Torres, Felix Vincent D.

October 24, 2021

476488
AR412 1010 Urban Design Studio

Research plate 1

Urban Resilience
Urban Resilience can be defined in many ways depending on the subject area.
Alberti et al (2003) define urban resilience as “the degree to which cities tolerate alteration
before reorganizing around a new set of structure and processes”. In the field of
Environmental science, Brown et al (2012) define it as “the capacity to dynamically and
effectively respond to shifting climate circumstances while continuing to function at an
acceptable level”. This may suggest the ability of an urban system to maintain its function
while shifting to a sustainable future. Wamsler et al (2013) provide some principles on
defining urban resilience “A disaster resilient city can be understood as a city that has
managed. . . to: (a) reduce or avoid current and future hazards; (b) reduce current and future
susceptibility to hazards; (c) establish functioning mechanisms and structures for disaster
response; and (d) establish functioning mechanisms and structures for disaster recovery”

Urban Parks and Open Spaces

An Urban Park provides open spaces, green areas, and areas
for recreational activities in cities or any urban areas for
communities. It is known that urban parks and open spaces
can improve the urban experience and environment. It cleanse
air and reduces urban noise (Lam, KC. 2005). Features that
can be found in urban parks include playground, gardens,
running and fitness trails or paths, sports fields and courts,
restrooms, and open spaces for other activities. One of the
best examples is Central Park, the most famous and iconic
park of New York city. Because it is heavily surrounded with
infrastructure, it helps the city to reduce its urban heat island
effect.

Urban Branding of Cities

A new strategy toward urban development of sustainable cities. An approach
to improve marketing of the city image by featuring unique characteristics of the city and
making it as its city brand image. Urban branding can allow a city to have a competitive
advantage regionally and internationally, by featuring its uniqueness therefore attracting
tourists (Rehan, R. M. 2014). According to Rehan(2014) urban branding can be branding of
urban projects, branding of city life, historical buildings, signature architecture,
media-generated imagery, and city form. Branding of urban benefits cities, for example
Stuttgart in Germany. “It is not only an industrial city with global famous automobile
companies, state-of-the-art science and research facilities, but also a cultural city that has
made a name for itself through its renowned State Opera, and the exceptional art collections
at the State Gallery.”
 Urban Streets/ Sustainable Streetscapes
It is important for a city to have a sustainable
streetscape and to form a visual image of the city as it has
a great impact on the city’s success. Most of our cities don't
have an effective streetscape and greatly affects the visual
image of the city. Hall (2001) provided some guidelines for
a specific strategy for creating a sustainable streetscape.
Hall proposed that streets should have an on-street
parking, tree planting verge then sidewalk that promotes
social interaction. It should improve environmental quality
by improving air quality, reducing heat island effect, and
reducing pollution. Sustainable streetscapes must create a
good environment and safety for people to visit and gather.

Adaptive Reuse of Built Heritage structures

Heritage structures are crucial for creating identity and characteristics for urban
cities. The only way in order to preserve the significance of a heritage structure is by
proposing a new function. A successful adaptation is one that respects the existing building
and its historic context and adds a contemporary layer to the heritage building rather than
destroying its character (DEH, 2004). The challenge posed to preserving an heritage site is
the decision on what will be its proposed new function. This decision should be based on an
analytic and scientific method in order to find the appropriate new function. Adaptive reuse of
heritage buildings should promote a sustainable environment by using existing building
materials and should ensure the conservation of cultural identity.

Mısırlısoy, D., & Günçe, K. (2016). Adaptive reuse strategies for heritage buildings: A
holistic approach. Sustainable Cities and Society, 26, 91-98.

Campus Planning
Improving technology, urbanization, international causes, and national ambitions
have led higher education planning to be given special attention. These are principles
related to campus planning. Campus planning establishes positive interaction among
academic peers. Arrange campus buildings, open space, circulation, and utilities to promote
academic and social interaction. Develop campus building as a living-learning environment.
Establish characteristics for the campus to create identity and enhance campus beauty and
campus experience. Campus planning should minimize environmental impact and maximize
resource conservation. Encourage the use of sustainable principles and use of renewable
resources.
Dober, R. P. (1996). Campus Planning.

Place Making
Place making is the process of “creating an ideal place for people to live,
work, play, and learn” Place making is influenced by the physical, social, emotional, and
ecological health of individuals and community living in the place. Ensure the sustainable
planning of the place and also imply authenticity and quality to create identity of the place.
 Linear Parks
Features in linear parks are greenways, pathwalks, and bicycle lines. Over the years,
linear parks have received a great deal of attention among city planners. It is a great
opportunity to utilize linear parks on abandoned areas, like converting abandoned rail trails
to convert into recreational space. Usually linear parks are developed in river sides, canals,
along streams, and shorelines. It can also be used to connect major urban nodes in the city.
Planners when designing linear parks should ask themselves whom and for what these
linear parks are being designed. It is known that natural settings with good access and
amenities encourage people to walk for transport (Gehl 2010).

Community Planning
Community planning has evolved and improved over the years. It is the art of making
sustainable living places that both thrive and adapt to people’s needs for shelter, livelihood,
commerce, recreation, and social order (hall, K. B. 2001). It is about creating a better place
for people to live. Planning should promote self-sustaining communities and be sustainable.
Self-sustaining communities live in close proximity. Public areas, like commercial spaces,
should be a walking distance to people's houses. Planning should be able to respond and
adapt to changes in the community.

Urban Landscapes
The rapid urbanization leads to concerns over the sustainability of urbanization
worldwide. Human activities influence the development of cities. Andersson, E. (2006)
argued that one of the central tenets in landscape ecology is that processes can be inferred
from geographical patterns, but it may not be that straightforward in urban landscapes where
human activities exist. In our context, urban landscape is the dense accumulation of building
structure, the streets, sidewalks, building facade that we see everyday, and the relation of
man and the urban environment.
Reference:

Meerow, S., Newell, J. P., & Stults, M. (2016). Defining urban resilience: A review.
Landscape and urban planning, 147, 38-49.

Lam, K. C., Ng, S. L., Hui, W. C., & Chan, P. K. (2005). Environmental quality of urban parks
and open spaces in Hong Kong. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 111(1), 55-73.

Chiesura, A. (2004). The role of urban parks for the sustainable city. Landscape and urban
planning, 68(1), 129-138.

Rehan, R. M. (2014). Urban branding as an effective sustainability tool in urban

development. Hbrc Journal, 10(2), 222-230.

Hall, K. B. & Porterfield. 2001 G. A. Community by Design: New Urbanism for Suburbs and
Small Communities. New York: McGraw-Hill

“What Is Placemaking?” Project for Public Spaces, 2007,

https://www.pps.org/article/what-is-placemaking

Gehl J (2010) Cities for People. Island Press.

Das PK (2015). Let Streams of Linear Open Spaces Flow Across Urban Landscapes. The
Nature of Cities

Kelly, E. D. (2012). Community planning: An introduction to the comprehensive plan. Island

Press.

Andersson, E. (2006). Urban landscapes and sustainable cities. Ecology and society, 11(1).