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10 Conceptual urban planning

theories by famous architects
7 MINS READ

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Theories are scientific ideas based on multiple assumptions and principles, while urban
planning is a strategy given to plan a city/area/space keeping environmental and political
context in mind, it helps in defining the land use, building a better transportation connec-
tion, and developing water bodies. There are many planning architects and urban
designers/planners who gave their ideas to generalize a framework based on their obser-
vations, many of them came and went but their principles remained with us, some got
successful and some were evolved with time but have taught us a lot to take a further
step. There are tons of theories which caters to urban development in an organised man-
ner, responding to the need, growth and change of time. Some of the major ones are as
follows.

1. Garden city Concept (1898-1902); By Ebenezer

Howard | Planning Architects
The three magnet concept was an utopian vision by Ebenezer Howard, a well known ur-
ban planner of the 19th century. The illustration below shows the three kinds, two which
were existing with some positives and some negatives, and the third one Howard pro-
posed by combining the two; i.e. town-country. The amalgamation of these two magnets
helped in compensating the disadvantages of both; the town and countryside.
Introducing the greenbelts in cities brought the working class people near to the farm
side and empowered the lifestyles of both. The concept evolved in many stages from the
“three magnet theory’’ to “Garden cities of to-morrow”.

With the growing grid of the concept Howard gave an assumed data, and pattern of circu-
lar rings linked with each other via different road networks. The first city planned on this
theory was Letchworth garden city, then came the Welwayn garden city in the UK, and
slowly people started following the theory and built many more of them.

Garden city Concept: ©https://en.wikipedia.org

Garden city Concept: ©https://en.wikipedia.org
 Garden city Concept: ©https://en.wikipedia.org

2. Geddian trio Concept; Patrick Geddes

Sir patrick geddes believed in the concept of region and gave power to human life more
than anything, His values lied on emphasizing human life and energy than to beautify
them. Taking inspiration from a sociologist Frédéric Le Play’s triad quoting to ʻLieu, Travail,
Familleʼ geddes translated them “Work, Place, Folkʼ’ and gave a theory of urban plan-
ning. Giving importance to local surveys and human centric designs, depending on an
inhabitant’s workstyle, their culture, heritage, beliefs, the region’s topography, climatic
changes, networks and everything, the geddian trio concept came into existence.
 ©https://medium.com

©https://medium.com

3. Concentric Zone model; Ernest Burgess

One of the earliest models in urban history talking about the different land use was the
burgess model. According to Burgess urban growth is all about an individual’s social cate-
gory or affordability. The city has 6 major concentric zones;
Zone I: The CBD of the city where all the things are accessible.

Zone II: Located adjacent to CBD, have most of the industrial zones, generating employ-
ment to nearby poor category residents.

Zone III: This zone is dedicated to the most poor category of the city, mostly immigrants
and people who can’t afford living far from industries.

Zone IV: Residents devoted to working class category people.

Zone V: It has higher quality lands than the previous one, mostly dedicated to business
people.

Zone VI: For the high class category, where they can afford luxury and a place away from
working chaos.

Concentric zone model:

©https://www.researchgate.net

This was not a successful theory but further helped in categorising the land use pattern.

4. Sector theory; Homer Hoyt

Sector theory, also known as Hoyt’s model, was an evolution of the Burgess model. Hoyt
debates about the growth of a city is never in concentric rings but has different typology
of growth. As shown below A city is developed in multiple components with multiple
arrangements.

Sector theory: ©https://en.wikipedia.org

5. Multi nuclei theory; Harris and Ullman |

Planning Architects
Based on urban land use, the theory defines the central part as an origin, and the whole
city is developed around a central nuclei having a single CBD (Central Business District).

An evolution of single nuclei theory, where two legends Harris and Ullman proved that a
city doesn’t grow around a single nuclei but has multi focie, and each point acts as a grow-
ing point. Due to increase in population and growth in car movement not all the farther
rings can reach to the center, yet need their own reaching point. The size and value of a
CBD can differ, having a bigger CBD at the center and smallest in the outskirts can be one
strategy.

