The Design Gesture

Category: Urban Design

Ecological Design: An Interesting Paradigm for Designing Urban Park
Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.api.intechopen.com
An improvement to an existing space’s design that enhances ecological function while enhancing flexibility and use is referred to as “ecological design.” Ecological designs emphasises the removal of existing materials over the addition of new ones, whether they are organic or inorganic, as a design strategy. Ecological minimalism provides a practical method for repurposing existing landscapes to create new ones in this way.
Humans are descended from and dependent upon nature, and over time, their connection with nature changes. However, there has never been a particular historical time when humans have been able to resist altering nature, for better or worse. The concept of “Ecological Design” in this article presents a chance for innovation that will benefit the ecosystem, and its residents. The concepts demonstrated in this demonstration project could be used to concurrently revamp over urban parks.
Historical Development of Ecological Design
The self-formed, informal application of regional materials as created by farmers may represent the origins of ecological design. For instance, farmers plant crops and use them as a source of food, or they gather organic compost to develop and bolster other farmlands. This idea of local knowledge or natural knowledge entered the realms of architecture and landscape architecture because of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s concept of “organic building.” As a result, contemporary architecture frequently makes use of recycled materials, vernacular forms, and renewable materials.
Ian L. McHarg, a landscape architect and writer, stated in 1969 that “decisions on the meaning of human appropriation of land for development should be based on biological processes mirrored in natural landscapes.” John Todd, a scientist, later created the “Living Machine” in the 1970s. It provided excellent inspiration and a fantastic chance for ecological design in landscape architecture because it is particularly well-suited for wetlands. Good design “studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human issues,” according to Benyus, who first proposed this theory in 1997.
Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.land8.com
The use of eco-design in landscape architecture is now extensively accepted and recognized in academic courses, professional journals, and workplaces. Particularly, ecological systems are increasingly taken into account in the context of human wants and requirements. The use of ecological design concepts in the creation of natural settings has been the subject of extensive debate. However, large-scale locations are where the ecological design technique is most frequently used.
The majority of the existing research on ecological design concentrates on ecological planning and design, which are typically used in expansive parks. Unfortunately, small-scale sites usually only contribute a minor part to the overall picture; their isolation and disconnectivity rapidly reduce the value and significance of ecological design.
Ecological Design Principles
Fan and Freedman state that the following basic ecological design principles should be included in and understood as part of any design for human ecosystems:
Principle 1: Locally Sufficient Economic System
Photographer Huijun Wang | Source: https://www.issuu.com
A “locally sufficient economic system” entails, first and foremost, a shift toward resource sustainability. The location of the designers of landscape architecture is important, as is their understanding of what can be done with the resources in the area by humans.
A stunning example of a vernacular landscape is the “Hani Terrace” in Guizhou province, China. This environment was not created by a designer, but rather by generations of local farmers working their land. Water flows from higher heights to a hill’s base; as a result, the energy flow is flexible, natural, and energy-efficient.
The terraces can regenerate their soil nutrients after harvesting thanks to the usage of local resources, making them potentially accessible for many generations. Comparatively, while burning up non-renewable resources like petroleum and fertiliser may temporarily support economic expansion, if a replacement cannot be found, a number of issues will eventually arise.
Second, “natural debt” is more likely to be eliminated in economies that are locally sufficient. It is acknowledged that just pursuing short-term, unsustainable objectives will impair future earnings. For instance, the concrete riverbank can serve as a recreational area, but the water separation from the soil can result in long-term issues, such as a decline in natural biodiversity or difficulty controlling flooding. One instance of how ecological design can do away with natural debts is this.
Principle 2: Maintain Ecological Integrity
An ecosystem is a whole living system made up of several types of energy and life nodes. An ecosystem’s components interact with one another, are linked to one another, and depend on one another. A broken or fragmented ecosystem will result from the destruction of any one of its components. It is vital and meaningful to maintain the dynamic process of natural flows. Designers should have a thorough understanding of the biotic communities, energy flows, operating system, and other components of the ecological system in order to prevent ecosystems from being destroyed.
Principle 3: Letting Nature Do the Work
An ecosystem changes continuously throughout time, offering creatures a range of goods to meet their regular needs, which includes meeting human needs. Natural filtration can be used to purify water; over time, pollutants in the soil will break down; natural flora is pollinated for flowering, fruiting, and reproduction; and the microclimate is controlled.
These processes can occasionally be disrupted by human activity, which causes environmental issues. Letting nature cleanse, rejuvenate, or renew itself is a much better option compared to the work needed to fix new issues we made.
