Elements of Urban

Design

URBAN DESIGN (AR-7104)

Department of Architecture
National Institute of Technology, Patna
 ELEMENTS OF URBAN SPACE

• Buildings
• Public Spaces
• Streets
• Transport
• Landscape

• Urban Structure
• Urban grain
• Density and its Composition
• Height and Massing
• Transport
• Landscape
• Facade and interface
• Detailing and Materials
 URBAN STRUCTURE

The overall framework of the region, town and precinct, showing relationship between zones of built forms, land forms,
natural environments, activities and open space. It encompasses broader systems including transport and infrastructure
networks.
 URBAN GRAIN

The balance of open space to built form, and the nature and extent of subdividing an area into small parcels or blocks.
For example a fine urban grain might constitute a network of small or detailed streetscapes. It takes into consideration the
hierarchy of street types, the physical linkage and movement between locations and mode of transport.
 DENSITY AND ITS COMPOSITION

The intensity of development and the range of different uses( such as residential, commercial, institutional or recreational
users)
 HEIGHT AND MASSING

The scale of the building in relation to height and floor area, and how they related to surrounding land form, building and
streets. It also incorporate building envelop, site coverage and solar orientation. Height and massing create the sense of
openness and enclosure and effect the amenities of streets space and other buildings.
 TRANSPORT
Transport systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them, and enable movement throughout the city. These are
the connections between spaces and places, as well as being spaces themselves. The balance of these various transport
systems is what helps define the quality and character of cities, and makes them either friendly or hostile to pedestrians.
 LANDSCAPE

It 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 landscape helps define the character and beauty of a city and creates soft, contrasting spaces and
elements. Green spaces in cities range from grand parks to small intimate pocket parks.
 FACADE

The relationship of building to the site, street and neighboring building ( alignment, setbacks, boundary treatment) and the
architecture expression of their facades (projections, openings, patterns and materials).
 DETAILS AND MATERIALS

The close up appearance of objects and surfaces and the selection of materials in terms of detail, craftsmanship, texture,
color, durability, sustainability and treatment.
It includes street furniture, paving, lighting and signage. It contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public
domain.
 PUBLIC SPACE

Much of urban design is concerned with the design and management of publicly used space and the way this is experienced
and used. It includes the natural and built environment used by the general public on a day-to-day basis such as streets,
plazas, parks, and public infrastructure. Some aspects of privately owned space such as the bulk and scale of buildings, or
gardens that are visible from the public realm, can also contribute to the overall result.
 TOPOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT

The natural environment includes the topography of landforms, water courses, flora and fauna whether natural or
introduced. It may be in the form of rivers and creeks, lakes, bushland, parks and recreational facilities, streetscapes or
private gardens, and is often referred to as 'green infrastructure’.
 SOCIAL ECONOMIC FABRIC

The non-physical aspects of the urban form which include social factors (culture, participation, health and well-being) as
well as the productive capacity and economic prosperity of a community. It incorporates aspects such as demographics and
life stages, social interaction and support networks.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF PLACE

To develop an understanding about a place and to involve it in urban design:

• Identify neighborhoods,
• Unique architecture,
• Aesthetically pleasing public places and vistas,
• Identifiable landmarks and focal points,
• Human element established by compatible scales of development and ongoing public

Other elements of place includes

• Lively commercial centers,
• Mixed-use development with ground-floor retail uses,
• Human-scale and context-sensitive design;
• Safe and attractive public areas;
• Image-making; and
• Decorative elements in the public realm.