Multi nuclei theory: ©https://en.wikipedia.org

6. City of To-morrow; Le Corbusier

A theory by world’s famous architect; Le corbusier. Expanding his vision from a building to
a city, corbusier gave this theory to approach ‘urban crises’. According to corbusier, peo-
ple would rather choose to live in the outskirts than to be in a city, thus a city should be
planned with accommodating the central part for commerce and covering the surround-
ing with greens. The central zone should have all the skyscrapers while the remaining resi-
dential belt to be developed in zigzag pattern with leaving the required setback.

City of Tomorrow:

©https://workagile.co.uk

©http://writingcities.com

7. Broadacre city concept; FL Wright

Based on a theory of very famous architect FL Wright, a broadacre city was designed on a
socio-political scheme. Where a single family will be given 1 Acre of plot land and will be
given a full freedom to their way of living.With the concept of garden city, Wright tried to
take green belts to another level and give a new definition to the landscape, so that peo-
ple can be connected with nature and with each other with liberty and prosperity US got a
new definition to city development.

©http://www.hasta-standrews.com

8. Neighborhood unit concept; Clarence A. Perry

The neighborhood unit theory was an initiative to bring everything in a single unit.
Catering to the need of a single family on the basis of six factors:

1. A child can reach to school without crossing a street traffic

2. Each and every dwelling has access to centrally located elementary school, and
doesn’t exceed the distance more than one and a half mile

3. A departmental store to be located on a walking distance from a house.

4. Workplace to have convenient transportation.

5. 10% of a single unit should have greens with parks and playgrounds.

6. The infrastructure should cater to the needs.

One of the most famous examples is Radburn city, with enclaves, blocks and superblocks
planned in an organised manner.
 Neighborhood unit concept: ©https://evstudio.com

9. Concept of human settlement; K.A. DOXIADIS

K.A. Doxiadis, a greek architect and a town planner gave his theory on the term ekistics
defined for human settlement. His concept revolved around human experience with na-
ture, man, society, shells and networks.
 Concept of human settlement: ©http://shortformcontent.blogspot.com

10. Mile high city concept; FL Wright | Planning

Architects
An utopian vision to move the horizontal growth of population vertically up.The theory
mentioned living of a community on skyscrapers and leaving the lands for green areas
and nature. As the population increase was noticeable, so was the vision appreciable.
 Mile high city concept: ©https://en.wikipedia.org

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/dec/05/ebenezer-howards-three-magnets

https://medium.com/@designforsustainability/design-and-planning-for-people-in-place-
sir-patrick-geddes-1854-1932-and-the-emergence-of-2efa4886317e

https://www.slideshare.net/shonasrish/theories-and-concepts-of-town-
planning#:~:text=SINGLE%20NUCLEI%20THEORY%EF%83%BC%20This,major%20part%20
of%20the%20city.
 Garden city Concept:
Garden city Concept: Garden city Concept:
©https://en.wikipedia.org
©https://en.wikipedia.org ©https://en.wikipedia.org

©https://www.researchgate.net

.©https://medium.com

.©https://medium.com

Sector theory:
Multi nuclei theory:
©https://en.wikipedia.org
©https://en.wikipedia.org
©https://workagile.co.uk
 ©http://writingcities.com

©http://www.hasta-
standrews.com Neighborhood unit concept:
©https://evstudio.com

Concept of human settlement:

Mile high city concept:
©http://shortformcontent.blogsp
©https://en.wikipedia.org
ot.com
 CONCEPTUAL URBAN PLANNING FAMOUS ARCHITECTS HIGH CITY CONCEPT

MODERN URBAN PLANNING THEORIES OBJECTIVES OF URBAN PLANNING

THEORIES AND CONCEPTS OF TOWN PLANNING PDF THEORIES FAMOUS ARCHITECTS

TYPES OF PLANNING THEORIES URBAN PLANNING THEORIES AND MODELS PDF

URBAN PLANNING THEORIES PDF URBAN PLANNING THEORIES PPT

URBAN THEORIES AND URBAN CONCEPTS WHAT ARE THE THEORIES OF PLANNING

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Ankita Agrawal
Ankita Agrawal is a 4th-year undergraduate, pursuing her Bachelor's of architecture from
MITS, Gwalior MP. She often sees herself as a curious and determined individual, enjoying
new experiments in life. She is a keen learner, observer, and implementer. She travels to
broaden her mind, experience a new culture and its essence to enrich her creativity.
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