General Normative Theory •Physical form is not the only key variable whose

manipulation will induce change.

Ideas of Good City Form
•Physical form is not critical at the scale of a city
•There are theories about the origin, development and or a region but merely limited to a local scale.
functioning of cities or the planning (decision
theory) process that should be involved but no •Even if there was a demonstrable connection
systematic theory or dogma that analyses the general between city form and value it would be
relationships between form of a place and its value. inapplicable since there is no such a thing as
•In other words there is a method for understanding “public interest” even within a single culture and
what cities are but none for deciding what they a single settlement. (a conflict f interest)
should be or what can be called a good city.
•Normative theories (explicit commonly
Limitations understood rules of evaluation) may be
•Physical form plays no significant role in the applicable to purely practical objects
satisfaction of important human values, which (foundations of bridges) but are inappropriate for
have to do with our relations to other people. aesthetic forms.

•Physical form by itself has no important influence •City form is intricate and complex as is the
on human satisfaction. system of human values and the linkages
between them are unfathomable. (Cities are vast
•Physical patterns may have predictable effects in a natural phenomenon beyond our ability to
single culture but with its stable structural change and beyond our knowing how we ought to
institutions and values but it is not possible to change them) Cities should not be designed.
construct a cross cultural theory.

Understanding Urban Theory

•Kevin Lynch’ s Theory of Good City Form •Cities are compared to a ‘learning ecology’.

The core of the theory is based on the measurement of

performance characteristics, based on the spatial •Note : Investigating Durability as a performance
form of the city. dimension- discarded.
•Durability is the degree to which the physical
•The linkages between form and purpose which exist elements of a city resist wear and tear (decay) and
because of certain species- wide or human retain their ability to function over long periods.
settlement-wide regularities (climatic tolerance of •The assumption being that everyone has an
human beings or general function of the city as a important preference about the durability of the
network of access) city – evanescent or last forever.
•Methods of measuring the general durability of a
•Description of spatial form of a place and the settlement. ( a tent camp can be compared to
particular social institutions and mental attitudes troglodyte settlement. The durability can be assessed
which are linked to that form and repeatedly with given values by a particular set of
critical to its quality. (colonial city structure) inhabitants on their preference values.) Thus over a
series of such settlements it can be demonstrated that
•Generalise performance dimensions, certain too high or too low durability is bad for everyone and
identifiable characteristics of the performance of an optimum can range can be identified.
cities, due to their unique spatial qualities. •Linkage between durability and human aims is
(measurable scales along different groups which based on certain reasonable chain of assumptions.
would achieve different positions- thus indicate its But the connection between city form and
location on a relative dimension scale) Ideally the durability (building material, density,
dimensions should include all the qualities which construction) can be explicitly demonstrated.
any people value in a physical place.

Understanding Urban Theory

•Characteristics of Performance Dimension
•Characteristics should primarily refer to the
spatial form of the city. The value set associated
with these characteristics varies with different
human beings and cultures.
•Aim to be broad and general but should be based
on certain explicit connection to particular form.
•The set should cover all the relevant features of
settlement form in relation to the basic values
associated with them.
•The characteristics should be in the form of
dimensions of performance where the optimum or
threshold could be determined even when values
differ or are still evolving.
•Locations (need not be single points) along these
dimensions should be identifiable and measurable
in relative terms (more-less).
•Characteristics should be at the same level of
generality.
Understanding Urban Theory
•Characteristics of Performance Dimension
•Characteristics should also be independent of each
other and examined through detailed analysis and
should not influence one another unless
interdependence can be firmly established.
•Measurements of performance dimensions –
qualities associated with them should ideally be
able to deal with change over time. Thus form an
extended pattern which can be valued at present
but predicts the future drift.
Introduction
•City is not : a crystal, an organism, a complex
machine, an intricate network of communication-
which can reorganise its own pattern and responses
but whose primitive elements are forever the same.
•City is connected to an important degree by
signals, rather than by place –order or mechanical
linkages or organic cohesion.
•City is a changing and developing constantly
rather than an eternal form or a mechanical
repetition (which wears out with time)
or a permanent recurrent cycling which feeds the
degradation of energy.
Concept of Ecology
•Ecosystem is a set of organisms in a habitat,
where each organism is in some relation to the
others of its own kind as well as others species and
the inorganic setting.
•This system of relations can be considered as a
whole and has certain characteristics features of
fluctuations and development, species diversity,
intercommunication, cycling of nutrients and the
passing of energy.
• The concept essentially deals with complex
systems, with change, with organic and inorganic
elements together with a profusion of actors and
forms. An ecosystem is one of the closest metaphors
that can be applied to a settlement .
Understanding Urban Theory
•But its drawback stems from the involvement of
organisms and elements which are “unthinking”
and are unable to modify the system in a
fundamental way.
•Undisturbed this ecosystem moves to a stable
climax of maturity where the diversity of species
and the efficiency of the use of energy passing
through are both at the maximum given fixed
limits of an inorganic setting. But nutrient
recycles in reality will be lost to sinks thus energy
is inevitably lost or unavailable.
•Since nothing is learned no progressive
developments ensue. So a system of “learning
ecology” might be a more appropriate concept for
the human settlement where some actors are
conscious and capable of modifying themselves
and the thus changing the rules of the game. The
dominant animal consciously restructures
materials and switches the paths of energy flow.
Characteristics of the learning Ecology •A good city is one where the continuity of this complex
learning ecology is maintained while progressive change is
The complex and dynamic interaction permitted.
between the inorganic and organic
components helps define the settlement •The fundamental good is the continuous development of the
form or ecology at all times. individual or a small group and their culture: a process of
becoming more complex, more richly connected more
System has competent, acquiring and realising new powers
•Diversity (intellectual, emotional, social, physical)
•Interdependence
•Context “If human life is in a continuous state of becoming then its
•History continuity is founded on growth and development. ( a
•Feedback circular statement)”
•Dynamic Stability -Kevin Lynch, Good City Form
•Cyclic Processing
•A settlement is a valued arrangement , consciously changed
Organism-human factor adds and stabilised. Its elements are connected through an
•Values immense and intricate network which can be understood as a
•Culture series of overlapping local systems never rigidly or
•Consciousness instantaneously linked, yet a part of a fabric without edges.
•Progressive or Regressive Change
•Invention •Each part has a history and a context, which shift as one
•The Ability to learn moves from part to part. Each part contains information
•Connection of inner experience about its local context and thus by extension- information
and outer action. about the “whole”.

