“The Neighborhood Unit” is an urban design concept introduced by an American

planner, Clarence Arthur Perry. It is an approach that was advertised in 1939 in Housing
for the Mechanic Age and is accepted by the society forthwith – as it aims for the
convenience and safety of the people in the community, themselves. “The
Neighborhood Unit” is pragmatically the rearrangement of public spaces so all
educational institutions would be at the center and is the focal point of each ‘unit’.

This concept is the key for a successful urban design and community
architecture; this concept is the medium to improve the lives of the people living in the
cities. It has the goal of ensuring their welfare and concurrently make them feel
productive without the effort of travelling miles away from their homes – due to the fact
that it promises a ‘five-minute walking radii’ from all the public’s needs.

One of the principles that made this approach an ideal urban concept is its
proposition to situate the schools at the center of each ‘unit’ in order to give students
their freedom to walk without the fear of getting caught into an accident. With its
neighborhood size ranging from 5000 to 9000 residents, it can determinedly support a
school. In addition, educational institutions are encouraged to implement a wider use of
their facilities and provide a large playing-field so all children living in the ‘unit’ can have
fun, learn, and be productive.

Each ‘neighborhood unit’ are defined by means of placing major arterial roads.
Arterial streets were also designed in a manner that will offer distinction amongst the
other local streets – with its curvilinear layout that ensures both the safety of people as
well as the aesthetic value of the design. Another principle in relation to this planning
approach is the restriction of built local shopping centers – which can be one of the
solitary reasons for vehicle congestion. Shopping centers attracts a massive amount of
people chiefly during special events or holidays which causes traffic; traffic caused by
vehicles and traffic caused by the horde of people. Lastly, “The Neighborhood Unit”
concept promotes the significance of open public spaces not only for the society but
also for the environment, itself. It suggests that 10% of the place should be dedicated
for parks and other recreational spaces. In such manner, all ‘units’ will not look dull and
unlively both literally and aesthetically.
 To put it succinctly, “The Neighborhood Unit” is indeed a genius approach to the
concept of planning cities as it gives a new face to urban design. It is a well-thought
idea that taps into what humanity and society needs; it is not merely a plan to satisfy
aesthetics but is a concept that offers life to this generation. Each corner of this idea
was analyzed scrupulously to serve its functions depend on what the society needs.
“The Neighborhood Unit” is an approach that gives people the same freedom other
people from larger spaces are experiencing – but in a smaller unit. It gives them a safer
space to live in and teaches children independence. “The Neighborhood Unit” is an
approach that offers everything they want and need without the effort of traveling
hundreds of miles.