POINTS TO PONDER

We talk about growth of settlements but...

Is there any science behind the development of settlements?

Or
Is there any pattern that needs to be observed on how the settlements are evolving?
Or
How can we tell that the size of a city is optimum?
Or
Do we need to resist development so that a city doesn’t grow beyond a point?
Or
How do we design cities in future?
DO WE AGREE ON THIS?

•In order to create the cities of the future, we need to systematically develop a
science of human settlements.

•This science should take into consideration the principles man takes into account
when building his settlements, as well as the evolution of human settlements
through history in terms of size and quality.

•The target should be to build a city of optimum size, i.e, a city which respects
human dimensions.

•Since there is no point in resisting development, we should try to accommodate

technological evolution and the needs of man within the same settlement.
There is a need for a science dealing with human settlements, because otherwise
we cannot view these settlements in a reasonable way.

Is such a science possible?

 EKISTICS
The science of studying Human Settlements
EKISTICS

•Coined in 1942 by Greek Architect and Urban Planner –

Konstantinos Apostolos Doxiadis

•Starts with the premise that human settlements are susceptible of systematic
investigation

•Aims to encompass all scales of human habitation and seeks to learn from the
archaeological and historical record by looking not only at great cities, but, as
much as possible, at the total settlement pattern
 In the application of his theories on Ekistics, C.A. Doxiadis studied, programmed,
planned and designed, in collaboration with his colleagues, a great number of human
settlements and other development projects.

These projects cover several fields, like rural settlements, agriculture and irrigation,
industrial settlements, manufacturing, power and public works, commerce and
tourism, transportation and communications, housing, urban renewal and
development of new cities, etc.

Background Necessary Reading: C. A. Doxiadis Biography and works

 Study Parameters –
PA R A M E T E R
Sizes
Location of Settlements
Physical Forms
Elements of Human Settlements
Functions
C O N T E N T
• Small and sparsely spaced (rural settlements or villages specializing in
agriculture)
• Large and closely spaces (urban settlements specializing in secondary
and tertiary activities)
Like plains, mountains, coastal, etc
form as the expression of content, function, and
structure
• Important to an understanding of the meaning and role of settlements
• Reveal nature, specialization, & raison d’etre of settlements
• Based on activity (economic, social), their performance, or special role
(as dormitories, retirement villages, etc.)
 Study Parameters –
PA R A M E T E R C O N T E N T
Time Dimension Age of settlements, their place in continuum (past, present, future), their
relative static of dynamic character, the whole process of their growth
Degree of Society’s Degree of society’s conscious involvement in settlements creation
Consciousness natural and planned settlements
Institutions, legislations and What Society has created for smooth functioning of the settlements
administrations
Classification of Human Settlements –

• By Ekistics Units

• By Ekistics Elements

• By Ekistics Functions

• By Evolutionary Phases

• By Factors & Disciplines

Ekistics Units –

Consists of four basic groups

•Minor shells – Man(Anthropos), room, house;

•Micro-settlements – small units such as a traditional town where people achieve

interconnection by walking (house group, small neighbourhood);

•Meso-settlements – inbetween traditional town & conurbation within which one can
commute daily (small polis, polis, small metropolis, small eperopolis, eperopolis); and

•Macro-settlements – ends with Ecumenopolis

Ekistics Units –

The figure shows Doxiadis' ideal future Ekistic

units for the year 2100 at which time he
estimated (in 1968) that Earth would achieve
zero population growth at a Population of
50,000,000,000 with human civilization being
Powered by fusion energy.

Also called EKISTICS LOGARITHMIC SCALE (ELS)

15 Levels
Ekistics Elements –
Basic Principles/ Functions of Ekistics –

Maximization of Human Potentials – in a certain area, man will select

the location which permits a maximum of potential contact

Minimization of Efforts – a minimum of effort, terms of energy, time

and cost. Man selects the most convenient routes

Optimization of Man’s Protective Space

Optimization of Man’s Relationship With His Environment

Optimization of Four Previous Principles

 Evolutionary Phases –

Macro scale – Nomadic, agricultural, urban, urban industrial

Micro scale – Specific area at a limited period of time

Village City in Beginning Early Dynapolis

 Evolutionary Phases –

Dynapolis:-Industrial Era Metropolis:-Industrial Era Megalopolis

Factors & Disciplines –

According to Doxiadis, the greatest problem facing

cities worldwide was the problem of managing
growth.

we approach our subject with preconceived ideas

about numbers of people, physical size, buildings,
and styles which are a major hindrance to the
conception of the cities of the future

Therefore the need to involve varied disciplines while

planning a new settlement.