Principle 4: Simulate Natural Ecosystems
Since natural ecosystems have been continuously improving for thousands of years, the makeup of natural variables can serve as a source of inspiration for anyone looking for efficient design solutions. In many design domains, the benefits of natural composition are evident. For instance, “the waste material of one process becomes a resource for another” in the design of an industrial park.
The design of other domains, such horticultural landscaping, should imitate biological processes, using native species to create replicas of natural communities. Not only will energy and resources be conserved in this way, but native species and the way biodiversity has co-evolved together also serves as an optimal rule, preventing the invasion of native plant communities by non-native species.
Non-native species can occasionally be riskier than native species due to a lack of natural enemies as well as fragility, which increases the risk of losing and wasting resources and energy.
Principle 5: Protect Natural Resources and Habitat
Photographer Unknown | Source: https://www.istock.com
The loss of wildlife species is one of the worst effects of overexploitation. Wildlife needs a natural habitat to live, especially in heavily populated areas. Urbanizing a place while attempting to maintain its complete environment is not an easy feat. To strike a balance between human and natural resource loss and gain, designers must use logic.
Compared to other built spaces in a city, an urban park’s ecological design can significantly preserve existing resources while also enticing people to visit and enjoy their everyday activities. Ecological concerns can be “mitigated” to some extent by planning such landscapes for locations that are not always heavily populated by people. Protecting natural resources and urbanising a region are often not mutually exclusive goals; thoughtful decision-makers may be able to fulfil both of these objectives.
Principle 6: Increase Environmental Literacy
Photographer Huijun Wang
Designers, corporate investors, governments, citizens, managers, and individuals from various academic sectors collaborate on several practical initiatives. When one or more of these individuals lacks environmental literacy, a conflict may result, making it impossible to apply ecological design to actual sites or to make the design balanced and advantageous.
When it comes to sustainable development, environmental literacy actually reflects “how much individuals are willing to ‘pay’.” The entire community should be knowledgeable about the causes and effects of ecological harm in order to improve environmental literacy. Getting people from different backgrounds to agree on ecological design and the future of humans is not an easy challenge, but it is the best approach to advance ecological design into actual practises.
Conclusions
Applying ecological design to heavily altered, hard-paved urban parks without having a significant negative influence on the environment is challenging as the field gains popularity and attention throughout the globe. Unquestionably, humans have ruled the majority of the earth’s surface. However, ecosystems are inextricably linked to and dependent upon all human endeavours, including culture. Thus, a thorough justification for ecological designs can be created by linking urban situations to the natural environment.
The responsibility of protecting the planet from environmental deterioration should not fall primarily on the profession of landscape architecture. However, by obeying natural laws and using a win-win strategy, landscape architects may design landscapes that have an impact on how people interact with and comprehend them.
October 29, 2024
Exploring Vertical Urbanism: A Solution to the Challenges of Population Growth and Land Scarcity
Introduction
Urbanism is the study and research of the relationship between urban Dwellers and their built surroundings via the design and creation of urban land. When we discuss urbanism, we confer an array of areas of study. are urban planning, sociology, economics, and environmental stability. Urbanism is incorporated so that it can address the issues and the complexities regarding the city such as mainly the quality of life in the urban setup, and other concerns like land use, transportation, and so on.
Image by Evening Tao from Freepik
Concept of Vertical Urbanism
Vertical Urbanism is the type of Urbanism that focuses on the dimension of “verticality” to study the concept city because it possesses the power to generate dynamic urban forms and utilize cutting-edge technologies, which gives us a fresh perspective on the current issues of the cities. This is an approach of building more tall structures, like skyscrapers to cater to the rising population which could eventually reduce the footprints on the ground.
Image by Nate from Pexels
It is worth repeating that the verticality highlighted in this approach not only deals with the areas going upward from the ground; It entails searching beneath the earth for subsurface transportation, service, and purposes. Those areas around any major interchange metro station in cities like Tokyo and Shanghai are the best examples of such vertical connections throughout height/depth. The multi-level underground spaces often integrate commercial development, public use, pedestrian circulation, and parking facilities with an inner-city or inter-city transportation node that connects to the public area and open spaces above.
Architects and planners have been dreaming of various urban forms to address increasing density and hence we can say that it is not a new notion. It is critical to differentiate Vertical Urbanism from Vertical City. Skyscrapers dominate many urban centers and new Central Business Districts across the world. They are, however, vertical cities planned and built traditionally and often characterized by the layout of “towers in the park” under Le Corbusier’s influence.
