16AR406 - URBAN DESIGN & RENEWAL

Unit -1
1.3 Elements of Urban Design

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
The Elements

Buildings

Elements of
Public space
urban design can
be defined as The 5
the various elements Streets
components / of urban
parts that make design are
up the urban Transportation
space.
Landscape

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
Buildings
• They define and
contain urban space.
They form the ‘walls
of the urban room’.
• Buildings define the
scale of a place.
• The larger part of
distinctiveness and
legibility of urban
spaces is contributed
by buildings.
• The manner in which
the buildings are
grouped together has
a certain visual
impact which in turn
elicits specific
responses in us.
• The manner in which
building facades are
treated have an
impact on the quality
of the urban space.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
Public Spaces
• Our impressions of a
city are formed
mainly by the quality
of public spaces.

• Public spaces are

places of encounter.
These public spaces
are the spaces in
which human
exchanges and
relationships are
manifested.

• Public spaces present

health benefits, both
physical and mental:
people feel better
and tend to be more
active in attractive,
public spaces.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
Streets
• A street is the basic
unit of urban space
through which
people experience a
city.

• Streets are,
multidimensional
spaces consisting of
many surfaces and
structures.

• They offer space for

movement and
access and facilitate a
variety of uses and
activities.

• Streets are like

outdoor rooms
shaped by multiple
planes:

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
Transportation

• Transportation is fundamental to the proper functioning of a city. A city is more likely to succeed when
people can get around town easily, quickly, inexpensively, and safely.
• Ideally transportation planning should be such that it maximizes movement and connectivity but
minimizes movement space.
• Transport is about people and goods, not vehicles. Transportation determines the accessibility of an urban
space.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST

 1.3 Elements of Urban Design
Landscape
• The landscape is the green part of the city that weaves throughout - in the form of urban parks, street
trees, plants, flowers, and water in many forms.
• The green spaces in a city are important to create ‘breathing spaces’ in a concrete jungle and to create
ecological balance in the environment.
• Landscaped areas provide visual and mental relief, help one connect with nature and promote overall
wellbeing.

Prepared by: Ar.Swethini Ramamurthy, Assistant Professor, SAID, SRMIST