URBAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Identifies key things that make up the qualities

of an urban area

Sets out the things that will improve the quality

of such areas: trees & landscapes; protection of views and
landmarks; character of local streets; building shape and form; diversity of
housing e.t.c

The outcome is evolution of design guidelines

for safeguarding and improving character that
could culminate in adoption of policy.
 Urban Design Issues
Identity of towns often associated with high degree of
authenticity of form and character

Identification of such character and assessment of its

significance to determine the need for character
management techniques and when to apply these

Effective techniques for character evaluation

Illustration of ways of measuring the value and relative

significance of urban areas

Recommendations/ on appropriate types of development

control guidelines
 Methodology
Identification of typical development patterns, in space and time, relating
to various aspects: building age, type, scale, height, site coverage, lot size
& morphology, frontage, setbacks e.t.c
Summary of systematic urban design evaluation of the study area.

Evaluation is broadly based on, but not limited to, the following areas:

1. Townscape/Street scape analysis:

- identification of important visual characteristics of streets and adjacent
buildings
- verification of location and character of development
- overview of specific features and patterns of various parts
- recording of key characteristics using the designed checklists
- photographic recording of all defining patterns of streets

2. Use of property records:

- various data based on land information system available at various
authorities and repositories; may be in form of thematic maps: building
age; building site coverage; building height, location of multi-unit
dwellings
3. Measurements:
- these could be direct physical measurements from the ground or from
cadastral maps and aerial photographs; 1:500 or larger is an
appropriate scale

- results are then tabulated to indicate typical patterns which could

graphically illustrate typical patterns of building size, intensity of
development, and urban grain in selected areas using techniques such
as GIS.

4. Synthesis and Assignment of character significance:

This entails determination of:
- The importance of the study area to the character of the city as a
whole

- Any elements within the study area (precincts or groups of houses) of

special character or amenity value

- Relative significance of the identified elements

The output will help to develop appropriate levels of development

control.
 The criteria applied in Character Significance:

1. Primary criteria (in descending order of importance):

- Rarity of type, design or configuration
- Visual prominence
- Ability to demonstrate historical or otherwise valued development
pattern

2. Secondary criteria:
- Intactness of original building fabric
- Visual unity or consistency
- Aesthetic coherence
- Expression of identityt or contribution to sense of place
 Key Data Areas

Spatial: district boundaries; topography; development type e.t.c

Morphological: street patterns; blocks; edges; nodes; building
lines e.t.c
Contextual: setting; building groups; unity; diversity
Visual: townscape qualities; materials & their distribution; colours;
local styles; roofs e.t.c
Perceptual: sense of place; image; legibility; scale e.t.c
Social: community spirit and cohesion; assembly areas; e.t.c
Functional: infrastructural linkages; use of house typologies;
community integration; e.t.c
Sustainable: energy efficiency; ecological value; indigenous
vegetation; features for preservation
 Achieving Urban Form Character:
Concepts & Practical Tools
Urban character could be physical (products) or
functional (processes)

Sense of Place:
- shows most clearly in the way a community feels about
and uses landscape.

- A sense of place is basic to civilization:

All the great cities of the world have been places that
were intensely and minutely loved.

- Describes places where townscapes are full of incident

and variety but working as a community is palpable.
 Authentic places:
- Good urban design addresses diverse social
needs, as well as the natural environment.

Eco character:
- Built form responses that minimize impact
and are in harmony with the natural setting.

Eclectic character:
- Built form that takes its character from the local
setting with elements defined by that place.