On: 3 May 2008

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Journal of Urbanism: International

Research on Placemaking and Urban
Sustainability
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http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t782882883

URBAN MORPHOLOGY
Online Publication Date: 01 March 2008
To cite this Article: (2008) 'URBAN MORPHOLOGY', Journal of Urbanism:
International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 1:1, 91 96
To link to this article: DOI: 10.1080/17549170801905707
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17549170801905707

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Journal of Urbanism
Vol. 1, No. 1, March 2008, 9196

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URBAN MORPHOLOGY
Introduction
The study of urban precedent has been a fundamental basis for urban design inquiry and
the identification of timeless principles and practices of urban place making for
generations, from ancient times to today. The approach is shared by classicists,
modernists, and new urbanists alike. The study and documentation of urbanism through
direct observation, measurement, and drawing represent primary methods of urban
analysis with a long history in architecture, planning, and urban design, revealing the
physical characteristics of towns and cities.
The drawings on the following pages, submitted by Professors Jaime Correa and Steve
Fett, represent the School of Miami method of urban analysis emphasizing handdrawings. In future issues these pages will present a variety of urban morphology
snapshots studying both precedents and contemporary urban places and using a variety of
methods.

ISSN 1754-9175 print/ISSN 1754-9183 online

# 2008 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/17549170801905707
http://www.informaworld.com

Urban morphology

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92

Drawings produced by graduate students in the University of Miami School of Architectures

Suburb and Town Design Program, Fall 2007, under the direction of Professors Jaime Correa and
Steve Fett. Key: A) Plan of St. Augustine, 1899. B) St. Augustine location map. C) Section of
Spanish Street, 1/16 = 1-0. D) Typical residential block, 1:70. E) View of typical residential
street. F) Elevation of Charlotte Street, 3/32 = 1-0. G) View of typical commercial street. H)
Typical commercial block, 1:70. I) Section of St. George Street, 1/16 = 1-0.

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Journal of Urbanism
93

Urban morphology

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94

Drawings produced by graduate students in the University of Miami School of Architectures

Suburb and Town Design Program, Fall 2007, under the direction of Professors Jaime Correa and
Steve Fett.

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Journal of Urbanism
95

96

Urban morphology

Table 1. Morphological comparison.

St Augustine

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Date

Salem

1899

1890

Documentation area (in acres)

214

163

Lot size
Average width
Average length

609
1709

249
609

7669
17839
38139

6529
16799
24179

Block perimeter
Minimum
Average
Maximum
Number of lots per block
Minimum
Maximum

2
24

5
57

Number of buildings per block

Minimum
Maximum

1
35

8
89

Number of blocks

43

48

Alleys and/or lanes

Yes
No

R.O.W. width
(measured from the front lot line)
Minimum
Maximum

16
76

11
62

R.O.W. proportions
(the most common mode conditions)
Width
Height

1 (259)
1 (259)

Number of R.O.W.s
(excludes interior block alleys and pathways)
Continuous
Discontinuous

9
8

2
30

113

30

10

Number of civic buildings

Publicly owned and managed buildings and
religious buildings
Number of civic open spaces
Acreage of civic open spaces
Minimum
Maximum

0.32
2.66

Percentage of land occupation

Gross (with R.O.W.s and civic spaces)
Net (without R.O.W.s and civic spaces)

18%
19%

Urban form (urban geometry)

Regular
Irregular

3 (709)
1 (259)

0.62
9.90
32%
41%

Source: Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, University of Miami Richter Library. Note: The Library of
Congress has over 700,000 fire insurance map sheets produced by the Sanborn Map Company for
more than twelve thousand American cities and towns from the 1870s until the 1950s. These maps were
prepared primarily to assist insurance underwriters in determining the risk involved in insuring
individual properties. The maps represent an invaluable resource for urban researchers illustrating the
detailed characteristics of buildings, streets, blocks, utilities, and other physical details of the built
environment. Sanborn Maps are available in public libraries throughout the United States, Canada,
and Mexico and in digital formats through ProQuest.