16AR406 - URBAN DESIGN & RENEWAL

Unit -1
1.4 Principles of Urban Design

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
The Framework

Resilient city
The word principle
means a basic idea Other ideas of
or rule that explains good urban
or controls how space
something happens Sustainable
or works. Good Urban Space city Place-making

The principles of Transit

urban design refer Oriented
to the basic criteria Development
or ‘rules’ that need
to be followed to Compact city
design a good
urban space. The principles presented here are based on seven key
aspects of urban design that is centered on the notion of
place making.
Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST
 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect A - Places for people | Principles – Inclusivity, Distinctiveness

Places for people Inclusivity

For places to be well- For places to be well-used they
used and well-loved, need to feel and be accessible
they must be safe, to all the people of the
comfortable, community. Inclusivity enables
accessible, varied and everyone to participate equally,
attractive. They also confidently and independently
need to be distinctive, in everyday activities
and offer variety,
choice and fun.
Distinctiveness
Vibrant places offer
opportunities for For a space to become a place,
meeting people. Some one must be able to identify
principles that support with that space in a specific
the creation of places manner. Distinctiveness
for people are describes the quality of a place
inclusivity and that allows people to identify
distinctiveness. with that place in a unique way.
Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST
 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect B – Enrich the existing| Principles – Context

Enrich the existing Context Excerpt from King’s Cross Master plan

Context simple means the circumstances

Enriching the qualities or settings in which one functions. The
of existing urban context may include the physical
places adds to the surroundings of topography, movement
identity of the place. patterns and infrastructure, built form and
This means uses, the governance structures, and the
encouraging a cultural, social and economic
distinctive response environment.
that arises from and
complements its
setting. In other
words, working on
context specific
development.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect C – Make Connections| Principles – ease of movement,
permeability, legibility, urban scale
Make Connections Ease of Movement 34 km cycle lane coming up on outer ring road - Bengaluru

Places need to be easy This refers to the ease

to get to and be
integrated physically
and visually with their
surroundings.
• physical connections
– ease of movement
• degree of
accessibility these
connections offer –
permeability
• visually connectivity –
legibility
• the capacity to make
the visual
connectivity – urban
scale
with which one can get to
and move through a place
and the different means
by which they can do so.
It answers the questions –
how well connected is the
neighbourhood.
Permeability
It describes the extent to
which urban forms
permit (or restrict)
movement of people or
vehicles in different
directions.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect C – Make Connections| Principles – ease of movement,
permeability, legibility, urban scale
Make Connections Legibility
Places need to be easy Legibility means the extent to which the cityscape can be 'read'. People who
move through the city engage in way-finding. They need to be able to recognize
to get to and be
and organize urban elements into coherent patterns.
integrated physically
and visually with their
surroundings.

• physical connections
– ease of movement
• degree of
accessibility these
connections offer –
permeability
• visually connectivity –
legibility
• the capacity to make
the visual
connectivity – urban
scale

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect C – Make Connections| Principles – ease of movement,
permeability, legibility, urban scale
Make Connections Urban Scale

Places need to be easy
to get to and be
integrated physically
and visually with their
surroundings.
Urban Scale is a term that describes the sense of height, bulk, and architectural
articulation of a place or individual building often in relation to the size of a
human body. The extent to which one can ‘see’ an environment and thereby
make visual connections is largely influenced by the scale of the space that one
is in

• physical connections
– ease of movement
• degree of
accessibility these
connections offer –
permeability
• visually connectivity –
legibility
• the capacity to make
the visual
connectivity – urban
scale