Resilience to Natural Disasters
Wind Resistant Architecture
In areas that are prone to hurricanes, we must consider wind-resistant architecture to enhance disaster resilience in vertical urbanism. The vertical structures need to withstand the powerful forces of the wind and hence incorporate different strategies like aerodynamic features, reinforced exteriors, and resilient facades as the goal is to minimize damage due to severe winds.
Aerodynamic design principles involve shaping buildings to minimize wind resistance and turbulence, effectively channeling and deflecting wind forces. Reinforced exteriors are frequently accomplished through the use of robust materials and also the Modern building practices give structural strength to withstand high wind speeds. Additionally, resilient facades can include features such as impact-resistant glass and durable cladding materials, adding protection to the structures. Such precautions not only safeguard the skeletal strength of structures but also enhance the safety of residents and reduce the economic and social repercussions of disasters.
Emergency Evacuation
Efficient emergency evacuation strategies are paramount in the context of vertical urbanism, particularly in the design and planning of tall buildings and vertical developments. careful implementation of effective evacuation measures are to be taken to protect the citizens’ safety during crises. Vertical urbanism requires the creation of accessible escape routes that are meticulously positioned throughout the structure. Stairwells, elevators equipped with backup power, and designated emergency exit routes must be well-designed and easily navigable.
Providing designated emergency shelter areas within the building is Crucial for providing residents with a haven during evacuation. These places ought to be built to resist the effects of natural calamities and equipped with emergency supplies, communication facilities, and sufficient space to accommodate occupants temporarily. Regular evacuation drills and training programs are essential to familiarise residents including escape routes and emergency protocols.
Photo by Darya Sannikova from Pexel
Green Infrastructure for Flood Resilience
In the context of vertical urbanism, integrating green infrastructure elements becomes crucial for enhancing flood resilience in urban developments. By incorporating environmentally conscious design strategies, vertical urbanism can contribute to mitigating the impact of floods. Permeable surfaces, such as permeable pavements and walkways, are employed when thinking about vertical urbanism so that rainfall may soak into the soil and perhaps aid in surface drainage. This eventually reduces the risk of flooding progressively, as the soil can absorb water
Retention basins and rain gardens are examples of sophisticated water management devices that may be installed to assist control of water flow during floods. These systems are designed to capture and slow down excess water, allowing for gradual release or natural absorption into the ground. Properly managed water flow reduces the risk of flash floods and minimizes stress on drainage infrastructure.
Image by borjandreu on Freepik
Iconic Skyscrapers and Landmarks
Skyline Definition
In the realm of vertical urbanism, the skyline refers to the distinctive and often iconic outline created by tall structures against the urban backdrop. The skyline of the city is shaped by the conglomeration of vertical developments punctuating the horizon. Their enormous size radically alters a cityscape, but their visual character adds a strong touch as well.
The silhouette created by these vertical marvels becomes a defining feature, representing the city’s character and aspirations. Symbolizing the city’s progress, inventiveness, and refinement, it acts like an outward symbol of growth and development. Vertical urbanism has influenced both the physical landscape as well as how the local viewers View and interact with the city. The skyline becomes a dynamic canvas that shows the city’s progress, and resilience in facing urban challenges. Iconic skyscrapers and landmarks stand out prominently, enhancing the city’s renown and standing internationally.
Image by toweringgoals on Freepik
Engineering Marvels
Iconic skyscrapers within the realm of vertical urbanism stand as engineering marvels, exemplifying the forefront of advancements in construction technology. Skyscrapers need proper structural engineering so that they can withstand wind forces or their sheer weight. to ensure stability and safety Advanced materials like high-strength concrete and steel are used by engineers. Many modern skyscrapers incorporate sustainable engineering practices. Engineering considerations for safety are paramount in the construction of tall buildings.
Engineering in vertical urbanism extends beyond individual buildings to encompass the planning of entire vertical cityscapes. This involves addressing challenges related to transportation, infrastructure, and utilities in a way to optimizes the functionality and sustainability of vertically developed urban spaces. These engineering marvels reshape our city’s skyline and also inspire future developments.
These include a couple of the most well-known high rises when we discuss them.
