Perception of Forms

 Meeting the sky – the skyline of a city is defined by a dominant element

 Meeting the ground – structures rise from the ground and enriched by plants or landscapes
 Recession Planes - intended to maximize sunlight admission to key streets and adjacent residential structures
 Ascent or Descent – the use of varying levels as an element in the design composition
 Concavity or Convexity – the interplay of forms, the positive (concave) or the negative (convex)

Relationship Between Spaces

 Extension – perceived lines of force (relationship of taking up space beyond original boundary)
 Axis – a connector on which the central axis is used as a perpendicular reference (to produce a unified or
balance relationship)
 SIGNS AND SYMBOLS

ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN

 BUILDINGS- the most pronounced elements of urban design

 PUBLIC SPACE- Great public spaces are the living room of the city. Public spaces make high quality life in the
city possible
 STREETS- are the connections between spaces and places, and being spaces themselves. The pattern of the
street network is part of what defines a city and what makes each city unique
 TRANSPORT-Transport systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them, and enable movement
throughout the city
-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- The landscape is the green part of the city that weaves throughout
-The landscape helps define the character and beauty of a city and creates soft, contrasting
spaces and elements

OTHER ELEMENTS

 Roofscape
 Night Lighting
Key Elements of Urban Form

1. PATHS- Channels along w/c the observer moves

-Predominant element for many person’s image
-Other elements are arranged and related through paths
-Strong paths are:
a) easily identifiable
b) have continuity and direction
c) aligned w/ a larger system

-Spatial extremes highlight path

2. EDGES- Linear elements not used or considered as paths

-Lateral references, not coordinate axes
-May be barriers or seams
-Not as dominant as paths but are important organizing features
-Edges can be disruptive to city form
-Strong edges are:
a) usually prominent and continuous
b) impenetrable to simple cross movement
3. DISTRICTS-Medium to large sections of a city, conceived as 2-D
-Observer can mentally enter “inside of”
-Recognizable as having some common identifying character
-Dominance depends upon the individual and given district
-Physical characteristics have variety of components
a) activity and use/function
b) building types and detail
c) inhabitants
d) physical characteristics
4. NODES- Points, strategic spots by w/c an observer can enter
-Intensive foci from w/c observer is travelling
-Junctions and concentrations
-Directly related to the concept of paths and concept of districts
-May be thematic concentrations
5. LANDMARKS- Point references considered to be external to the observer
- Physical elements that may vary widely in scale
- Unique and special in place of the continuities used earlier
- Sequential series of landmarks as traveling guides

Responsive Environments

1. Permeability- overall layout of routes & development blocks

-Must be accessible to offer choice
-Access must be complementary
-Network of public spaces divides the environment into blocks-
-alternative routes it offers from one point to another. But these alternatives must be
visible,otherwise only people who already know the area can take advantage of them.
So visual permeability is also important
 -decline of public permeability
a) Increasing scale of development
b) Layout by hierarchy
c) Pedestrian/ vehicle segregation
2. Variety-range of uses provided
-Offers a choice of experiences
-Implies places with varied forms, uses, and meanings
-Developers & planners are more concerned with economic performance
-Variety of uses depends on 3 main factors
-Variety also depends on feasibility:
3. Legibility-understand the spatial layout of a place
-Important at 2 levels:
a) physical form and
b) activity patterns
- Important buildings stood out during old days
- Modern environment reduced the legibility of form & use
- Separating pedestrians from vehicles reduces legibility
4. Robustness-spatial & constructional arrangement of individual buildings and outdoor spaces
- Can be used for many different purposes
- Distinction between large scale & small scale robustness
- 3 key factors that support long term robustness
a) building depth
b) access
c) height
- Design of small scale robustness depends on extra factors
5. Visual Appropriateness- the external image
- Determine the general appearance of the scheme
- Focuses on details
- Concerned with designing the external image of the place
- People interpret places as having meaning
- Visual cues must be found to communicate levels of choice
- Reinforced by supporting the place’s:
6. Richness-developing the design for sensory choice
- The most detailed level of design
- Variety of sense experiences that users can enjoy: sense of motion, of smell, of hearing, of touch, of
sight.
- Two ways for users to choose from diff. sense experiences:
- Basis of visual richness depends on the presence of visual contrasts
7. Personalization-Bears the stamp of their own tastes & values
- people put their own mark on the places where they live or work
- Makes a person’s pattern of activities more clear
- Users personalize in 2 ways:
- Users personalize as an affirmation of their own tastes & values
- Two levels of personalization:
- Personalization is affected by 3 factors:
-