INTRODUCTION
Urban design alongside architecture has long since been considered an art form in itself (ref). Many theories have come into play over the decades to develop movements regarding the visual elements of urban environment such as ‘townscape’, ‘garden city’ and ‘city beautiful’ (ref). These theories have since come into the twentieth century as vital concepts and references for urban designers. Urban design, differs from that of architecture as it doesn’t solely base its concerns on how a structure is seen from a fixed point of view. Urban design focuses more on how urban environments and settings are observed from various standpoints, near or far and different angles by the individual and how it’s then interoperated.
A number of books have been published on the suggested theories and methods towards urban design which has made significant and influential contributions to urban design today. One common concept used by Urban Designers is that of townscape. Townscape is often, in urban design, associated with the work of the renowned British architect Gordon Cullen. Cullen is known for exquisitely illustrated essays, which went further on to develop his novel ‘Townscape’ which is regarded, still to this day, as one of the most influential masterpieces of urban design (ref). The novel discusses the importance of a progressive experience when appreciating the environment and its natural surroundings, this lead to the introduction of the concept of ‘Serial Vision”. This essay will analyse and critique Cullen’s concept of Townscape in regards to urban design, this will discuss the theory and methods associated with Townscape, then apply it in an Empirical study to the Gold Coast region of Emerald Lakes located in Carrara....
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...periences ever changing as the viewer moves throughout the space. Cullen advocated for unique nature in urban design, which formed ‘serial vision’. In Cullen’s novel Townscape, he articulated his theory with the use of illustrations along with descriptive text, his theory and method is still influential today. Despite others queering his theory, through the empirical study presented about Emerald Lakes, this has shown effective in better understanding the relationships between the emotional responses and space along with the experiences felt by the viewer. In Cullen’s theory, as previously stated, an urban designer can inflict an emotional response from those who utilise and experience the space. Ultimately urban designers aim to create a successful environment for people to enjoy and use, it should be heed to societal needs while remaining aesthetically pleasing.
In today’s society, American citizens tend to believe that America has been, “American” since the day that Christopher Columbus set foot in the Bahamas. This is a myth that has been in our society for a multitude of years now. In A New England Town by Kenneth A. Lockridge, he proves that America was not always democratic. Additionally, he proves that America has not always been “American”, by presenting the town of Dedham in 1635. Lockridge presents this town through the course of over one hundred years, in that time many changes happened as it made its way to a type of democracy.
With health and wellness as a topic that is still very relevant as there become more urban developments, it is valid proof that Wright’s and Olmsted’s design principles and theories are useful precedents for contemporary designers.
Our receptivity to the landscape can be influenced by irrational emotions. When the newlyweds move in, they are wary of their new landscape, the unfamiliar surroundings, cultural barriers and differences to their old landscape along with the people in the landscape cause them to be unreceptive to the landscape. The changing relationship between the people is demonstrated through the comparative description of the couple in their old and new neighbourhoods. Their prior residence was “in the expansive outer suburbs where good neighbours were seldom seen and never heard”. This is juxtaposed against the noisy Macedonian family that “shouted, ranted and screamed”.
Book Review BECOMING PLACES Urbanism/Architecture/Identity/Power Kim Dovey ISBN: 978-0-415-41637-5 201 pp. Paperback Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, London and New York, 2010 Kim Dovey, the author of the book, is currently working at the University of Melbourne as professor of architecture and urban design. He has written two other books and they all are focused on social issues on urban design and architecture. This book was written mostly in the inner-city suburb of Fitzroy.
This explains why for ‘many directors, commercial and industrial architecture are just a necessary shell for their business processes’ (Susanne-Knittel Ammerschuber (2006) pg10). They consider dimensions for example surfaces, floor levels and converted space to be the stand out feature of this corporate architecture. Through doing this, the architectural ethos is overlooked during design. The architectural potential is therefore limited as it tends to overlook the surrounding context; the urban environment, local identity as well as the surrounding landscape design. Instead it...
Again, this section will give a working definition of the “urban question’. To fully compare the political economy and ecological perspectives a description of the “urban question” allows the reader to better understand the divergent schools of thought. For Social Science scholars, from a variety of disciplines, the “urban question” asks how space and the urban or city are related (The City Reader, 2009). The perspective that guides the ecological and the social spatial-dialect schools of thought asks the “urban question” in separate distinct terminology. Respected scholars from the ecological mode of thinking, like Burgess, Wirth and others view society and space from the rationale that geographical scope determines society (The City Reader, 2009). The “urban question” that results from the ecological paradigm sees the relationship between the city (space) as influencing the behaviors of individuals or society in the city. On the other hand...
Architects design spaces that are meant to be inhabited, places that are meant to be interacted with. Humans need shelter from the elements, protection from nature’s worst privations and a place to feel secure. But why is it that structures built from inanimate parts can stir within us such strong emotional responses? Responses that can vary from a sense of home to one of dread and foreboding!
In the essay, “A Literature of Place” by Barry Lopez, he explores the topic of forming a bond with nature. He claims that the human imagination is shaped by the architecture it encounters at a young age. When Lopez was growing up in the California Valley, he claimed that his imagination was shaped by the beauty of the “exotic waters” to the “eucalyptus trees”. As Lopez wrote this essay, he described how nature gives humans lively stories which help keep each other's imagination alive, not only does Lopez believe nature is important to the imagination but also to the brain's intelligence and our health, which is why western people have become so anxious about the lands fate in hopes that it stays urban so that
12). The common elements associated with psychogeography are: walking, marginalized urban spaces and experiences, re-enchantment of the city escape, spatial history and ‘the past’, trauma, and socio-cultural critique. In this essay, my main objective is to critically analyse, from a psycho-geographical point of view, a short film ‘Across the Marshes: Plumstead to Cross Ness’ (Nick Papadimitriou and John Rogers, 2011), and ‘Brisbane’ (Matthew Condon, 2010), an extract from UNSW Press: Sydney. I will be using some of the above common elements to make my comparative study and analysis between the works of Papadimitriou/Rogers (short film) and Condon
Renzo respects that is it important to not become self referential with design. Therefore, to truly understand the reality of a city, Renzo will never accept a new job without visiting the space first. This is to find the fundamental emotions, which he states is the true source of inspiration (Archinect, 2006). Furthermore, Renzo and his team will make hundreds of models after research to test their theories. “Versions enable us to understand how the pieces will work with each other”, Renzo once said (BMIAA, 2015).
This paper is an analysis of the life and work of two Urban Designers-Patrick Geddes and Tony Garnier- two theorists, whose work was aimed at the improvement on the quality of life of their peers, as well as the society as a whole. The aim of this research is to compare and contrast their writings and projects in an effort to ascertain which one’s theory, if any, is more relevant to an architectural discussion concerning urban design on the 20th century.
Modern Old Town is architecturally composed of a large variety of styles, resulting from the many rulers and trends that the historic town has seen (Old Town). Old Town’s Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo buildings, the oldest in all of Prague, now attract a massive amount of tourists from all over the world (Old Town). The sites and attractions can mostly be characterized as either religious or cultural in nature (Old Town). Much of the cultural attractions are found within Old Town Square, perhaps most notably the Astronomical Clock (F.F. 2017). Old Town is arterially connected to Lesser Town via three bridges, one being the historic Charles Bridge, all crossing the Vltava River (Old Town). A high population density exists all throughout Old Town,
A city has to be beautiful, though the definition of “beauty” is so vague. The beauty can be physical, such as enjoyable parks, streetscapes, architectural facades, the sky fragment through freeways and trees; or it can be the beauty of livelihood, people, and history. As landscape architects, we are creating beautiful things or turning the unpleasant memorial.
In contemporary Western culture there is in an increasing withdrawal into the mechanisation and artificializing of spaces, which causes difficulty with experiencing the natural environment. “Architects and designers of inhabited spaces construct barriers to the external environment that are both physical and psychological.” (Hay, pg. 1) In this paper titled ‘Outside as Inside’ Hay discusses the question of alternative modes of design thinking and it’s potential to opening up the supposed boundaries of the built environment to what exists beyond it. To do this she examines what has led humans in Western cultures to develop such enclosed dwellings, considers the effects of technology on how humans live and interact with their environment, and explains the potential of learning from simpler vernacular dwellings of other cultures.
If there are more people, more, density, and a good mixture of uses, it will be a safer city... You cannot find a single city that does not wish to make the city center more vibrant or livelier.” This quote from Jan Gehl, the principal of Gehl Architects, illustrates the importance of having a sustainable city. The Central Park project has showcased to the world on how the landscape we design or occupy, can affect our daily activities and surrounding neighborhood. It sets an example of how design must be appreciated as a crucial factor in sustainability and emphasized on the fact the connection of people and nature should not be ignored. All in all, landscape architects are the ones to determine the physical characteristics of the public realm environment, to decide whether a city is attractive to people and whether people will choose to live in the city in the long