Unit 19 City Block

A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city; they form the basic unit of a citys urban fabric. City blocks may be subdivided into any number of smaller lots or parcels of land usually in private ownership, though in some cases, it may be other forms of tenure. City blocks are usually built-up to varying degrees and thus form the physical containers or street walls of public space. Most cities are composed of a greater or lesser variety of sizes and shapes of urban block. For example, many pre-industrial cores of cities in Europe, Asia and the Middle-east tend to have irregularly shaped street patterns and urban blocks, while cities based on grids have much more regular arrangements. In most cities of the world that were planned, rather than developing gradually over a long period of time, streets are typically laid out on a grid plan, so that city blocks are square or rectangular. Using the perimeter block development principle, city blocks are developed so that buildings are located along the perimeter of the block, with entrances facing the street, and semi-private courtyards in the rear of the buildings. This arrangement is intended to provide good social interaction among people. Since the spacing of streets in grid plans varies so widely among cities, or even within cities, it is impossible to generalize about the size of a city block. However, as reference points, the standard block in Manhattan is about 264 by 900 feet; and in some U.S. cities standard blocks are as wide as 660 feet, while for example, the city blocks in the central city grid of Melbourne, Australia are 200 by 100 m. In most areas, cities have grown in a more amorphous manner rather than being planned from the outset. For this reason, an even pattern of square or rectangular city blocks is very uncommon in much of Europe. Following the example of Philadelphia, New York City adopted the Commissioners Plan of 1811 for a more extensive grid plan. In much of the United States and Canada, the addressing systems follow a block and lot number system, in which each block of a street is allotted 100 building numbers. (After Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia)
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 Vocabulary
be intended to (v.) = a fi menit s city block = cvartal core = central() courtyard = curte entrance = intrare even pattern = model regulat face (v.) = a sta cu faa from the outset = de la nceput grid plan = plan urbanistic grow (v.) = a crete however = totui in the rear of = n spatele since = deoarece, ntruct spacing = distanare street pattern = model stradal street wall = perete stradal surrounded = nconjurat() though = cu toate c, dei urban design = design urban urban fabric = estura urban urban planning = planificare urbanistic

Exercises
1. Answer the questions. What is a city block? How can city blocks be divided? How are city blocks usually built up? What are most cities composed of? Is it possible to generalize about the size of a city block? How large is the standard block in Manhattan? Why is an even pattern of square or rectangular city blocks very uncommon in much of Europe? What did New York adopt and when following the example of Philadelphia?
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2. Group the following words relating to buildings and other large structures that people build, as in the model. bar barracks blockhouse bomb shelter bunker bus station cell control tower fort gas station guardhouse hangar hostel hotel inn jail jailhouse lodge lookout military base motel parking lot petrol station police station prison pub railroad station rest area restaurant station tavern terminal watchtower
Words referring to buildings found at airports used by the military used by the police used by travellers used by travellers for eating used by travellers for sleeping

fort 3. Fill in with the proper adjectives from below. American arterial big functional open pedestrian-friendly popular residential traditional ( 2 times) urban Super blocks were during the early and mid-20 th century, arising from modernist ideas in architecture and urban planning. A super block is much larger than a city block, with greater setback for buildings, and is typically bounded by widely spaced, high-speed, or circulating routes. Super blocks are generally associated with suburbs, planned cities, and the renewal of the mid-20th century; that is, in areas in which a street hierarchy has replaced the grid. In a area of a suburb, the interior of the super block is typically served by cul-de-sac roads. Urban planner Clarence Perry argued for use of super blocks and related ideas in his neighbourhood unit plan, which aimed to organize space in a way that is more and provided plazas and other space for residents to socialize. In the 1930s, super blocks were often used in urban renewal public housing projects in cities. In using super blocks, housing projects aimed to eliminate back alleys, which were often associated with slum conditions. Super blocks are also used when units such as rail yards or housing projects are too to fit in one block.
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4. Match the following. 1. alley 2. block a. a narrow street or passageway between or behind city buildings; a path between flower beds or trees in a garden or park b. a narrow way or passage between walls, hedges, or fences c. a public way or thoroughfare in a city or town, usually with a sidewalk or sidewalks; such a public way considered apart from the sidewalks; a public way or road along with the houses or buildings abutting it d. a usually rectangular section of a city or town bounded on each side by consecutive streets, a segment of a street bounded by consecutive cross streets and including its buildings and inhabitants; a large building divided into separate units, such as apartments e. an open space surrounded by walls or buildings, adjoining or within a building such as a large house or housing complex f. something that is built, as for human habitation; a structure