1. Jeddah Tower (formerly Kingdom Tower) – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
This landmark structure is currently under construction. Upon Completion, This 1 km Long Structure is going to become the world’s tallest building. The construction of the foundation has covered 7,500 meters. The tower’s vertical urbanism concept is characterized by its sheer height, pushing the boundaries of architectural and engineering innovation. The tower will have a commercial and residential place occupying 57 million feet featuring homes, hotels, and offices. It symbolises a fusion of modernity and tradition reflecting Saudi Arabia
1. Galaxy SOHO- Beijing
The mixed-use nature of Galaxy SOHO not only transforms it into a thriving business hub but also a vibrant social and cultural center. The complex embodies the potential of vertical urbanism to reinvent the urban experience, functioning as a commercial powerhouse and as a dynamic urban sanctuary. The interconnected courtyard offers a respite from the busy cityscape. The interconnected volumes create a sense of continuity and fluidity.
Each tower has 2 cores for vertical movement. Where the last retail level terminates on the third story is an atrium partially covered in glass. The sustainable aspects were integrated into the design of the Beijing Galaxy SOHO skyscraper. It also has a LEED certification. Galaxy Soho is not a project conceived only for profit and business: it is also a project of great civic value that permits citizens to reclaim possession of public spaces.
Photo by zhang kaiyv from Pexel
1. The Line
An ambitious project in Saudi Arabia called The Line, on an unparalleled scale, represents the future of vertical urbanization. It is a 500-metre-tall mirrored slab running 200 meters apart. To maintain the area’s natural attractiveness, Its reflective facade was designed to blend in well with the surroundings. Its vertical urbanism principles go beyond architectural heights, focusing on the integration of cutting-edge technologies, AI, and environmentally conscious design.
Image of The Line from Parametric Architecture
1. Urban Epicentre
“Urban Epicentre/ NYC” is an architectural concept that addresses global climate change and sustainable urban life. It is both urban and social. As a comprehensive strategy for urban living, it proposes vertical food production by establishing a new civic area as a hub for urban sustainable living. According to Urban Epicentre, methods for recycling water and producing food should be integrated into a new civic and cultural infrastructure. The agricultural and water recycling facilities’ floors are gently sloping to allow for continuous ground-level pedestrian access. The aim is to build a complete cultural plaza, pedestrian farmer’s market connections, and residential and commercial spaces above.
Image of Urban Epicenter by ecofriend
- The Pros of Vertical Urbanisation
When used properly, constructing upwards makes it possible to urbanize on a smaller plot of ground. A belief is that urbanization is destroying ecosystems and damaging the environment. Although the harm caused is majorly increased by horizontal urbanism but reduced by vertical urbanisation. New York City is one such example of vertical urbanism. The most visited city that is Central Park, extends up to 2.5 miles wide around the city.
Global warming is one of the major growing issues that cannot be dealt with with the help of horizontal urbanization. Energy loss in multi-story buildings is comparatively to the single-family house as insulation is easier in multi-story homes. Vertical Urbanism facilitates more effective energy use especially when it comes to heating.
- The Cons of Vertical Urbanisation
Traveling becomes more vertically oriented than horizontally focused when things are packed closely together, which limits the opportunity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. An Individual Might opt for an elevator rather than the stairs if he/ she is staying on the top floor. Elevation also causes issues with high-altitude utility provision. To use and remove water, a building’s floors will need pipes. A problem with hygiene can also arise when hundreds of people work out of one facility, especially near rivers. This puts pressure on building designers and water companies to make sure the structure can accommodate the extra occupants.
Urban Green Spaces and Sky Parks
Aesthetic Enhancement
Sky parks and rooftop gardens play a transformative role in creating a delicate equilibrium between nature and architecture. These elevated green spaces introduce a touch of tranquillity and natural beauty to the vertical cityscape. They offer a space that provides the residents with serene green pockets within the high-rise structures. These verdant additions serve to soften the often stark concrete and glass landscape of tall buildings, contributing to a more visually appealing urban environment. In essence, the aesthetic enhancement brought about by green spaces in vertical urbanism transcends mere visual appeal.
In essence, the aesthetic enhancement brought about by green spaces in vertical urbanism transcends mere visual appeal. The aesthetic enhancement brought about by vertical greenery extends to the interior spaces of buildings. Incorporating living walls, indoor gardens, or atriums within tall structures contributes to air purification and also elevates the overall ambiance. The infusion of natural elements indoors creates a refreshing and calming atmosphere. Sky parks and rooftop gardens turn into shared areas where people may rest and engage in various activities.
