Urban Design LECTURE 3 The Functional Dimension
Abhishek K. Venkitaraman Assistant Professor
FUNCTIONAL FUNCT IONAL CONSIDERATIONS: CONSIDERATIONS:
The use of public spaces Mix use and density Environmental design Aspects of the capital web
THE USE OF PUBLIC SPACES Five Primary needs that people seek to satisfy satisfy in Public Public Space: S pace: Comfort Relaxation Passive engagement engagement Active engagement Discovery
COMFORT ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ( relief from sun, wind, etc ) PHYSICAL COMFORT (comfortable and sufficient seating)
SOCIAL COMFORT and PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT (Sense of Security)
From the street str eetss of
RELAXATION When BODY and MIND is at ease - Natu Natura rall elements (trees (trees,, wa water ter features), features), separa separation tion from vehicular traffic etc. accentuate relaxed moods.
From the Community streets str eets of Park, Par k, Varanasi ara nasi Varanasi
PASSIVE ENGAGEMENT -People -People watching -Fountains, views, Public art, Performances etc.
From the the Ghats of Varanasi
During Durin g Aarti in the the Ghats of Varanasi
PASSIVE ENGAGEMENT
ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT It involves more direct experience with a place and the people within.
Ghats of Varanasi https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2865/10957146404_c4a717efe6_b.jpg
Transition Aesthetic app appeal eal
Street furnitu furniture: re: relaxation
A Public park in Paris Paris
Triangulation
Successful public spaces provide opportunities for varying degrees of engagement, and also for disengaging from contact
Willi am H. Whyte William observed that interaction, in teraction, or a sense of community, community, between two strangers in a public space is encouraged by a third thi rd activi activity ty or object they can both share. This might be a fountain, a performance, or even music they can both hear; but “triangulation” “tr iangulation” is an ess essential ential feature of all a ll good public places. Dhalpur, Ku Kullu llu
DISCOVERY People desire new ne w spectacles and pleasurable experiences. experiences.
It depends on variety and change. These may come come with the cycle cycle of seasons, and they t hey may also result from the management management and animation of public space. space.
Eg. Lunch-time Lunc h-time concerts, art exhibitions, exhibitions, street theater t heater,, festivals, markets, society society events, etc.
SOCIAL USE OF SPACE Most sociable s ociable spaces usually possessed poss essed the following following features:
A good location, is on a busy route and both physically and visually accessible
Spaces which which are not isolated – by fencingfencing- from from street street
Spaces level or almost a lmost level level with the t he pavement pavement
The availability a vailability for for places to sit s it (steps, (step s, low walls, walls, seats, etc) with movable movable seats. s eats.
PUBLIC SPACES: Typology
Street as a Public Place
A Street from Karlsruhe, Germany
Plaza, squares, parks, streets - public realm, public life
Reasons for for demise demise - ma may y not be privatization privatization or telecommunications, but car culture Critical role role between public space sp ace and pedestrian pedestria n life
Why Wh y are ar e Public Spaces impor important tant ?
Urban open spaces are crucial cr ucial to city residents because, because, if done right, these spaces not only provide aesthetically pleasing escapes,, but also enhance the emotional well escapes well being of the city's city's residents resid ents as well well as advance the interests of environmental advocacy, advocacy, social s ocial justice and inclusion
12 Steps to a great gr eat Public Space Protection from traffic Protection from crime Protection Protection from the elements e lements A place to walk A place to stop and stand A place to sit Things to see Opportunities for conversations Opportunities Opportun ities for play Human-scale Oppor Opportuniti tunities es to enjo e njoy y good goo d weather weather Aesthetic quality Jann Gehl Gehl & Lars Lars Gem Gemzoe zoe – Ja
Dimensions Dimensi ons of Public Space Space
Political dimension
Economic dimension
Environmental dimension
Social dimension
Social dimension
System Syst em of public spaces spaces
Connections
Connections
Connections
THREE TYPES OF PEDESTRIAN ACTIVITIES
Social activities
These activities occur whenever peopl people e move
Necessary activities activities
Optional activities (urban
The things th ings that have h ave to be done: Going to school, sch ool, waiting waiting for the bus and going to work. In the shor shortt term these
recreation)
about in the same spaces.
