture of individual buildings and open spaces,

Examples – shores, edges of development, walls, port, gate

 5 Elements of Urban Images

3. Districts– are the sections of the city and are mentally recognized as
having some identifiable character (i.e., visually homogenous in texture
and may also be homogenous in land use).

Chinatown, San Francisco Financial District, Battery Park NYC

 5 Elements of Urban Images

4. Nodes– are places of intensive activity, usually at the intersections of

paths.
Examples - junctions, squares and street corners

LightrailTransit Stop Bryant Park, NYC

 5 Elements of Urban Images

5. Landmarks– points of reference

based on their visual distinctiveness

from their surroundings.

Examples - buildings, signs,

mountains, etc.

Landmark Bank of China building, whose triangular shapes were

designed by Pei. Hong-Kong, China

 Ian Bentley’s Responsive Environments

 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

permeability:designing the overall layout of routes

and developmentblocks to make it accessible

variety:locatingmixed uses/range of activitieson thesite

legibility:designing the massing of the buildings and the enclosure of

publicspace/ easy to orient yourself from a place

robustness:designing the spatial and constructionalarrangementof individual

buildings and outdoorspaces to make it flexible/adaptible

 Ian Bentley’s Responsive Environments

 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

visual appropriateness:designing the externalimage/ focuses on details to

support legibility, variety, and robustness

richness:developing the design for sensory choice

personalization:making the design encourage people to put their own mark on the

places where they live and work

PLACE DIAGRAM