Biodiversity and Habitat Creation
In urban environments, vertical green spaces are essential for fostering biodiversity and establishing ecosystems. By incorporating native plants, trees, and diverse greenery, these elevated natural environments become essential contributors to the cultivation of a more ecologically rich and diverse urban ecosystem. The introduction of varied vegetation attracts a range of wildlife, from birds and insects to other small creatures to create a microhabitat.
Within One Central Park, Instead of having woods as part of their architecture, these skyscrapers have 23 green walls with more than 35,000 plants of 350 different kinds. The architects of the structure employed cantilevered heliostat figures to house a sky garden on top and reflect light into the atrium and gardens below hung from the east tower’s 28th level. Floors of balconies and green containers alternate in the Nanjing Green towers, which are home to 800 trees, more than 2,500 shrubs, plants that will cover 40,000 square meters, and 27 native species that will restore biodiversity.
Photo by Mathias Reding from Pexel
Thermal Comfort
In vertical urban environments, the integration of green spaces becomes a crucial factor in enhancing thermal comfort. The strategic placement of plants and trees within these spaces plays a pivotal role in moderating temperature and mitigating the heat island effect inherent in densely built urban areas. By providing natural shade, greenery reduces the intensity of sunlight on building surfaces and outdoor spaces. The shading effect of trees and vegetation helps to lower surface temperatures.
The cooling effect of green spaces contributes to energy efficiency in the structure. Reduced exposure to direct sunlight translates to lower heat absorption by structures. This alignment with sustainable practices not only benefits the thermal comfort of residents and visitors but also supports overall energy conservation efforts in urban environments. Individual standards of living are improved by these green areas. The shading effect contributes to a reduction in the overall ambient temperature, during peak sunlight hours.
Transit Management
Managing transit in vertical urbanism poses unique challenges and opportunities that necessitate innovative solutions for efficient and sustainable mobility within densely built environments. To efficiently transport people between different levels in vertical structures, advanced vertical transport systems must be implemented. Establishing integrated vertical mobility hubs can streamline transit operations in vertical urbanism. These hubs, situated within or near tall structures, can facilitate seamless transfers between various modes of transportation. Integration with public transit systems promotes connectivity and ease of access for commuters.
Prioritizing pedestrian-friendly design within vertical urbanism reduces reliance on vehicular transit. It is possible to enhance the overall mobility experience by designing skybridges, and elevated pedestrian paths. Leveraging smart technologies for transit management is crucial in vertical urban environments. These technologies enable dynamic adjustments to transit operations based on demand patterns and external factors. Promoting green transportation initiatives aligns with sustainability goals in vertical urbanism. By adopting a holistic and adaptive approach to transit management, vertical urbanism can achieve a sustainable and interconnected mobility ecosystem.
October 29, 2024
Street Planning: Design for Safer and Effective Street Planning
What is the need for safer streets?
Every year, many people become victims of crime, ranging from small and relatively insignificant incidents of theft or vandalism to the other extreme, murder. Those who are victims of criminal acts suffer, to greater or lesser degrees, and that victimization can profoundly impact a person’s mental and physical health, feelings of safety and security, and self-esteem. The damage done to victims of crime is often long-lasting.
Globally, 1.24 million people are killed in traffic crashes per annum. This number is predicted to stay rising as vehicle fleets grow, to become the 5th largest explanation for death by 2030. Most of those deaths happen in and around urban areas with a lack of street planning, disproportionately affecting vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists.
The percentage of the world’s residents living in cities is additionally on the increase, from 50 percent in 2007 to 70 percent in 2030, making it vital for cities to address the need for safer street planning. Traffic crashes also exact an economic toll. In some countries, similar to India, the profitable cost of business crashes equals 3 percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.
Streets as Human Scale
Photo by TheCityFix
If we seem at streets as places, instead of through-ways, we see them because of the deeply human spaces that they’re. Places of commerce, work, recreation, and play, streets are one among the foremost fundamental public spaces with which we interact on a day-to-day basis. Safe streets for walking must be considered as a basic right, as long as, for many, walking is one among the primary skills acquired in childhood, and one among the last things abandoning of in adulthood.
Streets can encourage druggies to expect and accommodate real mortal geste. While these approaches are a launch to further aware thoroughfares, they bear adaptations to ensure the safety of people of all periods and capacities.
Even in cities that aren’t prepared to eliminate traffic lights and signage, residents have caught on to the necessity to humanize streets through better design, championing fundamental changes like narrowed lanes for automobile traffic and expansion of motorcycle lane networks. Another safety measure that must be adopted is the use of guardrail.
