URBAN SOCIOLOGY GEORG SIMMEL

The sociological study of social life and human interaction in metropolitan areas. the father of urban sociology
as he pioneered studies of the interrelation of space and social interaction
SOCIOLOGY
Study of social behavior or society, including its origins, development, organization, TOPICS IN URBAN SOCIOLOGY
networks, and institutions
ACCESSIBILITY
A general term used to describe the degree to which a product is accessible by as
NORMATIVE many people as possible.
Based on what is considered to be the usual or correct way of doing something

ACTIVE LIVING
During the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, sociologists such as MAX WEBER and EMILE A way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines, like walking to the
DURKHEIM focused on the increasing urbanization of social life and the effects it had on store or biking to work.
people’s feelings of alienation and anonymity.
Compact, mixed – use development
Residential areas are located close to stores, jobs
The CHICAGO SCHOOL is a major influence in the study of Urban Sociology.
and recreational opportunities (parks, etc.)

TABULA RASA
ACTIVITY CENTRE
people's minds before they receive impressions gained from experience
A term used in urban planning and design for a mixed – use urban area where there
is a concentration of commercial and other land uses.
Unlike many other metropolitan areas, Chicago did not expand outward at the edges as
predicted by early expansionist theorists, but instead reformatted the space available in a
CONCENTRIC RING PATTERN. ADAPTIVE REUSE
The process of adapting old structures for purposes other than those originally
intended.
Park, Burgess and McKenzie
3 of the earliest proponents of Urban Sociology
CONSERVATION Why are people leaving the cities to live in smaller towns and villages?

a term used interchangeably with preservation but having the rather more positive 1. health issues, security, "community"
connotation of adaptation of parts of buildings while retaining the essential spirit of 2. "Back to nature" movement
the original 3. increase in telecommuting
4. cheaper land and house prices
COUNTER URBANIZATION effects
REHABILITATION
1. Housing density
used to describe the idea of repairing, redecorating and in some cases converting,
2. Housing prices
existing structurally sound property to a standard compatible with modern
3. Pollution levels (health afflictions)
requirements of amenity and health
4. Crime levels
5. Peaceful retirement
6. Wish to improve quality of life
ADAPTIVE REUSE
 Intramuros CONCENTRIC RING MODEL (The Burgess Model)
 Pinto Art Museum
One of the earliest theoretical models to explain urban social structures.
REHABILITATION
 San Agustin Church
 Baluarte de San Diego
CONSERVATION
 Machu Picchu
 Angkor Wat

COUNTER URBANIZATION
COPENHAGENIZATION
Involves moving of the population away from urban areas such as towns and cities
to a new town, a new estate, a commuter town or village. Concept in Urban Planning & Design relating t the implementation of Copenhagen –
style bicycle lanes in cities.
FRAGMENTATION  More open spaces, a perception of being closer to “nature”
 Lower suburban house prices and property taxes in comparison to the city
The absence or the underdevelopment of connections between the society and the
 Increasing number of job opportunities in the suburban areas
groupings of some members of that society on the lines of a common culture,
nationality, race, language, occupation, religion, income level, or other common
interests.
URBAN DECAY
A process by which a city, or a part of the city, falls into a state of disrepair
GENTRIFICATION (Urban Gentrification)
CHARACTERISTICS
The change in an urban area associated with the movement of more
 Depopulation
affluent individuals into a lower – class area.  Economic restructuring
 Property abandonment
 High unemployment
RURAL  Fragmented families
 Political disenfranchisement
Areas referred to as “the countryside”
 Crime
 Desolate and unfriendly urban landscapes

SUBURBS
TRIGGERS
Smaller residential communities lying immediately outside a city.
 Urban planning decisions
A residential area on the outskirts of a city (or some distance from the city  Tight rent control
core/CBD).  Poverty
 Development of freeways and railway lines
 Suburbanization
SUBURBANIZATION  Redlining
The process of population movement from within towns and cities to the rural –  Immigration restrictions
urban fringe.  Racial discrimination

PUSH FACTORS URBAN RENEWAL

 Congestion and population density of cities a general term to describe the idea of consciously renewing the outworn areas of
 Pollution caused by industry towns and cities; covers most aspects of renewal, including both redevelopment
 High levels of traffic and rehabilitation
 General perception of a lower quality life in inner city areas
PULL FACTORS
URBAN SPRAWL
Sometimes “suburban sprawl”
The spreading of a city and its suburbs over rural land at the fringe of an urban area

SINGLE USE ZONING

commercial, residential and industrial areas are separated from one another.

CLUP
A technical document embodying specific proposals and strategies for guiding,
regulating growth and/or development that is implemented through the Zoning
Ordinance.

URBAN HEIRARCHY
Hamlet village town suburb city metropolis