10/26/22, 5:40 PM Module 4.1.

Getting Started: AR 591B-ARCH51S6 - Specialization 2: Urban Design Studio

Module 4.1. Getting Started

RATIONALE:
In performing the final activity/tasks of this course, the information and data which can be generated from the project/study area are
essential to be presented in an organized and orderly manner. Manner of presentations can be through visual graphics, maps, tables,
charts, etc. 

Defining the context study area

Defining the boundary of the local context in which the detailed appraisal is carried out depends to a degree on the time and resources
available. If the boundary is drawn too widely, the physical surveys will be too arduous or will be done superficially. In some case, it
might be appropriate to focus on the immediate site context and concentrate on the sort of information that can be obtained from
inspecting the site and its immediate adjoining properties. 

It is always useful, however, to carry-out some of the map-based studies since they can provide clues to how a particular site
development or other physical urban intervention might be designed which may not be apparent from a limited survey. 

Sometimes, the area foe an urban design study is defined in the client's brief, for example where a local authority is interested in
developing an urban design framework or guidelines for a given quarter, neighborhood, conservation, or economic regeneration area.
Otherwise, the criteria for defining the study area include the following: 

Natural barriers to movement or 'edges', e.g. railways, rivers and canals, fast roads or sharp changes in level.
Gateways: important points of entry into the area, e.g. railways stations, road junctions.
Survey areas: areas that can be covered on foot to carry out visual survey in the time available - initially a radius of 250-300
meters may be used.
Administrative boundaries: if broadly coincidental with the above, these can be useful in collecting statistical data and relating to
local authority management functions - an administrative or statistical unit of 50 -100 hectares. 

Base maps and drawing scales

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In any urban design exercises, it is important to obtain accurate maps of the study area at various scales. These can be used as base
plans to plot survey information and carry out analytical studies. Typically, the following scales are used:

1:10,000 scale and smaller: study site in a city context

Maps at this scale are used to plot the strategic location of the area in relation to the city as a whole, major transport routes, important
city locations, districts and broad land-use areas or in relation to strategic development factors. This can be done quickly and easily as
a simple desk exercise. Small-scale maps might also be used to map catchment areas of particular attractions that are the focus of the
urban design exercise.

(https://www.anquet.com/blogs/news/os-1-25-00-explorer-maps-vs-

os-1-10-000-os-vector-map-local)

1:5000 scale: study site in a district context

At a scale of 1:5000, built form can be discerned but not in any useful detail. Such maps are useful for land use and transport studies
at the district level. 

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1:1000, 1:1500, 1:2000, 1:2500: study site in a local context

Survey maps are available at 1:1250 and 1:2500 scales, although other scales can be obtained through simple reduction or
enlargement. Base maps at this range of scales are most useful for carrying out context and area studies. Build form is shown in some
details but the larger patterns of streets and blocks are also evident. 

1:500, 1:1000: site planning

Site planning exercises and more detailed examinations of urban types and the built form or urban block, street or space in plan and in
section is best carried out at the 1:500 scale, although it may sometimes be necessary to go down to the 1:1000 scale.  

1:200: building layout and analysis

The 1:200 scale is the largest scale that is likely to be used in urban design. It can be used to carry out more detailed studies of
building sections and facades and general building layouts. While urban design is not generally concerned with the detailed plan form
of buildings, it is sometimes necessary to know how the internal circulation works in relation to street entrances and points of access,
and how a larger building block is subdivided into smaller units, e.g. offices or flats. 

On some of the more abstract and diagrammatic drawings (e.g. concept diagrams) the scale is not important, but map-based diagrams
must show the scale to enable the person looking at them to get an idea of distance and area. Sometimes it is necessary to change the
size of a drawing to fit into a standard sheet (A4 and A3 are useful as they can fit in reports) but they may no longer be an exact scale.
For this reason, it is always useful to include a linear scale, which can be used to measure off distances, as well as a north point to
indicate orientation on map-based drawings.

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10/26/22, 5:40 PM Module 4.1. Getting Started: AR 591B-ARCH51S6 - Specialization 2: Urban Design Studio

Theses can be provided alongside other essential information - such as what and where the project is, what the drawing shows and
who has produced it - in a standard panel that is attached to each sheet. 

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