Activities people are tempted to do when climatic conditions, surroundings and the place are generally inviting and attractive. These Th ese activities are especially especially sensitive to quality quality.. They only occur when quality is high. People come to town, find the places attractive and stay for a long time time. A great, attractive city can always be recognized by the fact that many people choose to spend time in the public spaces.
Watching, listening, experiencing other people, passive and active participation. A Good City offers a wide range of attractive optional activities, and because so many people peopl e are present in the city, there are many people to experience,, watch and experience speak to. The Th e city city becomes a lively and wonderful city. A people city.
types of activi activities ties occur regardless of the quality of the physical environment because people are compelled to to carry them out.
A Good City provides provides good conditions for the many necessary activities and will retain and strengthen these activities over time.
ACTIVITIES
The role of public space
Publi Public c space space play different roles roles for different sets of ci tizens and their publicness. Serving Servi ng as medium m edium for performance of public life, l ife, public public space has always always been lilive ve value v alue ana analysi lysiss of structural structural changes of public domain.
Types of public space
external pub external publilic c space as pieces of l and that that lie li e between between privat priv ate e landholdings such as publi public c squares, squares, streets, parks, parks, stretches of coastline, rivers, riv ers, etc. Carmona, Heath, Oc and Tiesdell Tiesdell (2003) (20 03)
internal 'public' spa space ce or publi public c institutions such as libr li braries, aries, museums, mus eums, town halls, halls , tra train in or bus stations, etc. Carmona, Heath, Oc and Tiesdell Tiesdell (2003) (20 03)
external and internal ’quasi -publi -public' c' space space : Places such as universit univ ersity y campuses, campuses, sports grounds, grounds, restaurant restaurantss also form part part of the public realm, if i f only onl y nominally, nom inally, because because their thei r owners and operat operators ors retain retain rights to regulate regulate access and behav behav ior there. there.
Carmona, Heath, Oc and Tiesdell Tiesdell (2003) (20 03)
Cha Challen lenges of publ ublic spa space prominently are shi shiftin fting g focus from polit itiical to economic.
Markers Markers of publi public c space: space:
ownership and accessibilit accessibility y
Public space space consists consi sts of collection col lection of buildings buildin gs or it i t exist exi st as as insepa ins epara rable ble part part of built buil t environment env ironment and therefore therefo re creates creates and delimits common.
Splintering of public publi c space space is i s more m ore a mat m atter ter of accessibility accessibility than than ownership. ownershi p. Therefore accessibili accessibility ty is the key fact f actor or for for successful public public spa s pace ce
Ther There are three hree basic for forms of acces ccessib sibililit ity: y: vissual, physic vi ica al and symb mbo olic .
Built Built spa space is socia socialllly y const constru ruct cted ed
STREETS
These are the connections between spa spaces ces and places ces, as well as being spaces themselves. They are defined by their physical dimension and character as well as the size, scale, and character of the buil buildi ding ngss that hat line line them. hem. The pattern of the street networ k is par t of what defines a city and what makes akes ea each ch city ity uniq unique ue..
