How do Cities Expand?

Urban Forms and Theories

Eduardo F Bober Jr
 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation

 Application of Von Thunen’s theory of

agricultural location THEORIES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT
 Circular city growth eases the burden of Concentric Circle Growth Pattern
intra-urban communication (Ernest W. Burgess)
 The central business district is located in
the center, with the outer circles
(concentric circles) making up the other
zones of contrasting land use.
 Any city extends radially from its center,
to form concentric zones and that as
distance from the center increases, there
would be a reduction in accessibility, rent
and densities
Source: w
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 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation

THEORIES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT:

 Growth along a particular transport route Sector Pattern of Urban Growth
way takes the form of land uses already (Homer Hoyt)
prevailing and that each sector of
relatively homogenous use extends
outwards from the center
 Compatible land uses lay adjacent to each
other; incompatible land uses repelled
 Relates accessibility, land use and values
 The growth of the central business district
tends to follow the direction of the high-
priced residential neighborhood. Source: w
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 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation

THEORIES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT:

Multiple Nuclei Theory
 Based on the assumption that urban
(Edward L. Ullman & Chauncey D. Harris)
growth takes place around several
distinct nuclei
 Emphasizes that many phenomena
of city life occur in cluster
 Initially related to cities within US
where the gridiron road patterns
separated land uses geometrically

Source: w
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 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation
URBAN FORMS
URBAN FORMS
Dispersed Sheet
 New growth allowed to occur at the periphery at very low
density with substantial interstices of open lands kept in
reserve.
 Developments spread evenly over wide continuous tract;
circulation carried out by individual vehicles
 Very high accessibility to open land; outdoor recreational
possibilities plentiful.
 Transport network a continuous grid designed for even
movement in all directions. No road hierarchy, no major
nodal points, no major terminals. Difficulty in establishing a
transport network due to evenly Spread out activity areas.
 Activity areas evenly distributed.
 Maximum flexibility, personal comfort, independence, local
participation highly possible.
 No traffic congestions, no multi-purpose trips, only single-
purpose trips.
 No vivid or memorable image of the city.
 Public service provision is expensive.
 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation
 Development clustered into relatively small units, each with an
internal peak of density and separated from the next zone of URBAN FORM:
low or zero density
Galaxy of Settlements
 Each cluster is equal to the next in importance, although
specialization (financial center, cultural center, etc.) is
possible.
 Each unit is self-sufficient, and thereby independent of the
other (All basic social services are present. Lack of regular
transportation to other units is due to the self-sufficiency of the
units)
 Circulation mainly by private vehicle, but supplementary
public transport is possible.
 All advantages on the dispersed sheet except flexibility are
present
 If clusters are not too specialized, need for commuting is
reduced.
 Access to open country is assured if interstitial open spaces are
maintained
 Visual image of local communities improved but not of the
whole town
 Local centers may develop monotonous similarity unless
 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation
 Development is packed into one continuous body due, & URBAN FORM:
maximized land use is employed due to limited land area.
Growth will be vertical. Strong visual image for the whole
The Core City
town.
 This form is seen to be beneficial for social equity (same type
of high-rise housing, large range of services & facilities
present in the community).
 Very few or no private vehicles - movement of pedestrians is
either on foot or on mechanical devices (escalators, etc.)
 Most fuel efficient and energy saving (eliminates car-
dependency). Significant reduction in vehicular traffic.
 Presence of transport system makes accessibility higher to
both activity centers and to open country at the edge of the
city.
 Initial investments in the core city are quite high but running
costs may be low.
 Must be well-planned, relying heavily on high-rise buildings
& well-laid out transportation system. Initial cost is expensive,
but returns will be most beneficial in the long term.
 Highly rigid and inflexible; change /rearrangement is very
expensive.
 URBAN FORMS: Generation and Evaluation

Present Urban Forms in the

Philippines URBAN FORM:
 Found in the periphery of many Asian cities, this form of development
is characterized by the concentration of built-up areas along major Ribbon or Corridor
roads. Development
 The Government often provides arterial infrastructure, leaving the
provision of secondary and tertiary infrastructure to individuals or
private sector developers. Because of the inability of the private sector
or individuals to assemble raw land, only land closest to the arterial
infrastructure is developed.
 Land farther away from the arterial infrastructure is often left
unserviced and thereby unusable for urban purposes. Thus one gets
city development patterns with large pockets of vacant, undeveloped
land in the city.
 This type of development causes increased costs of doing business in
the city as it increases the costs of transport and provision of
infrastructure.
 The presence of large pockets of vacant, undeveloped land is also a
result of land speculation.
Source: Urban Land Policies for the Uninitiated. UN ESCAP
Ribbon or Corridor Development
Marilao Municipality, Bulacan
Province
2006 LAND USE MAP
Thank you.