Common Causes of Traffic Fatalities
Photo by ResearchGate
Many traffic injuries are directly related to design. Conditions become worse with the addition of speed. Common causes for traffic fatalities include the following:
Lack of Sidewalks
When the sidewalk is blocked, narrow, or non-existent, pedestrians are forced into the roadbed. This presents a specific threat when the road is meant for fast-moving vehicles, and not designed to accommodate all users safely.
Lack of Accessible Crossings
Pedestrians are in danger of being struck when accessible crossings aren’t provided or are inaccessible. Mid-block pedestrian crashes are quite common on large streets, where vehicle volumes and speeds are prioritized over sufficient opportunities for safe crossing.
Lack of Protection
Wide, multi-lane thoroughfares without retreat spaces expose climbers to moving vehicles for longer distances as they cross the road. This is particularly unsafe for seniors or those who move at a slower pace.
Lack of Predictability
When signals and countdown clocks aren’t provided, or when signal cycle lengths end in an extended wait time, pedestrians are unable to securely judge the time they need and are more likely to cross unsafely.
Lack of Cycle Facilities
Cyclists are in danger of rear-end and overtaking crashes when mixing with automobiles at moderately high speeds, especially on multi-lane streets.
Poor Intersection Design
Large intersections are frequently designed for dangerous, high-speed turning. Lack of visibility results in poor navigation and assessment of different druggies’ movements.
Unsafe Boarding Areas
Conveyance riders are at threat when boarding and alighting vehicles in business, especially if no safe installations are handed. Higher-speed streets and poor intersection design near boarding areas increase chances for severe crashes and put vulnerable users in danger.
Surface Hazards
Obstacles and face declination, including potholes, can present hazards to climbers and cyclists.
A New Paradigm for Safety
The new paradigm for safety is made on human limits. The physical body is fragile and may only survive certain forces. This means:
• Reducing exposure to the threat of conflict
• Reducing crash numbers and the severity of impact
• Reducing speed
• Shaping streets that are safe for vulnerable users
Design Principles
Urban design that reduces the necessity for vehicle travel and fosters safer vehicle speeds
Develop mixed land uses, smaller blocks, ground-floor activities, and nearby public facilities that reduce overall exposure to traffic crashes from less vehicle travel.
Measures that reduce vehicle speeds and allow safer crossings
Photo by World Resources Institute
Integrate proven measures like speed humps, chicanes, chokers, refuge islands, traffic circles, shared streets, and other street design applications which will reinforce safety.
Arterial corridors that ensure safer conditions for all road users
Photo by TheCityFix
Improve arterials and other main streets to make sure the security of pedestrians, cyclists, mass transit also as automobile drivers through reduced crossing distances, lead pedestrian intervals, refuge islands and medians, safe turning movements, and lane alignments. Consistent designs should create a forgiving road environment with the smallest amount surprises for the road user, especially for vulnerable users.
Special street planning for a well-connected network of bicycling infrastructure
Design accessible, bike-friendly thoroughfares that include defended bike lanes or cycle tracks and connected networks. Pay special attention to reducing conflicts at junctions between cyclists and turning vehicles.
Safe pedestrian facilities and easy accessibilty to public spaces
Provide quality space for pedestrians through sidewalks and street space, also as access to parks, plazas, schools, and other key public spaces. These spaces should be designed to be attractive for pedestrians.
Safe access to mass transport corridors, stations, and stops
Photo by World Resource Institute
Improve access to transit, partially by avoiding physical barriers. Create a secure and secure interchange environment.
Examples of well-designed streets in the world
Buenos Aires, Argentina
La Feria de San Telmo in Buenos Aires, Argentina is exemplary of the types of informal uses that make up the stylish thoroughfares in the world. Packed with vendors, the road connects to Plaza Dorrego and to varied nearby historical sites.
San Antonio, Texas
In San Antonio, Texas, the Pearl Brewery has become the middle of a pedestrian-oriented plaza, built without curbs and with strong, walkable connections to surrounding neighborhoods. With ample space for food vendors, play elements sprinkled alongside walkways, and a nod to a historic acequia within the space, the Pearl Brewery has become a walkable destination for food and drink.
Union Square, New York City, USA
Photo by Dreamstime.com
New York City’s Union Square is a unique destination, with a greenmarket, ample seating, and open spaces used for kick and performance, likewise. A 2010 street reconfiguration created new pedestrian-friendly plazas, giving thanks to criss-crossable streets surrounding the square. Integrating exertion around the edges of the space made it safer for cyclists and climbers, and created stronger liaison between the square and girding blocks.
