Tabinas, Renato Miguel F.

CEAT-01-601P / ARCPL12 – Research Work #3

1. Define “urbanism.”
Urbanism is the study of how inhabitants of urban areas, such as towns and cities,
interact with the built environment. It is a direct component of disciplines such as
urban planning, which is the profession focusing on the physical design and
management of urban structures and urban sociology which is the academic field
the study of urban life and culture.
2. Describe what “urban sprawl” is. Give 2 examples with supporting photos.
Urban sprawl, also called sprawl or suburban sprawl, the rapid expansion of the
geographic extent of cities and towns, often characterized by low-density
residential housing, single-use zoning, and increased reliance on the private
automobile for transportation. Urban sprawl is caused in part by the need to
accommodate a rising urban population; however, in many metropolitan areas it
results from a desire for increased living space and other residential amenities.

Picture 1: western portion of Las Vegas in 1984 Picture 2: Gilbert, Arizona in 2013 vs in 2019.
(top), 1999 (middle), and 2009 (bottom)

3. Define “new urbanism” and give the benefits of doing it.

New Urbanism is an urban design movement which promotes environmentally
friendly habits by creating walkable neighborhoods containing a wide range of
housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has
gradually influenced many aspects of real estate development, urban planning,
and municipal land-use strategies. New urbanism attempts to address the ills
associated with urban sprawl and post-Second World War suburban development.
New Urbanism improves accessibility, improves transportation choice, and
reduces traffic speeds, which tend to reduce per capita automobile ownership and
use. Creates livable and walkable, neighborhoods with a densely packed array of
housing, jobs, and commercial sites.