Major street space uses
A street from Sringeri, Karnataka
Transportation
Walkabilty
Parking
A street str eet from Kalpath Kalpathy y, Palakkad, Kerala
A street str eet from Kalpath Kalpathy y Palakkad, Kerala
A street str eet from Kalpath Kalpathy y Palakkad, Kerala
Street Hierarchy Hierarchy & Recreational Recrea tional activities activities •
Advance of of urbanism in twentieth century brought the decline decline in the utility ut ility of streets and thoroughfares thorou ghfares as recreational spaces. There is a great relationship relationsh ip between the road capacity and recreational utility. •
Walking and cycling
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Shopping
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Children playing
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Socializing / people -watching -watching
Street as a Public Place Fundamental reality reality of streets is political (as with all public space) Public domain taking t aking precedence precedence over individual individual rights The street structures community The only legitimacy legitimacy of a street st reet is as a public space. space. Practical needs: access to adjacent property, passage of through traffic It puts on display display the workings of a city and supplies supplies a backdrop for its common rituals. Best example, popular street celebrations which after Renaissance, were gradually banished or interiorized. int eriorized.
An Indian street str eet from f rom Kolkata Kolkata
Culture and class Houses and shops represent the private elements of streets Ancient Greece Mesopotamia Islamic city All of above are inturned, intu rned, backs backs to streets street s Other cases of withdrawing from from street A matter of culture, but but also class (wealthy ( wealthy often withdraw) For Chinese of all classes, dependence dependence of house hou se on the public space space of the street st reet was was never nev er important important
The relative balance between the dweller’s freedom of action and the identity of public domain, is ultimately a cultural matter. matter. It depends on the traditional needs and attitudes of the society, society, which wh ich changes c hanges over time.
Culture and class
Cong Conges esti tion on and and Sl Slum umss The growing population congestion.
led
to
The The tra tradition tiona al hei height incre ncrea ased sed fro from 2 to 3 and 4 storeys in Dwelling units. Population Density increased without change in systems ems of water suppl supply y or sani sanita tati tion. on.
Wheel Wheel traffi trafficc increa increased sed.. The The street reetss were ere fil filth rid ridden thrown from dwell dwelling ing windo windows ws.. Disease spread and led to epidemics. The cities rever ted to an inferior condition. “Great Plague of London” : Epidemic of Bubonic plague in 1665-66
A fish market mark et in London
The Regulated Street Esthetic Esthet ic street regulation regulation is the pride pride of Baroque design design Prescriptive Prescriptive façade façade design design gave the new n ew districts districts of 17th c. Dresden and Berlin visual uniformity that belied belied the private, private, speculative nature of development. development. Public safety Public health England, storm storm drains drains,, piped water, and sewers introduced around 1800
After 17th c., demand for wider streets st reets based on health Also a result of coaches " bye-law bye -law street" in mid 19th c. England: long stretches stretc hes of terraces cut by by infrequent cross streets alley alleyss in in back back no gardens no trees concern for light and air stops at the th e building building line in Germany, wide streets compensated with dense, tall buildings After 1880, wide streets seen as unhealthy in Germany because they fostered wind and dust
TRANSPORT Trans ransp port syst system emss conn onnect ect the parts rts of cities and help shape them, and enable movement thr throughout oughout the the city city.. They include road, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian networks rks, and together form the tota otal movem emen entt syst ystem of a city ity.
The balance of these t hese various transport systems is what helps define the quality and character ch aracter of cities, and makes them either friendly or hostile to pedestrians. pedestrians.
Overview various dimensions Synthesis of various
Elements Elements of urban form, when looked at as a
complete complete unit / pattern according according to Spiro Kostof:(City Shaped)
like form
perception social
• Organic Patterns • The Grid
visual functional etc.
• The City as a Diagram • The Grand G rand Manner Manner • The T he Urban Skyline Skyline
Elements Elements of urban form through history Spiro iro Kost Kostof of (Cit (City y Assembled) Assembled) according to Sp The City Edge
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Public Places
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The Street
Urban Process
BUILDINGS
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PUBLIC SP SPACES ACES
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Urban Divisions
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URBAN DESIGN
Elements Elemen ts of
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STREETS
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TRANSPORT
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LANDSCAPE
URBAN FORM Main Reference:
City Assembled
by Spiro Kostof
Elements of Urban Form Form through History PUBL PUBLIC IC SP SPACES CES As detai detailed led by: by: Spiro Kostof
Public Spaces General feeling that there has been a decline in public space Plaza, squares, parks, par ks, streets - public public realm, realm, public public life Reasons for for demise demise - ma may y not be privatization privatization or telecommunications, but car culture Critical role between public space and pedestrian life
Public Spaces The nature of public places 1.
