AR 451

FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN
DESIGN & COMMUNITY
ARCHITECTURE
MODULE 1
Prepared by: Ar. Jasline A. Reyes, uap
MODULE 01 01

1.1 UNDERSTANDING AND DEFINING URBAN DESIGN

THE "AMBIGUITIES" OF URBAN DESIGN
KEY TOPICS

THE FRAMEWORK OF ITS APPLICATION

DISTINGUISHING FACTORS RELATIVE TO ARCHITECTURE
AND URBAN PLANNING
TRADITIONS OF THOUGHTS
THE VISUAL-ARTISTIC TRADITION
THE SOCIAL-USAGE TRADITION
THE MAKING-PLACES TRADITION
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN URBAN DESIGN
by: Ar. Jas Reyes
Intended Learning Outcome
At the end of the module, the student should be able to:
1. Discuss the idea behind urban design; its contexts and basic principles;
2. Recognize the areas of its application and clarify its ambiguities;
3. Differentiate its characteristics from other similar and related fields of
study;
4. Identify and distinguish the different "traditions of thoughts" as part of the
historical evolution in urban design;
5. Examine some basic urban principles and considerations.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

TRADITIONS OF
THOUGHT IN URBAN
DESIGN
Historically, there are three (3) traditions of thought in urban design.
Following are brief descriptions of these traditions and the personalities
that are recognized to advocate the traditions:

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE VISUAL-
1 ARTISTIC
TRADITION
More ‘architectural’ and narrower
understanding of urban design
Predominantly ‘product-oriented’, focused
on the visual qualities and aesthetic
experience of urban spaces rather than
on the cultural, social, economic, political
and spatial factors and processes
contributing to successful urban places.
Largely failed to acknowledge public
perceptions of townscapes and places.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE SOCIAL-
2 USAGE
TRADITION
Emphasized the way in which people use and
colonize space
Encompass issues of perception and sense of
place which is the element lacking in the
previous tradition.
Kevin Lynch's on his treatise the "Image of the
City" attempted to shift the focus of urban
design in two (2) ways:
In terms of appreciation of the urban
environment
In terms of the object of the study

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE SOCIAL-
2 USAGE
TRADITION
Jane Jacobs is also a key proponent and
advocate of this tradition. In her book: "The
death and life of Great American Cities", she
argues that the city could never be a work of
art because art was made by 'selection from
life', while a city was life at its most vital,
complex and intense. Concentrating on the
socio-functional aspects of the streets,
sidewalks, and parks, Jacob's emphasized
their role as container of human activity and
places of social interaction.
Jane Jacobs
by: Ar. Jas Reyes
MODULE 01
THE MAKING-
3 PLACES
TRADITION
From the synthesis of earlier traditions, urban
design is simultaneously concerned with the
design of urban space as an aesthetic entity
and as a behavioral setting.
It focuses on the diversity and activity which
help to create successful urban places, and in
particular, on how well the physical milieu
supports the functions and activities taking
place there.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE MAKING-
3 PLACES
TRADITION
With this concept comes the notion of
urban design as the design and
management of the 'public realm'.
Public realm is defined as the public face
of the buildings, the spaces between
frontages, the activities taking place in
and in between these spaces, and the
managing of these activities, all of which
are affected by the uses of the buildings
themselves.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE MAKING-
3 PLACES
TRADITION
Urban design involves place-making - the creation of a setting that imparts
a sense of place to an area. This process is achieved by establishing:

identifiable neighborhoods
unique architecture
aesthetically pleasing public places and vistas
identifiable landmarks and focal points
human element established by compatible scales of development and
ongoing public stewardship.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE MAKING-
3 PLACES
TRADITION
Key elements of place-making include:

lively commercial centers

mixed-use development with ground-
floor retail uses
human-scale and context-sensitive
design; safe and attractive public
areas
image-making
decorative elements in the public
realm

