MULTIPLE NUCLEI THEORY

INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
 This Multiple Nuclei model was given by C D
Harris and Edward L.Ullman in the year 1945.
 It is an economic model and written in the
article named “ The Nature of Cities “.
 This model is based on the structure and the
layout of Chicago.
 This model wanted to better describe the
economic functions and subsequent land use.
 BASIC CONCEPT
 Harris and Ullman argued that a city might start with
a single central business district (CBD) but over the
time the activities scatter and gets modified.
 This is because if the main city becomes too large
and congested some functions may disperse to form
new nuclei.
 These scattered activities attract people from the
surrounding areas and acts as smaller nuclei in itself.
 BASIC CONCEPT
 Each nuclei acts as a growth center from a
particular kind of land use, such as industry,
retail, finance, wholesaling, education or high
quality housing.
 These small nuclei gain importance and grow
in size and starts influencing the growth of
activities around them.
 Thus, forming multiple nuclei within the city.
LAYOUT
 FEATURES
 Central Business District (CBD) – It is the
economic centre of the urban place.
 Wholesale and light manufacturing – This is the
place for wholesale business and light metal
manufactures.
 Low class residential area – It is located closely to
the manufacturing unit. Daily wage labourers
working in the Light metal manufactures occupy
this place because it is close to their working place.
 FEATURES
 Medium class residential area – It is located close to the
CBD and outlying business district. People who go to
CBD and outlying business district for their work
occupies this area as it is close to their work place.
 High Class residential area – It is located on the
peripheral of the city and close to outlying business
district. It is occupied by people who does not want any
disturbance like Industrial noises, pollution etc near their
place. This place is deserted in the morning and occupied
only in the evening, as people leave for work in the
morning and return only in the evening.
 FEATURES
 Heavy manufacturing – This is located outside
the residential areas because it requires regular
transportation. It would be difficult for
transportation if it was located near the
residential areas.
 Outlying Business District – This is the portion
of an urban area that is normally separated
from CBD and fringe area but that supports
considerable business activity.
 FEATURES
 Residential Suburb – Residential areas located
outside the urban place and close to the
residential areas of urban centre.
 Industrial Suburb – Industrial areas located
outside the urban place and close to the
industrial areas of urban centre.
 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE
 Certain activities require specialized facilities
and concentrate where these facilities are
available. For eg: A manufacturing district
would not operate well if access to it required
large trucks to travel through residential areas.
 Certain activities group together because they
profit from cohesion. For eg: In retail districts,
shoppers can combine several shopping trips
into one.
 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE
 Certain activities are detrimental to each other. For
eg: Rail facilities, by interfering with automobile
traffic flow, would make movement by automobiles
through an industrial area difficult.
 Certain activities are unable to afford high rents of
the most desirable areas. For eg: Bulk wholesaling
and storage require a great deal of room, and could
not be located in exclusive retailing areas.
 ASSUMPTIONS
 It is difficult to find a flat land for big cities and the
terrain features affect the activities, development and
direction of growth of urban area.
 Resources are evenly distributed within the city.
 People are homogeneously and evenly distributed in
a particular area.
 Transportation cost is even in the city and not
affected by the location.
 A particular activity will locate itself where
maximum profit can be earned.
Austin – An Example
 CRITICISMS
 The height of the buildings are not mentioned.
 There is no proper divisions between zones.
 Each zone displays a significant degree of internal
heterogeneity and not homogeneity.
 Unawareness of the opposing forces.
 This theory may not be totally applicable to oriental
cities with different cultural, economic and political
backgrounds.
 There is no consideration of influence of physical
relief and government policy.
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