Two important import ant aspects: familiar and chance ecounters ; freedom of action; freedom to participate par ticipate or to be inactive inactive
public ritual - public 2. public place placess are the setting setting for for communal action;; shared record of civic action; action action; physical manifestation manifestation of civic behavior can be meeting place pla ce,, marketplace, thoroughfar thoroughfare e the Laws Laws of the Indies Indies,, 1573 - main main plaza is is the starting point point of the town
Public Spaces The life and control of the public
Purpose of public space: space: Specialized function fu nctions: s: markets, militia militia drills, dr ills, feast day day ceremonies A place where community can be embraced or A place where social conflict is worked out These are somewhat conflicting Early on, rulers r ulers felt need to dominate dominate public squares squares Social orders are changed through the design and control of the public space Public places are like physical evidence evide nce There is always always the hand of governme government nt,, regulating, controlling controlling Restricting Restricting access to public space Regulating Regulating behavior in public space
Piazza Del Della la Signoria Signoria in Florence It is the focal point of the origin origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic Republic and still still maintains maintain s its reputation rep utation as the political politi cal hub of the city
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This creates a conflict Ongoing Ongoing issue issue - Sharon Sharon Zukin Zukin Sociologist Critique of urban public space being appropriated and privatized by corporate and commercial forces
Redesign Redesign of Bryant Park Park - was the domain of homeless panhandlers panhandlers and drug dealers Based on ideas of William Whyte Zukin sees this as white middle-class taking over over true public life •
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Article "mistaking public life for community life“ Public life life should be messy, messy, and is not about resolving conflict c onflict Are people scarred by what they have seen happen to their public places?
The pope pope who had a row row of houses houses constructed down down the center of a public public square to prevent large public gatherings .
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In Czechoslovakia, the Communist government tried force to keep the people from massing in Prague’s Wenceslas Square.
Privatized public realms Residential spaces clustered around a square Appears in many different time periods, including our own versions The clan piazza
Space for a particular clan, family Similar Similar to neighborhood space space Used by a small group of citizens Common in medieval tow t owns ns Clan houses clustered around the t he square English square Starting 17th century
For elite
Piazza San Matteo Matteo,Genoa(Italy) ,Genoa(Italy) , centers on the church chur ch dedicated dedicated to to the family’s family’ s patron patr on saint.
Other family places are visible on the left.
Courtyard Cour tyard and square Enclosure of public gathering places often based on mosque or church Islamic cities
Well-defined public space, though not in Western sense Maidan - space space around a mosque or monumental monumental public public building Collectivity not in a civic civic arena arena as in Rome Rome But in small maidans Irregular public spaces (contrast to West is striking) Small and dispersed
When Roman Roman cities are overtaken over taken by Muslim Muslim conquerors conqueror s, the mosque is placed placed over the
forum Relationship between courtyard associated with religion and public square can evolve over time Starts out as churc c hurchh courtyard courtyard Evolves to civic space space Monasteries often start out at edge, edge, but eventually even tually are are within with in city city Even courtyard of mosque can transform later later to atrio
Florence( Italy), Florence(Ital y), Piazza of the Santissima Santissima Annunziata. On the right is Bruneeleschi’s loggia of the founding hospital, hospital,(1425). (1425). A century ce ntury later, later, a formal piazza was was created with construction opposite to the loggia. Finally in in 1601-08 1601- 08 the statue of Grand Duke Ferdinando was erected in the middle.
