URBAN PLANNING

TOWN
PLANNING
OF ANCIENT
ROMANS
TOWN PLANNING OF ANCIENT
ROMANS
Topics to Cover

· INTRODUCTION
· PLANNING PRINCIPLES
· ADVANCE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
· ARCHITECTONIC TYPOLOGY
· TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII
Ancient Roman town ( 700B.C-500 AD)
Introduction

Romans adopted the technology and planning skills of the Greeks.

They were more advanced than the Greeks in terms of technological
skills which they used to develop better infrastructural facilities and
construction technique.
Lime concrete was invented
Applied mechanics for moving heavy masses developed.
Roads were paved with stones
Advanced system of water supply (Aqueducts &water reservoirs),
sewage system and drainage system through ducts and underground
sewers in semi-circular vaulted form were used.
All public toilets were connected to underground sewerage system.
People normally used the public toilets.
 Planning principles
The most recognizable characteristic of a typically Roman-planned
town was the prevalence of orthogonal grid streets.
The plan of the city was based on the camp
It had two main axes –
Cardus E-W
Decumanus N-S
Where the two converged was the forum
The rest of the space was divided into squares in which insulae or
blocks of flats were built
Perimeter of the city was usually square/rectangular with bassions.
Cross streets occasionally stepped and bridged around thecity due to
topographical condition.
From the religious significance of the Temples by the Greeks there
was a change to the civic influence of Law Courts "Basilica" which
became more important than the public buildings.
ADVANCE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:
MATERIALS:
Lime-Motar, Concrete
Stone-Ashlar masonry Bricks

BUILDING SYSTEM:

Lintel: Copied from the Greeks. Spaces are closed by straight lines
Vaults: Taken from the Etrurian. Barrel vaults. Use of domes
Arches: They used half point or semicircular arches.They could use lintels above these arches.
Colonnade.
 Strong stone walls with foundations were constructed so that they donot use external supports.
 ARCHITECTONIC TYPOLOGY:

Religious building: temple

Civil buildings:
Public: basilicas, baths
Spectacles: theater, amphitheater, circus
Commemorative: Triumph arch, column
Funerary: tombs
Engineering works: Bridges Aqueducts
Domestic: House, villas, Palace

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT :

• Power and control .

• Defence and security

• Civic influence of Law and order

• Formation of bye-laws for urban development.

TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII

THE PREHISTORIC SITE AND URBAN

DEVELOPMENT OF POMPEII

Pompeii arose on a ledge of prehistoric lava flow 40m

above sea level on the side of mount Vesuvius.

Pompeii is one of the most significant proofs of Roman

civilization and, like an open book, provides
outstanding information on the art, customs, trades
and everyday life of the past.

This ledge had a couple of flat areas but was otherwise

dis-leveled with a strong slope north-south towards the
gulf. The lava flow stopped short creating a sharp cliff
hence creating a strong dominating position over the
sea.
TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII

THE POSITION WAS IDEAL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS AND

PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CITY’S FORTUNES:

• It allowed control of the trading route between

Stabiae and Naples as well as a dominating position with respect
to the river
Sarno, therefore enabling control of the access inland from the
sea.

• Access to sea allowed long distance trade, particularly with

north Africa and towards the Orient.

• Lastly the volcanic nature of the surrounding terrainmade it

extremely fertile and suited to growingagricultural produce,
olives (oil) and wine.
TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII •Pompeii is an irregular oval area of about 66
hectors, planted on a small natural hill and girt
with a stone wall nearly two miles in
circumference .

•On the west there was originally access to

the sea.

•Near western end of the town is the Forum,

with the principal temples and public buildings
round it.

•At the east end of the town, nearly 1200 yds.

from the western extremity, is the
amphitheater. the town-walls appear to have
been drawn so as to include it.

•Three major road arteries contributed to

subdivision of the city. This subdivision allows
us to identify the coordinates of the various
houses in ancient Pompeii by using a 3
digit coordinate system