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
THE MAKING-
3 PLACES
TRADITION
Seven (7) objectives of Urban Design relating to 'Concept of Place'
Character – a place with its own identity
Continuity & Enclosure – a place where public & private spaces are
clearly distinguished
Quality of the Public Realm – a place with attractive & successful outdoor
areas
Ease of Movement – a place that is easy to get to and move through
Legibility – a place that has a clear image and is easy to understand
Adaptability – a place that can change easily
Diversity – a place with variety and choice

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

CONSIDERATIONS IN
URBAN DESIGN
by: Ar. Jas Reyes
MODULE 01
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
URBAN DESIGN
Urban Structure – how a place is put together
and how its part relate to its other.
Urban typology, density and sustainability -
spatial types and morphologies related to
intensity of use, consumption of resources and
production and maintenance of viable
communities.
Accessibility– providing for ease, safety and
choice when moving to and through places
Legibility and way finding - helping people to
find their way around and understand how a
place works.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
URBAN DESIGN
Animation– designing places to
stimulate public activity
Function & Fit- shaping places to
support their varied intended use
Complementary Mixed Uses–
locating activities to allow
constructive interaction between
them
Character and Meaning -
recognizing & valuing the
differences between one place
and another

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS IN
URBAN DESIGN
Order & Incident – balancing
consistency and variety in the
urban environment in the interests
of appreciating both
Continuity and Change - locating
people in time and place,
including respect for heritage and
support of contemporary culture

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
CONTEMPORARY DEFINITION OF UD IN PLACE-MAKING
Urban design involves place-making - the creation of a setting that
imparts a sense of place to an area.
This process is achieved by
establishing identifiable neighborhoods,
unique architecture, aesthetically
pleasing public places and vistas,
identifiable landmarks and focal points,
and a human element established by compatible scales of development
and ongoing public stewardship.
Key elements of place-making include: lively commercial centers, mixed-
use development with ground-floor retail uses, human-scale and context-
sensitive design; safe and attractive elements, public areas; image-
making; in the and decorative realm.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
SYNTHESIS
LEWIS MUMFORD,
THE CULTURE OF CITIES
(1938)
“Mind takes form in the city; and in turn, urban forms condition mind. For
space, no less than time, is artfully reorganized in cities: in boundary lines and
silhouettes, in the fixing of horizontal planes and vertical peaks, in utilizing or
denying the natural site, the city records the attitude of a culture and an
epoch to the fundamental facts of its existence. The dome and the spire, the
open avenue and the closed court, tell the story not merely of the different
physical accommodations, but of essentially different conceptions of man’s
destiny…With language itself, it remains man’s greatest work of art.”

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

M. Carmona, T. Heath, T. Oc, S. Tiesdell (2003). Public Places, Urban
Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Architectural Press, Oxford
Levy, John M (2009), Contemporary Urban Planning, 8th Edition,
Prentice Hall, Pearson Educational Institute, Upper Saddle River, NJ,
USA
Various internet sources: http://www.urbandesign.org/
M. Roberts, C. Greed (2001). Approaching Urban Design: The Design
Process. Pearson Education Ltd., England.

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01
IN PREP FOR MODULE 2
ASSESSMENT 2.1.
RESPONSE TO VIEWING ACTIVITY (TED TALKS: AMANDA
BURDEN: HOW PUBLIC SPACES MAKE CITIES WORK)
DEADLINE: DEC. 3, 2021
Watch Amanda Burden's TED talk presentation in Module 2.3 and discuss in detail (explain,
justify, give examples from personal knowledge) your answer to the following questions she
posed during her presentation:
1. What makes a public space work?
2. What attracts people to successful public spaces?
3. What is it about unsuccessful (public) spaces that keeps people away?

Assignment guidelines:
Write your answers in letter size paper and format document appropriately using Arial, 12
point, with 1.5 line spacing.
Save your documents in pdf format before uploading.
Amanda Burden: How public spaces make cities work

by: Ar. Jas Reyes

MODULE 01

ALSO....
GET READY FOR A
SHORT QUIZ NEXT
MEETING.
COVERAGE: MODULE 1
by: Ar. Jas Reyes
MODULE 01

END OF MODULE 1

by: Ar. Jas Reyes