The distribution distribution of public places Location could be accident, could be planned Some spaces are tenacious over time, time, although althou gh change their use: with an open usable space might might become a A large public monument of one period with public square in another period. period. Some spaces originally planned could be obliterated
At the city edge
The maidan might have been been a marketplace at the edge that th at later later got appropriated appropriated by by a mosque Musalla - large open open space at at edg edge e of city to accommoda accommodate te large gatherings, gatherings, executions, executions, festivals, markets Happens in west, too - sports fields fields eventually event ually become central central squares squares
Boston Common at the Water’ Wate r’s s Edge,
and later later at the reclaimed reclai med land of beacon beac on Hill when it found itsel itselff in the
Town Squares Most important factors for distribution: Its function Traffic patt patterns erns
Examples of types of squares and how they originated: Port town - main main square at at the th e waterfront aterfront City gates - space space on either side side often develop developed ed into squares, squares, channelers channelers of traffic traffic and long distance commerce Palace Palace square - exists xists universally universally Square for nobility nobility
" pala palace ce square" Could be be extended to nobility - the granting granting to the private residence residence the dignity of a public square Traffic pressures at crossroads Seen in in Baroque city city form - plazas inserted where where radial avenues join
http://www.pps.org/
MOVEMENT MOVEMENT is an important import ant factor in generating life and activity through public spaces. For pedestrians, pedestr ians, the connection betw bet ween places is important, impor tant, and successful public spaces s paces are generally integrated integra ted within local movement mov ement systems s ystems,, putting in mind that a pedestrian journey is rarely single purpose. The “by-product” of movement: movement: The potential po tential for other (optional)
activities in addition ad dition to the basic activity of travelling t ravelling from origin to destination.
TOOL FOR ANALYSING PLACES Space syntax is a science-based, human-
focused approach that investigates relationships between spatial layout and a range of social, economic and environmental phenomena.
Exposed spaces often perform better than enclosed spaces ‘Places are
not local things. They are moments in lar large-s e-scale ale thin thing gs, the the lar large-sc e-scal alee thin things gs we call all cities. Plac Places es do not make ake cities ies. It is cities that make ake plac placees. The dis distinct nction is vit vital. al. We cann annot make places without understanding cities.
THE CENTRE AND THE EDGE OF THE PUBLIC SPACES The CENTRE CENTRE provides a sense of identity to the site. Life of a Public square forms forms naturally around around its EDGE. If the t he Edge fails, the t he space never becomes lively. lively.
http://www.cpdiary.co http:/ /www.cpdiary.com/wp-conte m/wp-content/uploads/2 nt/uploads/2013/10/c 013/10/centralentral-
http://know.burrp.com/wp-
Building Building facades should be designed so that buildings reach out to the street and offer off er an active frontage onto public space spa ce,, adding interest and vitality to the public realm.
Views Views into int o buildings provide interest to passerspass ers-b by, while while views out put ‘eyes ‘eyes on the street’ and contribute contr ibute to
its safety sa fety..
http://cdn.citylab.com/media/img/citylab/legacy/2013/07/22/ Screen%20Shot%202013-0722%20at%204.43.44%20PM.png
MacCorma rmac (1983) develops a notion of the ‘osmotic’ properti rties of ate streets – the manner in which activities within buildings percolate through and infuse the stree reet with life and activity, noting that some land uses have very little rela tion to people in the street, while others involve and engage age people. Characterising the activity generated by different land uses as their ‘transactional’ quality, he draws a distinction between ‘local’ and ‘foreign’ transactions.