Understanding Urban Theory

“A settlement is good which enhances the
continuity of a culture and survival of its people,
increases a sense of connection in time and space
and spurs individual growth: development within
continuity via openness and connection.”
-Kevin Lynch, Good City Form
(Openness and connection in a settlement refers:
accessible, decentralised, diverse, adaptable,
tolerant to experiment yet maintains stability)
The Performance Dimensions
Statements of value must be integrated with
statements of objectivity for a comprehensive model •Access: the ability to reach other persons activities,
for city analysis.
Five basic dimensions: vitality; sense; fit; access;
control
Two meta-criteria: efficiency; justice
Understanding Urban Theory
•Vitality: the degree to which the form of a
settlement supports the vital functions, biological
requirements and capabilities of human beings
(anthropocentric criterion)
•Sense: the degree to which a settlement can be
clearly perceived and mentally differentiated and
structured in time and space by its residents.
•Fit: the degree to which the form and capacity of
spaces, channels and equipment in a settlement
match the pattern and quantity of action that
people customarily engage in. (adaptability to
present and future actions)
resources, services, information or places including
the quantity and diversity of the elements.
•Control: the degree to which the use and access to
spaces and activities (their creation, repair,
modification and management) are controlled by
those who use, work or reside in them.
Two Meta- Criteria.
The meta criteria can be established when costs
and benefits have been defined by specifying the
prior basic values
The two meta criteria are involve din each one of
the basic dimensions and are not independent of
them. (Cost and who gets what?)
•Efficiency: the cost in terms of other valued
things, of creating and maintaining a
settlement for any given level of attainment of
dimensions listed above.
•Justice: the way in which environmental costs
are distributed among persons according to some
particular principle (equity, need, intrinsic
worth, ability to pay, potential contribution or
power.
(Efficiency balances the gains among different
values and Justice is the criterion which
balances the gains among persons)
Understanding Urban Theory
Vitality
There are three principal features conducive for good
health (physical and mental well- being),
biological function and survival- creating a vital
place or an adequate life ground.
•Sustenance:
-There should be an adequate supply of food, energy,
water, air and disposal of waste for sustaining life.
-Physical systems of supply and disposal
- The density of occupation relative to sources
-The location of settlements
- The effect of buildings and landscape on natural
systems( air, water, earth). So conservation of space,
soil vegetation for adequate supplies.
-The spatial device used to achieve this: crop lands,
greenhouses, soil conservation, managed forests,
ground water system conservation, food markets, site
dispositions)
•Safety:
-In a good settlement hazards, poison and diseases
are absent or controlled and the fear of
encountering them is low.
-A physically secure environment where
vandalism, riots, crime are controlled.
-The attainment of safety involves
Control: pollution, contamination, disease and
disease vectors.
Adequate defence and treatment: natural hazards
(earthquake, fire, flood)
•Consonance:
-spatial environment should be in consonance with
basic biological structure and human needs.
Conducive or support: natural rhythms, alertness,
inattention; provide adequate sensory input.
-Childhood domains; adult environment should be
carefully constructed and nurtured. (ergonomics-
human factor engineering)
Understanding Urban Theory
The other salient factors for Vitality are:
•How well the environment provides for the health
and genetic diversity for all living creatures which
are useful to man.
•The present and future stability of the total
ecological community.
Sense:
•Sense is the clarity with which a settlement form
can be perceived and identified. Perception is a
creative act not a passive one (interaction
between person and place)
•Also refers to the ease with which elements can be
linked with other events and places in a coherent
mental representation of time and space. (later
this can be connected to non spatial concepts and
values too)
•Sense depends not only on the spatial form and
quality but also on the culture, temperament,
status, experience and current purpose of the
observer.
 •Though sense of a particular place varies from
•Park Guell, viewpoint of different observers, certain
Gaudi fundamental consistencies can be established due
to common biological basis of perception and
cognition (gravity, inertia, shelter, fire)

