ByE. Sandhya Reddy

ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

Urban Design involves the design and coordination of all that makes up cities

and towns

Urban design is the discipline through which planning and architecture can create or renew a sense of local pride and identityIt has great potential for enhancing the visual image and quality of neighborhoods by providing a three-dimensional physical form to policies described in a comprehensive planIt focuses on design of the public realm, which is created by both public spaces and the buildings that define them

Urban design views these spaces holistically and is concerned with bringing together the different disciplines responsible for the components of cities into a unified vision Compared to comprehensive plans, urban design plans generally have a short time horizon and are typically area or project specific

Good Urban Design promotes how buildings are scaled and oriented towards the streetWalkways are landscaped to buffer between pedestrians and vehicular circulation

Key elements of an urban design plan include -The plan itselfThe preparation of design guidelines for buildings The design of the public realm –

Open spaceStreets Sidewalks Plazas between and around buildings Public interest issues of buildings-

• massing • placement• sun• shadow• wind issues

Urban design plans are prepared for various areas-Downtowns Waterfronts Campuses Corridors Neighborhoods Mixed-use developmentsSpecial districts

Issues to be considered include- Existing development Proposed developmentUtility infrastructureStreets frameworkSustainable development principles

Urban design plans require interdisciplinary collaboration among-

•Urban designers •Architects •Landscape architects•Planners •Civil and Environmental engineers•Market analysts

Elements of Urban Design

o Signageo Lightingo Parkingo Landscapingo Service areaso Fencingo Building materialso Building articulationo Transportation

SignageConsiderations are desired size, type and placement of a signSpace required to construct a sign

LightingIs an important element in Urban DesignConsidering a lighting design, one must take into account the type of light needed for the specific purpose of the siteIs the light designed to enhance security to the property, provide ambiance, aid drivers by increasing visibility on roadways, or used simply to illuminate a sign

ParkingParking is an essential element in urban design and traffic circulationThe type and number of parking spaces should reflect the desired uses of each siteLandscaping of parking areas is also recommended to provide shade, enhance the beauty of a site, and allow for a reduction in storm-water runoff

LandscapingThe enhancement of an area’s aesthetic beauty is directly related to that area’s landscapingEach parcel of land should be landscaped thereby reinforcing the area’s sense of place It adds to the visual appeal and contiguity of a site, it also performs important and invaluable function relating to the reduction of pollutants and storm water treatment

Landscape improvements have been implemented as well as pedestrian amenities Increased landscaping enhances the aesthetic appeal of the area

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

Neighborhood scene with pedestrian ways, building articulation & landscaping

Service AreasWhen considering the placement of service areas is to remember the old maxim, “out of sight, out of mind ”Should be oriented towards the rear of the building to minimize visual eyesoresShould be screened from public view, and the best way to do this is to build a solid fence around the service area in the same style as the building to which the service area is designated

FencingIt is to everyone’s advantage to construct, and maintain good solid fences between two abutting properties, especially when the abutting properties are not under the same zoning classificationChain-link and barbed-wire fences are discouraged, wood and masonry fences are preferred

Building MaterialsDesign consideration is to be given to the underlying building materials that contribute to the character of a buildingSuch things include roof shape, pitch and overhangs; entry porches, verandas, balconies and terraces; materials, finishes, fixtures, patterns, colors and detailing; the location and proportion of windows and doors

Building ArticulationRefers to three dimensional modeling of a building and its surfaces, giving emphasis to architectural elements (windows, balconies, porches, entries, etc.) that create a complementary pattern or rhythm, dividing large buildings into smaller identifiable piecesIt establishes the building’s street address, its response to the local context and environmental conditions and the degree of continuity between indoor and outdoor roomsUse existing lot structure to influence the design of building articulation when development on amalgamated sites is required to respond to the existing or prevalent lot structure

TransportationWhen planning a new development one should make transportation a foremost concern incorporate development a sidewalk system with walkways with large enough surface area to allow at least two people to walk side by side Attention should also be given to cyclistsProvide an adequate number of bicycle parking spaces as well as bicycle racks Public transit should be incorporated into development plans with new bus shelters and stops

Transport Systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them, and enable movement throughout the cityThey 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 pedestriansThe best cities are the ones that elevate the experience of the pedestrian while minimizing the dominance of the private automobile

An example of mixed use development, with clearly defined pedestrian areas, landscaping, and signage

Lighting, signage, parking, landscaping, building articulation and transportation elements

Enhanced visual and aesthetic character, alternative parking and landscaping

A streetscape with defined pedestrian areas, and maintained landscaping

Buildings Are the most pronounced elements of urban design – They shape and articulate space by forming the street walls of the cityWell designed buildings and groups of buildings work together to create a sense of place

Rome, Italy

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 neighborhood parks

Streets Are the connections between spaces and places, as well as being spaces themselvesThey 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 such as the Champs-Elysees in Paris to small, intimate pedestrian streetsThe pattern of the street network is part of what defines a city and what makes each city unique

Cartagena, Colombia

Urban design operates at 3 scales

The regionCity and Town

The neighborhoodDistrict and Corridor

The blockStreet and Building

Urban design includes infrastructure, architecture, public spaces

Urban Design  weaves together these elements into a coherent, organized design structure

PARIS BATH ROME

The urban design structure  defines the urban form and the building form

PARIS BATH ROME

The creative articulation of space is the most prominent aspect of urban design

The following artistic principles are an integral part of creating form and spatial definition:

Order UnityBalanceProportionScaleHierarchySymmetry

RhythmContrastContextDetailTextureHarmonyBeauty

An example of mixed use development, with clearly defined pedestrian areas, landscaping, and signage

Urban Design Districts

Urban Design Zoning DistrictInclude design guidelines and also regulate permitted uses in the districtThis type of design district is utilized when properties are in transition, usually from a residential use to an office or neighborhood commercial use Regulate uses within an area as well as operating rules for the specific uses, for example operating hoursThis type of design district tends to utilize more stringent design regulations, including building materials and setbacks

Example of a well defined Urban Design District with building articulation, open areas for recreation and the

incorporation of natural features

Urban Design Overlay District

They do not change the underlying zoning category, but rather impose additional requirements relating to concerns such as green space, landscape, and architectural features

Guidelines are a voluntary supplement to general zoning regulations, designed to provide a framework for the protection and enhancement of the aesthetic, economic and environmental quality by addressing development issues as related to neighborhood character and economic diversity

What Can Be Accomplished withUrban Design?

Urban Design guidelines have great potential for enhancing the visual image and quality ofneighborhoods

In this image, the original signs have been replaced with monument signs according to the designguidelines for the urban design district The utilities have also been consolidated

Examples of great urban design from all over the world

Washington DC

Cartagena, Colombia

Salt Lake City, UT

Portofino, Italy

Strasbourg, FranceCopenhagen, Denmark

Siena, Italy A New City Aleppo, Syria

Rome, Italy

Thank You