‘LOCAL’ TRANSACTIONS • • • •
http://trippertrip.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/08/KhanMarket.jpg
http://www http://www.livemi .livemi nt.com/r/LiveMi nt.com/r/LiveMint/Per nt/Period1/2 iod1/2
Peculia eculiarr to a place Sensitive to to change Have active frontages Significant impact on street life
‘FOREIGN’ TRANSACTIONS
CBD at Saket, New Delhi
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Source: self
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Can Locate anywhere Frontages Frontag es with very little
Big box sheds surrounded by parking: potential active frontage is projected into the car park, rear elevations exposed and the streetscape undermined
By turning the sales floor 90° and inserting inserting the building into a perimeter block, access is provided from both sides but active street frontage is ensured
IDEA is to wrap big boxes with smaller units to create active frontage
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
A clear definition between public and private space is a fundamental tenet of good urbanism urbanism
MIXED USE AND DENSITY
MIXED USE AND DENSITY Vitality of city neighbourhoods depends on the overlapping and interweaving of activities, and that understanding cities requires dealing with combinations or mixtures of uses as the ‘essential phenomena’. - Ja Jane ne Jaco Jacobs bs
BENEFITS: More convenient access access to facilities Travel-to-work Travel-to-work congestion congestion is minimised minimised Greater opportunities for social interaction int eraction Socially diverse communities Visual stimulation and delight delight of different buildings buildings within close proximity.
A greater feeling of safety, with ‘eyes on streets’
Greater energy efficiency efficiency and more efficient efficient use of space and buildings More consumer choice of lifestyle, location and building type Urban vitality and street st reet life life Increased viability of urban facilities and support for
Current Norms create large single use zones Due to lack l ack of any residential uses, the Area is dead & unsafe at night
Nehru Place Delhi - Now
DENSITY AND URBAN FORM
BENEFITS OF HIGHER HIGHE R DENSITIES:
MIXED USE AND DENSITY TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT is essentially any development – be it macro or micro scale – that induces people to prefer the use of public transit. “Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) is compact, mixed use development development
near new or existing public transportation infrastructure that provides housing, employment, entertainment and civic functions within walking distance of tran transit. sit. The pedestrian-or pedestrian-oriented iented design features fea tures of TODs encour encourages ages residents and workers to drive their cars less and ride public transit more. Transit Oriented Development can be a significant source of revenue for the participating transit agency.
Definition Source: APTA http://www.apta.com/research/info/briefings/briefing_8.cfm
The Th e 3 ‘D’ ‘D’s s of T.O .O.D: .D:
(High) Density
Diversity (Mixed Use, Mixed
Income)
Design (Safe, Comfor Comfortable, table,
active 24x7)
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Microclimate Designing for sun and shade The wind environment environment Lighting
THE CAPITAL WEB The capital capi tal web web encompasses the total public realm − the streets, squares, parks, public buildings and public transport systems − all a ll things paid for for and an d used used by b y the public. publi c. The elements on which whi ch design attention is initial ini tially ly focused focused are the movement and a nd green green space networks. In what has become almost al most a norm, the green space network of parks and other planted pla nted spaces tends to be elaborated elabo rated wherever possible into an alternative system for for moving movi ng around, around , independent independ ent of and a nd interwoven with the main mai n movement system of streets streets and pavements. p avements.
https://www.architectural-review.com/archive/campaigns/the-big-rethink/the-bigrethink-part-11-urban-design/8643367.article
THE CAPITAL WEB
Public open space o o o o
Road Road and a nd footpath design o o o o o
Recreational Opportunities Wildlife habitats Venues for special special events ev ents Opportunity for city city to breathe Safety Permeability Equity Legibility Address to local context
Parking ar king and servicing s ervicing Infrastructure o o o o o o
Public Space Public Transport Public Facilities Water Supply network Electric grids Sewage Disposal system
Functional Dimension: Dimension: Things to document •
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Land and Uses ses Act ctiv ive e Sp Spac aces es Passiv assive Spa Space cess Elem Elemen ents ts of Trian riangu gula lati tion on Types of public spaces in your stretch(including sketches and photographs) Types of user groups and types of activities Major street space uses: Also, try to locate the possible on-street and off-stre off-street et parking parking.. Roa oad d hier hierar arch chy y map Activ tive and and Passi assivve fron fronta tag ges INFERENCES & POSSIBLE POTENTIAL AREAS/ASPECTS OF INTERVENTION