•Activities and celebrations associated with a

location, add vivid and coherent sense of
recognition associated with that setting.

•Sense is profound when space can be linked to an

vent or anon-spatial concept
Place= Space+ Time+ Event

The salient characteristics of Sense:

•Identity and Structure – allow recognition of
pattern space and time

•Congruence; Transparency; Legibility- help

connect settlement form with other features of
daily life like non- spatial values

•Cathedral steps, •Significance-holistic and all encompassing or

Barcelona most notable meaning of a city.

Understanding Urban Theory

•Identity: (sense of place)
-is the extent to which a person can recognise or
recall a place as being distinct from other places-
having a unique, vivid, particular character of its
own.

-a good place is accessible to all senses and engages

the perception of the inhabitants. Place identity is
closely linked to personal identity. (I am here …. I
am). Tourism sustains on this sense of place and
belonging however momentary the connection and
familiarity might be. •Sketch- resident of Chappaquick,
Martha’s vineyard
-Events have a sense of identity. the occasion and
place contribute to create a vivid present, an active
involvement which later leads to a memory that
can be verbally and graphically recalled.

•Structure
-refers to the composition and articulation of
different elements in space, so that they can be
easily comprehended. (orientation, navigation) •Outline map- Chappaquick,
Martha’s vineyard

Understanding Urban Theory

 -structure at the scale of a small place denotes how
the parts or elements work together and at a large
scale gives a sense of direction and orientation.

-structure is established by:

The recognition of characteristic form or activity in
areas; sequential linkages; directional relations;
time and distance; landmarks; path or edge
continuities; gradients; panoramas.

•Congruence
-it is purely the formal match of environmental
structure to non-spatial structure. Helps match the
•Citizens converse- abstract form of a place to the abstract to its
abstract functions or to the abstract features of
city surfaces
society it inhabits.

-it is the perceptual ground of a meaningful

environment.

-has been tested by abstracting or diagramming the

parts, links, intensities of a place and then
comparing it with abstractions of function,
economy, society, natural process of that place.

Understanding Urban Theory

•Transparency
-the degree to which one can directly perceive the
operation of the various technical functions,
activities, social and natural processes that occur
within the settlement. •Winding street
Córdoba
-it conveys “a sense of life” in any settlement.
Sensibility or being able to be perceived by the
senses helps generate deeper meaning.

-action and movement of persons, processes of

production, human affection-birth, growth,
death; transformation of the plants; motions of
the sun.
(opacity of the modern city- maintained due to
sensitivity of issues; Flags-affiliation; Gates-
•Mystery (?) surprise(?)
security; Signboards- ownership.)
fear(?)
•Legibility:
-the degree to which inhabitants of a settlement
are bale to communicate accurately via its
symbolic features.
-systems of environmental signs are vastly social
criterion and hence culture specific and illegible
to a stranger.

Understanding Urban Theory

 -a place can be analysed for content, accuracy and
intensity by a familiar observer and interviews
and photographs could confirm these views.

-Semiotics (essentially studies structure and

meaning in the symbolic communication by
analysing language and cultural anthropology)
has analysed settlement patterns and
communication symbolism involved.

•Significance:
-the degree to which the form of a settlement with
its complex symbol of basic values, life processes,
historic events, fundamental social structure,
nature of the universe (!) is firmly understood and
embedded in the minds of the inhabitants or people
about the importance of the place.

-at times its the backdrop of existence and at others

its the rhetoric reference. (Islamic City)
Sense is an important functional concern since the
ability to identify things, to time behaviour, to
•Highway progression- find one’s way and read signs are all requisites of
visual sequence designed access and effective action. Hence are bought and
sold.

Understanding Urban Theory

Bibliography

• Concepts of Urban Design, Gosling, David; Maitland, Barry

• Good City Form, Kevin Lynch.

Understanding Urban Theory