3. building

4. courtyard

5. lane 6. street

5. Find errors in the text below. Courtyard private open spaces surrounded by wall or building have been in use in residential architecture for almost as long as man has lived in constructed dwelling. The earliest known courtyard house were built in Iran and China and date as far back as 3000 BC. Courtyard have historically been used for many purpose including cooking, sleeping, working, playing, gardening, and even place to keep animal. Before courtyard, open fires were kept burning in a central place within a home, with only a small hole in the ceiling overhead to allow smoke to escape. Over time, these small opening were enlarged and eventually led to the development of the centralized open courtyard we know today. Courtyard home have been designed and built throughout the world with many variation in every century.
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6. Turn the text below into the Passive Voice. King Wally IV built the Ballyhoo castle in the 18th century. It had a long and turbulent history since then. An earthquake destroyed it in 1158. The Duke of Westhumberland rebuilt it over the next century. Both the French and the Scots have conquered it. The Germans bombed it two years in a row in the Second World War. First, in 1940, the inhabitants were fortunate the British Army had evacuated them before the bombs fell. The following year they were not so lucky the local fire brigade evacuated them when the first planes arrived and the bombs killed thirty people. In 1999 The World Heritage Organisation bought it. They use one wing as their European headquarters. Currently experts restore the other wing. The Queen will open it to the public in 2002. 7. Match the following. 1. If I come home late, 2. If I dont eat, 3. If I give my dog a bone, 4. If I have a headache, 5. If I have time, 6. If I miss the eight o clock bus, 7. If Im late for work, 8. If you want a receipt, a. I always take some pills. b. it buries it. c. I get hungry. d. I study English. e. Im late for work. f. my parents get angry. g. my boss gets angry. h. press the button.

8. Rephrase the following sentences. Make sure you dont take the A20 in the rush hour, Tim, said Jack. Jack warned He fell in love with her as soon as he saw her. No sooner I havent enjoyed myself so much in years. Its years Its great pity you told everyone what you were up to! If only Perhaps they didnt notice the tyre was flat. They The violent criticism of the manager was quite unjustified. There There is no way he got the news from us as we havent spoken. He We are dealing with your complaint. Your complaint
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9. Make the following sentences negative paying attention to the adverbs. He often walks to work. He usually smokes before breakfast. I often cook the dinner. Matt is always free in the evening. Melanie usually walks the dog. They always watch TV in the evening. They are generally awake at half past seven. Tim and Ted are always willing to help. We always take a shower in the morning.

10. Build some complex sentences containing a Subject Clause introduced by: the conjunctions that, whether; the conjunctive pronouns who, which, what; the conjunctive adverbs when, how, why.

Lets Laugh!
A clergyman walks down a country lane and sees a young farmer struggling to load hay back onto a cart after it had fallen off. You look hot, my son, said the cleric. Why dont you rest a moment, and Ill give you a hand. No thanks, said the young man. My father wouldnt like it. Dont be silly, the minister said. Everyone is entitled to a break. Come and have a drink of water. Again the young man protested that his father would be upset. Losing his patience, the clergyman said, Your father must be a real slave driver. Tell me where I can find him and Ill give him a piece of my mind! Well, replied the young farmer, hes under the load of hay.

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