Geneva, Switzerland
Cities like Geneva, Switzerland have got rid of traffic lights, replacing them with alternative signage like yield and stop signs. With these more intentional intersections, pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers are pushed toward more mindful interactions as they navigate the road .
Amsterdam, Netherlands
In Amsterdam, corners are suitable to guide thousands of cyclists and climbers through easily, indeed with limited signage. The erected terrain is designed for tone- regulation and prompts cyclists to watch out for one another, as in this crossroad captured by TJ Maguire, using body language and visual cues toco-navigate Amsterdam’s celebrated thoroughfares.
Examples of ongoing projects for improving street design
Architect Ben Hamilton-Baillie
Architects like Ben Hamilton-Baillie have caught on to this challenge, and argue that over-regulated and over-designed thoroughfares are part of the problem. In advocating for getting rid of “standardized signs, lines, cameras, barriers, and invasive traffic engineering,” Hamilton-Baillie makes the case for removing some of the formality and signage baked into the modern street design. Rather, the inflow of business could be governed by social relations as “micro” as eye contact between motorists and climbers. By designing for further aware relations, Hamilton-Baillie’s work has converted thoroughfares in places like Poynton Village and Exhibition Road.
Fortaleza, Brazil
In Fortaleza, Brazil, NACTO GDCI retrofitted road spaces with protections like parking buffers and machine stop interchanges to reduce business losses and repurposed under-employed parking areas as a rambler galleria. Perceived safety bettered nearly incontinently, with rates of rambler use and road play soaring.
Hailey, Idaho
Meanwhile, Hailey, Idaho is experimenting with parklets that expand sidewalk space, and Seattle is introducing alternative approaches to erecting rambler crosswalks. By starting with the way our thoroughfares are designed, metropolises can reshape the everyday experience of climbers and cyclists.
Nashville
Any strategy for humanizing streets must also specialize in enforcing the accountability of drivers. Activist groups like Transportation Alternatives have supported a crusade for speed cameras in New York City academy zones. Though political gridlock stymied the program at the state level, the campaign started an important dialogue round the proven success of speed cameras, and therefore they got to concentrate on the vulnerability of children on city streets. The conversation around about-face doesn’t stop there: Cities like Nashville are considering lowering default speed limits by 5 miles per hour — a big difference for vulnerable users.
October 29, 2024
Growth due to Conceptual Urban Planning Theories in the Year 2022
Introduction
The built environment has long inspired social responsibility and the need to enhance society. Theories are ideas, thoughts and contemplations thought meticulously with the application of science and current or future technologies. Many conceptual urban planning theories have been developed over a period to further think about their application. There are many urban planning architects and urban designers who have projected their ideas to streamline a theory based on their observations, including a few which stuck and a few which faded away and some got success and attention to apply them. The theories of urban planning have progressed over time, with the traditional theories as a guide further influenced by postmodern thoughts.
What is Conceptual Urban Planning?
Urban planning is the regional planning, civic planning, city planning, and rural planning, a technical and diplomatic process aimed toward the development and design of land use and the built environment including the planning of using resources like water, air, and local materials. Urban planning impacts our transportation system, infrastructure, layout, and prescribed densities of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Urban planning is a management and communication device, the popular documentation.
History
There is also evidence of urban planning and designing of communities dating back to the Mesopotamian, Indus Valley, Minoan, and Egyptian civilizations within the third millennium BCE. Archaeologists researching and analyzing the remains of cities have discovered paved streets that were well planned and laid out at right angles within a grid pattern.
Source
The earliest known example of Urban planning is Mohenjo-Daro and Harappan civilizations located in present-day Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces. The civilization was said to have sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture is evident with the proper drainage system, city layout, well-planned and placed houses, market area, gathering spaces, etc. Few excavated cities of this urban plan comprise the world’s first known urban sanitation systems with the use of hydraulic engineering to form the Indus Valley civilization. The Indus Valley civilization made them the first urban center in the region.
The concept of a planned urban area has evolved and continued as various civilizations implemented it. At the birth of the 8th century BCE, Greek city-states were mainly centered within orthogonal plans. Further, the ancient Romans were influenced by the Greek’s urban planning methods and incorporated orthogonal plans for their cities.
Conceptual Urban Planning Theories
Garden City Concept
Source
The garden city concept, the idea of a planned residential community, was developed by the English urban planner namely Ebenezer Howard. Howard’s concept for garden cities was a way of developing a solution to the urgent need to improve the quality of urban life. According to him, a garden city would be a place that behaves as a community where people from different backgrounds of life can live as well as work in coherence and harmony.
