PHYSICAL PLANNING/URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

QUESTIONS:
1. What is the meaning of a ‘city’?
A large urban area where is a center of population, commerce and culture in
consideration of the location, geography and economy.
2. What is ‘urban design’?
Urban design is the process of shaping the setting (or public realm) for life in cities,
towns and villages. Urban Design is the study of the relationship among the
components within a city and of the development of a design plan which will
improve the quality of life within the city.

It ranges in scale from parts of an environment such as streetscapes to the larger

whole of districts, towns, cities or regions. Urban Design is manifest in all aspects
of the physical environment including form, space movement, time,
activity patterns and setting. Urban Design is concerned with the sensory and
cognitive relationships between people and their environment.
3. What is the most prominent aspect of urban design and what are the principles?
The creative articulation of space is the most prominent aspect of urban design.
The following artistic principles are an integral part of creating form and spatial
definition: order, unity, balance, proportion, scale, hierarchy, symmetry, rhythm,
contrast, context, detail, texture, harmony &beauty.

4. Whilst creating a conceptual urban design plan what are the most crucial / initial
objectives needs to be considered?

The urban design plan will create a network of connected mix-use (commercial
and residential) neighborhoods that are safe, pedestrian friendly, convenient and
meet the needs of the populace. The urban design should provide direction for
three clusters of opportunity sites where coordinated development can have the
greatest positive impact.

Community Character
Urban Design concepts should reflect the history and traditions of the town. Pride
in ownership is an important consideration as economic growth will respond to
this context. The central plan should be pedestrian friendly with outlying areas
providing the needs of contemporary demands of transportation.

1
2
3
Mix-use Places
The modern urban plan utilizes planned developments that mix residential and
commercial uses. These developments may be horizontal or stacked. The
horizontal model has separated residential and commercial structures
intermingled on the same site providing ease of access between the two. Stacked
developments have both uses in the same structure. Commercial storefronts
usually occupy the lower levels while residential areas occupy the upper levels.

Pedestrian Connections
One objective of urban planning is to design new projects that provide safety and
comfort. The inter-connection between use clusters should be planned for ease of
access. One concept places parking on the perimeter with clusters
inward. Another concept places clusters on the perimeter with parking
inward. Both concepts should provide connecting sidewalks which promote
access between clusters.

4
Traffic Calming
Urban planning must include managing automobile traffic. This includes
streetscaping and paving materials that make it clear roadways are passing
through pedestrian districts. Provision of on-street parking, designed widths and
pedestrian amenities indicate cars are sharing neighborhood streets with
pedestrians and bicycles.

5
6
 Dimension of Sustainability
Economic Sustainability-- Economic activities grow in stability by changing its
structure to saving resources and energies. Environmental Sustainability-- All the
city activities work with zero emission to maintain safe and
comfortable environment for urban residence. Social Sustainability-- Social equity
is achieved by equal distribution of social services.

Protecting and Creating Economic Value

One of the benefits of a master urban plan is that it provides certainty for project
developers and adjacent property owners. There is a common expectation about
the quality and creation of shared addresses that creates higher values for land
and existing and future buildings. The urban concepts should create and protect
economic opportunities for the community and property-owners.

5. What is the role of the ‘street’ in an urban settlement and what are the main
functions of it?

Streets are the arteries of cities and neighborhoods. A place’s success can depend
on how well itis connected to local services and the broader city. Over the past
three decades the design of streets has often centered around moving people, by
automobile, from one point to another.
In reality, streets have many other functions. They are vital components of
neighborhoods and greatly affect the overall quality of life for residents of the
urban settlements. Places and streets that have stood the test of time are those
where traffic and other activities have been integrated successfully, and where
buildings and spaces, and the needs of people, not just of their vehicles, shape the
area.
The street is, by definition, a multi-functional space, providing enclosure and
activity as well as movement. Its main functions are:
• Circulation, for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles;
• Transit access;
• Access to buildings, and the provision of light and ventilation for buildings;
• A route for utilities;
• Storage space, especially for vehicles;
• Public space for human interaction; everything from parades and
gatherings to chance encounters

7
 Virtually all streets in urban areas perform these functions, and often the balance
between them will vary along the length of a street. Ideally, all these facets of the
street can successfully coexist, but all too often it is one function (especially the
movement of vehicles) which has been allowed to dominate.

6. What are the indicators of the successful qualified streetscape?

The main indicators of qualified successful streetscape can be listed under six
headings:
• Comfortable and safe for pedestrians and the disabled;
• A street designed to accommodate all sorts of functions, not dominated by
any one function;
• Visually simple, and free of clutter. Regardless of whether a street is a
straightforward or complex space, what matters is the simplicity and clarity
of its paving, street furniture, lighting and landscaping;
• Well, cared for, and where utilities or advertising/signage are subordinate
to all other street functions;
• The design and detail of a street is sympathetic to local character and the
activities in the right of way (e.g., village main street - the street should not
be designed to move cars at high speeds);
• Making appropriate provision for access, deliveries and storage of vehicles.

The public realm should be designed to encourage the activities intended to take
place within it. Streets should be designed to accommodate a range of users, create
visual interest and amenity and encourage social interaction. The place function of
streets may equal or outweigh the movement function.
This can be satisfied by providing a mix of streets of various dimensions, squares
and courtyards, with associated pocket parks, play spaces, resting places and
shelter. The key is to think carefully about the range of desirable activities for the
environment being created and to vary designs to suit each place in the network.

7. What is the Transportation Planning Process?

So, what is transportation planning? These public-facing initiatives recognize that

transportation improvements are crucial for a sustainable economy and high-
quality lifestyle that attracts and maintains residents and visitors. Transportation
planners work to facilitate getting from home to work, shops, or entertainment as
efficiently and affordably as possible.
The planning process has four distinct steps:

8
 Step 1:
Planners and development professionals will take surveys of the current
transportation infrastructure and demand. They will overlay other relevant data,
including population projections and development trends, to analyze the current
and future transport needs of a community. This work may be done on a local,
regional, statewide, or even national level, depending on the modes of
transportation and objectives.

Step 2:
Once planners know the traffic patterns and land use information, they can use
what is known as a transportation model to predict future regional transport
planning and requirements. Models vary but can include mathematical
analysis regarding trip distribution, traffic assignments, and home-based trips.

Step 3:
Transportation planners continue by overlaying forecasts of future land use and
policies that have been used previously to determine transport infrastructure and
flow. For example, if there are proposals for a massive residential community
outside a county’s urban boundary, such needs to be considered before anyone
works to complete the streets.

Step 4:
Finally, these professionals evaluate the policies and concepts in relation to other
ideas. They may hold public forums to get feedback from the community, discuss
budgeting requirements for land purchases, and weigh the maintenance costs
against other alternatives.

8. Why is Transportation Planning Important?

With so many different modes of transport, without planning it can be challenging
for decision-makers to know what is best for their constituents. They must choose
among:
• Road transport, which can be fast to build but expensive to maintain
• Railway transport, which can be used to move both people and bulky goods
• Water transport, either over inland waters or through oceans
• Air transport, including domestic and international flights