URBAN FORMS

Basic Urban Form Conceptual Frameworks

Trend Extension

- resembles the Dispersed Sheet urban form of Kevin

Lynch, which he described as having “maximum
flexibility, personal comfort, independence and
where local participation is highly possible”

- Trend extension is the result of individuals building

anywhere according to their own preferences and
convenience with minimal government intervention.

- development is spread evenly over a wide

Dispersed Sheet
continuous tract, very accessible to open land, and
transport is designed as continuous grid.

-no vivid or memorable image of the city and costly

provision of public service.
Basic Urban Form Conceptual Frameworks

Linear Urban Form

- a.k.a Ribbon or Strip development

- characterized by concentration of development

along both sides of major transportation routes
such as roads, navigable rivers or other form of
transport network Strip/Linear Development

- generally start on a one-lot-deep into a grid system.

- also resembles what Kevin Lynch refers to as the

Urban Star which is characterized by a strong urban
core with secondary centers of moderate densities,
distributed along main radials roads.

- very strong visual image

Urban Star
Multi-Nodal Urban Form

- re-directs development away from the

urban core or city center toward identified
urban growth areas or nodes.

- approximates Lynch’s Galaxy form, which

is characterized by clusters of development
with each cluster having its own
specialization. Galaxy form

- the major center provides specialized

facilities and services to its nodes and acts
as it external linkage to other centers of
the city or municipality. The nodes support
the major center as its captive market
while providing neighborhood facilities
and services to its area of influence.
Multi-Nodal Urban Form

-Under the Centric and Nodal

form, a number of additional
mixed-use growth areas will be
developed outside the Poblacion
area existing center of
development.

Centric and Nodal form

Multi-Nodal Urban Form

- another related nodal-central type of development is

Radial and Circumferential. It shows a development channel
fanning out from a given center where points of activities
are interconnected by radial and circumferential road
systems which are potential development corridors

Radial and
Concentric Urban Form

- this form reflects an outward expansion of urban

development from the city center/core induced by
the construction of new circumferential and radial
roads.

- the form pattern matches the Core City of Kevin

Lynch has the unique characteristic of concentrating
development into one continuous body originating Core City
from the center or core.

- aiming to maximize land use in the Poblacion or city

center to provide more open space outside, this
urban form redirects future development in and
around the Poblacion/city center, extending to the
adjoining barangays or barrios. As a result,
the direction of growth enlarges the urban
core Concentric Development
Grid Form

- this system is made up of rectangular blocks defined by

parallel and intersecting streets. The simplicity of this
layout provides accessibility of plots and/or structures,
but conflict or movement could arise due to numerous
intersections

Grid Development
Urban Patterns - Shapes

Radiocentric Star
A large circle with
Radiocentric form with
radial corridors of
open spaces between
intense development
the outreaching
emanating from the
corridors of
center
development

Rectilinear Ring
Usually with two
corridors of intense A city built around an
development crossing open space
the center; usually
found in small cities
rather than in large
Urban Patterns - Shapes

Linear Sheet
Usually the result A vast urban area
of natural with
topography which little or no
restricts growth; articulation
may also be a
transportation
spine.
Articulated Sheet
Branch
A sheet accented by
A linear span with one or more central
connecting arms clusters and several
subclusters.
Urban Patterns - Shapes

Constellation
A series of nearly equal sized cities in
close proximity

Satellite
Constellation of cities around a main cluster
 URBAN STAGES
The changing form of the city may be traced through
certain stages according to Abu-Lunghod, namely:
Medieval or pre-Industrial City 1850s
Earliest cities were closed and divided into cells on the basis of trade, religious
sect, origin or culture and relationships were primary in nature

Konx and Pinch 2000 – Urban Social Geography

Industrial City 1945 - 1975
Product of the Industrial Revolution in 18th century characterized by congestion,
pollution and poor land use planning. Market forces determined urban form and
land use pattern. Primary relationships declined. Satellite towns have developed
around the city
The Post-Industrial City
Marked by development of urban regions or system of cities. Primary and
secondary relationships have been supplanted by tertiary relationships, i.e., by
interactions where there are no physical contacts as in a stock market or in a
“wired city” where, according to McLuhan, an electronic devices serve as the
extension of the human body and can turn the world into a global village or
ecomenopolis