Source
The garden city concept was based on the creation of a succession of small cities that would blend the advantages of both environments. The five main features of Howard’s scheme were to initially purchase a large agricultural land, the further layout of a compact town surrounded by a widespread rural belt, the accommodation space for the residents, industry, and agriculture for the people residing in the town, the provision of restriction of the extent of the town and prevention of encroachment with the town and finally would lead to a natural rise in land values to be used for the town’s general welfare.
Towers in park
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Le Corbusier pioneered the “tower in a park” morphology in his unrealized 1923 Ville Contemporaine he came up with the concept after he couldn’t unsee the squalid conditions of cities in the 1920s. In the park is a morphology of modernist high multi-story apartment buildings branded by an even taller high-rise building surrounded by a wrapping of lush landscape. Towers in the Park was an idea for a style of housing planning that accentuates a separation of different kinds of uses of space and access to public green space and amenities. According to Le Corbusier, people would instead prefer to live in the suburbs than settle in a city.
Neighbourhood Unit Concept
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The neighborhood unit concept was developed by Clarence A. Perry. The idea was that all cultures, even in different shapes and under different definitions like a sub-public area where the most concrete and original form of neighborliness takes place and social cooperation and organization are possible. The neighborhood unit theory was a proposal to bring everything into a single unit.
Geddian trio Concept
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Geddes was thinking about the relation between people and the places and their impacts on each other, creating a certain interdependency. Geddian trio concept was aimed towards contributing to the adaptation of material of the people as well as their way of living towards the certain chances, and the effects on the changes of culture through education. Geddian trio Concept challenged the basic norms in the form of the design material but was also employed through culture design.
Sector Model
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Sector Model was developed by Homer Hoyt, who was a renowned academic and consultant of real estate market analysis during the mid-20th century. Homer Hoyt’s sector model tweaked the concentration zone concept to make it more realistic. Hoyt maintained the sectoring factor of the concentric zone model instead deviated from the geometric patterns. Hoyt proposed that cities do not develop in the form of simple rings, instead, they have “sectors”. It was mainly based on residential rent patterns and the effects of transportation development.
Concentric Zone model
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The Concentric zone model concept is also known as the Burgess model, which is one of the first few theoretical models used to illustrate urban social patterns. The Concentric zone model was designed by sociologist Ernest Burgess and proposes a vivid framework in which both characteristics of human ecology in terms of physical land-use patterns and human relationships are interdepended.
The concentric model is based on a process of invasion and succession. Invasion is a process that necessitates the continual expansion of inner zones into outer zones because of the natural ‘aggression’ of the migrant into the city. According to the conceptual model, it has five main zones: i.e., the Central Commercial Center, Zone of transition, Working class residence, Middle-class residence, and Commuter zone.
Multiple Nuclei Model
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Harris and Ullman claimed cities don’t just grow around a single unit nucleus, but instead numerous unit nuclei. Multiple nuclei are suggested as the former settlements, while the others evolved from urbanization and outer economies. Characteristic land use zones expand since some activities might repulse each other. There is also an issue where not all land users can afford the expensive land at the most desirable locations, and some also require easy access to the location.
An evolution of single nuclei theory, where two legends Harris and Ullman proved a city doesn’t grow around a single nucleus but has multi foci, and each point acts as a growing point. Further, Harris and Ullman argued that a city might start with a single central business district (CBD), but over time, the activities scatter and gets modified.
Conclusion
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Urban development has been a constant phenomenon since we can even remember, but with the increase in this development and the population. There is a rapid use of limited resources like water, fuel, and especially land. Resources being in such a finite amount, there is an urgent need to adapt various planning techniques to inculcate disciple and management within our society. Many theorists have developed such concepts as mentioned above to fulfill the urgency to conserve the environment. These concepts have helped to provide an idea of how urban planners can manage the settlement of people, to create further civilized patterns, systems, and layouts for urban development.
The principal question of planning theory is the analysis of the probability of attaining an improved quality of human life contained in the context of a global capitalist economy. Exploring the different theories has helped many planners understand no planner acts in a value-free vacuum. The technical-rational planner represents their views of how the world works through their choice of planning methods. There have been many planning theory concepts developed over a period, some of which have faded into oblivion because of their disadvantages, but some have provided other designers with an idea that there are several alternative concepts to adopt from.
October 29, 2024