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Assignment 1

Devika Devadas K P

College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram

UD 6101 Urban Theory and Methodology

Submitted to Arun Cherian

28 - 09 - 2023
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Cities have been described as “‘a relatively large, dense, and permanent settlement of socially

heterogeneous individuals” by L.Wirth and as “point of maximum concentration for the power

and culture of a community ” by Mumford (Kostof,1991). The emergence of cities was a primary

result of surplus food in the earlier settlements, which paved the way to advancements in the

tools they used and specialization in work, the introduction of trade between the villages and

subsequently to the expansion of the settlements. Spiro Kostof, in her book, “The City Shaped”

says, “changes in social institutions might be just as likely to precipitate changes in technology

and complex notions about subsistence and surplus rather than the other way around”.The

instrument of authority, rather than any particular form of activity, was the generating force for

many towns (Kostof, 1991).

De Landa compares earlier settlements to the exoskeleton of humans that keeps our flesh

from moving out; the exoskeleton being the sun dried bricks of clay that formed our building

material and surrounded to form defensive walls. The early stages of urbanization, as already

stated, was from the agricultural lands that produced surplus food to feed their people for many

years. This surplus helped improve manpower and shift focus to other works such as artisans,

craftsmen, administration. De Landa states that the important point to be noted is not just

agriculture, but the matter-energy flow within society and the transformation in urban form the

flow made possible (De Landa, 2000).

The second stage is when large scale sea export begins and introduction of roads happens, even

though still agricultural towns, this permits the town or village to expand outside its limits

(Mumford, 1956). The technological improvements and population growth along with

improvement in navigation and sailing ships that rooted for urban growth. The supply of fats,

made soap, a household necessity than a luxury commodity; the importance of hygiene lowered
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the death rates. Later, the cities had access to coal beds and iron ores, and they developed around

these. Pottery, wool towns flourished wherever locomotive lines were laid and steam engines

rose as a source of power. This transformation of cities to villages loosened the bonds with

environment and sterilized lands to a large extent, according to Mumford.

Cities can develop either spontaneously by taking up the topographic shape of the region or the

distribution of villages to form or it could be a result of intensive planning having a symmetrical

form for orderly settlements (De Landa, 2000). But, it can also be a result of a centralized or

decentralized form of government.

Talking of trade and exports, cities emerged due to another form of energy flow, that is the flow

of money. This was the best catalyst to trade because the Barter system where goods are

exchanged for goods had lesser efficiency to compliment the needs. This exchange of money

fueled the urban acceleration in Europe and kept it in a dynamic state (De Landa, 2000). He

explains the formation of two city forms, the Central Place system and the Network system. The

towns in medieval Europe were divided by population size and complexity of individual units.

The smaller towns offered religious , commercial and other services to the countryside, while

they looked up to larger cities for services unavailable locally. This created a hierarchy within

towns and cities, and flow of goods were prominently basic necessities. The Network system

dealt with long distance trade, especially luxury items, and linked with faraway cities or towns.

Rather than hierarchy within towns, they were distinguished based on the services provided.

These network systems like the European gateway cities were maritime ports. The central place

system coexisted with the network system, with the former being the central areas and the latter

along the periphery.

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In the 1300s, a deceleration of urban expansion took place, with towns disappearing and the

larger ones extending to its limits. It engulfed smaller towns like an amoeba that engulfed the

food particles (Mumford,1956) and the gateway cities grew to be maritime metropolises.

The network system or gateway cities welcomed a lot of trade and foreign products in, like the

kingdom of Kochi, which was a major port city during the Portuguese invasion. The kingdom of

Cochin, can be said as a city that grew with authoritative power, as mentioned in the beginning.

Kochi rose as a port city after it increased its trade of pepper and other spices to other countries.

The kingdoms of Zamorin and Cochin were in frequent conflicts for the land. The capital of

Cochin kingdom was changed twice, and it was during the reign of Shakthan Thampuran,

Thrippunithura became the capital of the kingdom. The town of Thripunithura has a religous

background, with the famous Poornathrayeesa temple being the center of the town. Just as

mentioned by Kostof, it can be of the cosmic model to an extent, with its monumental axis,

protective gates, dominant landmarks, and regular grid. The town was developed as the

residential area of the Cochin royal family. The town and the port city of Kochi can be

considered as being the Central place and network system, both coexisting and having their own

characteristics. The present town developed due to other factors, such as the Cochin refineries,

FACT and the Cochin Shipyard. The development of Kochi metro along Thripunithura has

greatly increased its commercial value. It has been developing as a satellite town to the city of

Ernakulam.
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References

Kostof, S. (2000). The City Shaped. First North American paperback edition, , 1-40.

Mumford, L. (1956). Natural History of Urbanization. Chicago 1956, 1-16.

Landa, M. (2000).Thousand years of nonlinear history. The Swerve Editions NewYork,1-67.

Satellite image of the neighbourhood :

(Continued in next page)

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Satellite image of city :