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Theory of Urban Design
Theory of Urban Design
I. Concept of space
Traditional definitions
Oxford English Dictionary:
Two meanings of space:
1. Time or duration
2. Area or extension (more common definition)
Ref.
Peter Eisenman applies an approach that is more mathematical and rational
in nature, which tends to reject any hint of historical contextualism.
Rem Koolhaas makes free use of the typologies of modernism, recombining
them in new and ironic ways
Bernard Tschumi, exploits the random collisions that results from the
layering of unrelated activity frameworks.
Frank Ghery and Zaha Hadid use unconventional techniques of form to
express order among chaos of modern cities
7. Functionalist Model
This was dedicated to exploring new
interwoven urban structures that would allow
opportunities for social encounter/contact and
exchange whose end result is a humanising
influence.
This was not a plea for unthinking preservation or for regarding the
city as a museum; rather, the aim was to explore the deep structure
inherent in building types and how built forms accommodate
changing, living uses over time.
(ref. Robert Venturi, Aldo Rossi, Scott Brown, Colin Rowe, Rob & Leon
Krier)
Functional DescriptiveTheories
These are founded on the following characteristics:
Urban history: the city is regarded as a unique historic process...
explaining cities as derivative of their own culture (ref Sjoberg, Rapoport).
i) Permeability
This refers to the number of alternative routes
through an environment; it affects where people can
go and where they cannot. This offers choice through
accessibility and must be considered at early stages
of design.
ii) Variety
This refers to the range of uses availed to
people in a given environment; it is the
experience of a degree of choice provided by
intermix of uses
iii) Legibility
This refers to the ease with which people can
understand the layout of a given environment
and the kind of opportunities it offers.
iv) Robustness
This refers to the degree to which an
environment can be used for different purposes
as opposed to those with a single fixed use.
v) Visual appropriateness
This refers to the detailed appearance of a place that
makes people aware of the possible uses; it affects the
interpretations people put on places.
vi) Richness
This refers to the degree of choice in sensory
experiences that a place offers to its users.
vii) Personalisation
This refers to the extent to which people can put their
own stamp on a place; decisions about forms and
materials of the scheme must be carefully made to
support personalization but also protect public role.
Other techniques
Open space technique: where to build versus
where to keep open; a variety of uses…parks,
watersheds, public transit lines, airports, e.t.c