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect D – Work with the landscape | Principles - Integrating natural systems,
Creating thriving outdoor spaces
Work with the Integrating natural systems
Landscape
To create places that
strike a balance between Our individual and collective
the natural and health is intricately tied to the
manmade environment health of air, water, land, and
and utilise each site’s climate. How we choose to
intrinsic resources - the live, how we choose to move
climate, landform, around, how we develop
landscape and ecology - land, all have an impact on
to maximise energy the quality of the air we
conservation and breathe, the water we drink,
amenity. Striking a and the weather we
balance between natural experience. Striking a balance
and manmade between natural and
environments is manmade environments is
important from the significant from the
perspective of creating perspective of creating
resilient cities and resilient cities and
creating spaces that neighbourhoods.
promote well-being.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect D – Work with the landscape | Principles - Integrating natural systems,
Creating thriving outdoor spaces
Work with the Creating thriving outdoor spaces
Landscape
To create places that Ensuring a balance between the natural and manmade environment is also crucial
strike a balance between to create spaces that reduce stress and promote self-esteem and wellbeing. In
the natural and dense urban environments, enabling people to live outside is vital to communal
manmade environment health and happiness. Design can help to increase opportunities for outdoor time
and utilise each site’s and connecting with nature through the creation of parks, gardens, terraces,
intrinsic resources - the courtyards, balconies and good quality public spaces.
climate, landform,
landscape and ecology -
to maximise energy
conservation and
amenity. Striking a
balance between natural
and manmade
environments is
important from the
perspective of creating
resilient cities and
creating spaces that
promote well-being.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect E – Mix Uses and Forms| Principles - Variety
Mix Uses and Forms Variety
Mixed use and forms
create stimulating, The principle of
enjoyable and variety is an answer
convenient places that to the question -
meet a variety of How does the
development
demands from the
promote a good mix
widest possible range of activities? It is the
of users, amenities experience of a
and social groups. degree of choice
They also weave provided by an
together different intermix of uses. The
building forms, uses, mix of building
typologies permitted
tenures and densities.
add to the choice
The principle of available in the area.
variety captures the Neighbouring uses
goal of creating and activities must
neighbourhoods with be compatible with
mixed use and form. each other.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect F – Manage the investment | Principles - Efficiency, Public realm
Manage the Efficiency
Investment
The principle of efficiency promotes a balance between the consumption of
For projects to be resources such as energy, time and fiscal resources, with planned achievements
developable and well in comfort, safety, security, access, tenure, productivity and hygiene. It
encourages optimum sharing of public land, roads, facilities, services and
cared for they must be
infrastructural networks, reducing per household costs, while increasing
economically viable, affordability, productivity, access and civic viability.
well managed and
maintained. This means
understanding the
market considerations
of developers, ensuring
long term commitment
from the community
and the local authority,
defining appropriate
delivery mechanisms
and seeing this as part
of the design process.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect F – Manage the investment | Principles - Efficiency, Public realm
Manage the Public realm
Investment
The principle of public realm is key to the manageability and maintenance of
urban spaces. The aim is to produce high quality, attractive, safe, comfortable and
For projects to be
vibrant public spaces where people feel welcome to visit, use, socialize and go
developable and well
about their business and leisure in comfort and safety.
cared for they must be
economically viable,
well managed and
maintained. This means
understanding the
market considerations
of developers, ensuring
long term commitment
from the community
and the local authority,
defining appropriate
delivery mechanisms
and seeing this as part
of the design process.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Key aspect G – Design for Change | Principles - Adaptability
Design for Change Adaptability
Any new development Adaptability is the capacity of buildings, neighbourhoods and urban spaces to
respond to changing social, technological, economic and market conditions.
needs to be flexible Spaces that are adaptable and robust reduce the life cycle environmental impacts
enough to respond to of resource consumption, building material production and demolition waste.
future changes in use,
lifestyle and
demography. This
means creating
flexibility in the use of
property, public
spaces and the service
infrastructure and
introducing new
approaches to
transportation, traffic
management and
parking.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.4 Principles of Urban Design
Summary

Key Aspects Principles

Places for people Inclusivity, Distinctiveness

Enrich the existing Context

Connections Ease of movement, permeability, legibility and urban scale

Landscape Integrating natural resources and creating thriving outdoor spaces

Mixed uses and forms Variety

Manage the
investment Efficiency and public realm

Design for change Adaptability

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST