Unit 3: ANATOMY OF AN URBAN AREA (CO1, CO4):

• Urban morphology & urban character. • Analyze the Urban morphology and
• Elements & aspects of Urban Design. urban character. (C4)
• Understanding Built & Unbuilt spaces- • Illustrate the urban infrastructure
Buildings, public spaces, streets, through mapping. (C2)
pedestrianisation & streetscape.
• Movement pattern, services, safety &
sensitive urban development –
defensible spaces.
 Urban Morphology Source : Public Places, Urban Spaces

"City design never begins with a virgin situation, never foresees a completed work. Properly
it thinks in terms of process, prototype, guidance, incentive and control and is able to
conceive broad, fluid sequences along with concrete, homely details." Therefore, to engage
in the process of city design (i.e. to intervene in an existing urban fabric of a city) it is crucial
to develop an understanding of the setting in question before formulating strategies for
urban design for the same.

Kevin Lynch- Good City form

Urban Morphology

Urban morphology is the study of change in the physical form

and shape of settlements over time – focuses on patterns and
processes of growth and change.

PicSource:
Urban Morphology
Characteristics:
• Studies the volumetric characteristics of built structures with their related
open spaces to define a built landscape type.
• Land as link between building scale and city scale.
• Building landscape type as a morphogenetic unit because it is defined by
time – the time of its production, use and mutation.
Urban Morphology Analysis

• Streets
Fundamental • Open spaces
physical
elements • Plots
• Buildings

Different levels
• Building / plot, district, city, territory
of resolutions

Historical • Continuity/discontinuity
analysis • Urban process, transformation
Morphological elements:
✓ Land uses ✓Plot pattern
✓ Building structures ✓Street pattern Source : Public Places, Urban Spaces

Land uses :
• Relatively temporary in nature
• Changes – new uses come in and existing move to other area

Image Source:
 Morphological elements
Building structures:
• symbolic representation of the city – churches, cathedrals, public
buildings last longer
• Greater investment – both financial and symbolic – in their design,
construction and ornamentation
• May become meaningful to residents, symbolically representing the
city
• Buildings enduring over time tend to accommodate different land
uses or different intensities of use during their lifetime.
 Morphological elements
Plot pattern:
• Urban blocks are subdivided into plots or lots
• Typical – frontage onto main street or circulation route
• Plot development – single ownership – plot subdivided and sold
• Amalgamation – for large site and construction
• In case of bigger structures such as mall, the entire urban block is
amalgamated and the street in between is privatized and built over.
Such developments remove evidence of earlier plots
• Buildings change more rapidly than plot patterns

Source : Public Places, Urban Spaces

 Morphological elements
Street Pattern
• Cadastral (street) pattern is the layout of urban blocks and public
space/movement channels between those blocks.
• Space between blocks – public network
• Patterns of streets and spaces have developed over years, changing
and evolving in the process.

Florence Rome
Regular and Deformed Grid
Regular or ideal grids
• Characterized by geometric regularity
• Planned
• Some degree of geometric discipline
• Ad hoc alterations lead to organic
development

Deformed or organic grids

• Characterized by apparent irregularity
• Cores of pre – industrial cities
• Incremental development
• Appearance of Naturally generated
layouts
• Usually based on pedestrian movement
• Strongly influenced by topography
Morphological transformations

Buildings defining space

• Traditional urban spaces are
characterized by a relatively dense
urban fabric – buildings adjacent to
one another and flush the street.
• Facades act as ‘walls’ of open space
– convey character and identity
• The façade contributes to larger Image source:
https://www.earthtrekkers.com/varanasi-indias-holiest-city/
systems of ‘street’ and ‘urban
block’
Buildings in Space
• Freestanding buildings
• The convenience of in internal
spaces principally determines the
external form.
Source : Public Places, Urban Spaces
 Morphological transformations
The Road Hierarchy
Increasing levels of car ownership and increased speed and size has
gradually led to a shift in the urban road transportation systems. The shift
has towards been separation through road hierarchical system.

1. Arteries
2. Cells 2-Grid erosion
3. Pod Developments
4. Residential Pods

1 -Arterial Roads

3 & 4 –Pod development

Urban Blocks
Reaction to the typical road hierarchy and pod developments led to
conscious design of space between buildings.
Conceived as a public space network, urban block structures open up
possibilities and – in conjunction with basic typologies/codes/rules about
physical parameters – can provide coherence and ‘good’ urban form.
It is important in determining movement pattern, setting parameters for
subsequent development and setting an area’s character.

Block sizes
Small
✓Single building/ entirely built over
with light well
✓ – vitality, permeability, visual
interest and legibility
Large
✓Perimeter blocks
✓Edge provides public frontage
✓Larger communal space, gardens,
car parks within the block
Conclusion
The physical structure is determined by the types of activity envisaged for
the space when it is designed.
Therefore, getting the shape and structure of the urban morphology right
in the first place is very crucial for the places created to be robust and
adaptable, and able to cope with both movement and activity.
Elements and aspects of Urban design
First life, then spaces, then buildings: the other way around never
works
Jan Gehl

Source:
CREATING PLACES FOR PEOPLE AN URBAN DESIGN PROTOCOL FOR
AUSTRALIAN CITIES
https://www.london.ca/business/Planning-Development/urban-
design/Documents/Illustrated-Urban-Design-Principles.pdf
https://urbandesign.org.au/content/uploads/2015/08/ud_macro-micro.png
URBAN STRUCTURE
The overall framework of a region, town or precinct, showing relationships between zones of
built forms, land forms, natural environments, activities and open spaces. It encompasses
broader systems including transport and infrastructure networks.
URBAN GRAIN
The balance of open space to built form, and the nature and extent of subdividing an area into
smaller parcels or blocks. For example a ‘fine urban grain’ might constitute a network of small or
detailed streetscapes. It takes into consideration the hierarchy of street types, the physical
linkages and movement between locations, and modes of transport.

Fine-grain street pattern Coarse-grain street pattern

https://www.essexdesignguide.co.uk/media/1598/010-010a.png
DENSITY + MIX
The intensity of development and the range of different uses (such as residential, commercial,
institutional or recreational uses).

Source: TPG Town Planning and Urban Design

HEIGHT + MASSING
The scale of buildings in relation to height and floor area, and how they relate to surrounding
land forms, buildings and streets. It also incorporates building envelope, site coverage and solar
orientation. Height and massing create the sense of openness or enclosure, and affect the amenity
of streets, spaces and other buildings.

https://www.mlaplus.com/portfolios/
STREETSCAPE + LANDSCAPE
The design of public spaces such as streets, open spaces and pathways, and includes
landscaping, microclimate, shading and planting.

PONDY BAZAAR PEDESTRIANIZATION AAP KI SADAK

CHENNAI MALVIYA NAGAR, NEW DELHI

http://oasisdesigns.org/streetscape.asp
 FACADE + INTERFACE
The relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring buildings (alignment, setbacks,
boundary treatment) and the architectural expression of their facades (projections, openings,
patterns and materials).

http://eastoneccentric.blogspot.com/2014/04/public-market-facade-changes-unveiled.html
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.greaterauckland.org.nz%2F2015%2F12%2F11%2Fcommercial-bay%2Flower-queen-street-public-space-
DETAILS + MATERIALS
The close-up appearance of objects and surfaces and the selection of materials in terms of detail,
craftsmanship, texture, colour, durability, sustainability and treatment. It includes street furniture,
paving, lighting and signage. It contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public
domain.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fen.atech-sas.com%2FCT-15-street-
furniture.aspx&psig=AOvVaw2P5JCCbSDU1deRWcVBoW3p&ust=1598293582644000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCODe9dz5sesCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F564638872027531871%2F&psig=AOvVaw3S3Ebl6nSM3XY0JCJc3tgC&ust=1598293799282000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0C
A0QjhxqFwoTCJi578b6sesCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAj
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fin.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F584271751637240251%2F&psig=AOvVaw3S3Ebl6nSM3XY0JCJc3tgC&ust=1598293799282000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0
PUBLIC REALM:Much of urban design is concerned with the design and management of
publicly used space (also referred to as the public realm or public domain) and the way this
is experienced and used.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttp%2Fconnectbonniedoon.com%2Fen%2Fportfolio%2Fpublic-
realm%2F&psig=AOvVaw1ZJaMQ2LSf2Zjj_2F8uAqu&ust=1598294228430000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCKD--4_8sesCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ
 TOPOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT
The natural environment includes the topography of landforms, water courses, flora and fauna—
whether natural or introduced. It may be in the form of rivers and creeks, lakes, bushland, parks
and recreational facilities, streetscapes or private gardens, and is often referred to as ‘green
infrastructure’.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fworldgreeninfrastructurenetwork.org%2Fpage.php%3Fid%3D17%26parent%3D8&psig=AOvVaw2LGRdfUehOL66mZSMMvGrn&ust=1598294348849000&sour
ce=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCOiY1Pj8sesCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAR
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fstormwater.wef.org%2F2015%2F12%2Freal-cost-green-
infrastructure%2F&psig=AOvVaw2LGRdfUehOL66mZSMMvGrn&ust=1598294348849000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCOiY1Pj8sesCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAK
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fround-lake.dustinice.workers.dev%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fchandigarhx.com%2Fchandigarh-is-greener-reveals-forest-survey-of-india-report%2F&psig=AOvVaw2-
SOCIAL + ECONOMIC FABRIC
The non-physical aspects of the urban form which include social factors (culture, participation,
health and well-being) as well as the productive capacity and economic prosperity of a
community. It incorporates aspects such as demographics and life stages, social interaction and
support networks.

https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/41-amazing-public-space-transformations-captured-by-google-street-view/slidelist/48765508.cms#slideid=48765521
SCALE:The size, bulk and perception of a buildings and spaces. Bulk refers to the height, width
and depth of a building in relation to other surrounding buildings, the street, setbacks and
surrounding open space. For example, a large building set amongst other smaller buildings may
seem ‘out of scale’.

https://www.london.ca/business/Planning-Development/urban-design/Documents/Illustrated-Urban-Design-Principles.pdf
URBAN FORM
The arrangement of a built up area. This arrangement is made up of many components including
how close buildings and uses are together; what uses are located where; and how much of the
natural environment is a part of the built up area.

https://www.london.ca/business/Planning-Development/urban-design/Documents/Illustrated-Urban-Design-Principles.pdf
CONCLUSION:

Urban design weaves together these elements into

A coherent, organized design structure

Thank you!!!