ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN IN REAL DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT

ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN IN REAL ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN IN REAL DEVELOPMENT CONTEXTDEVELOPMENT CONTEXT

OverviewOverview Urban design is an Urban design is an institutionalized control institutionalized control of of

spatialspatial manifestations of manifestations of human activities human activities in a in a market economymarket economy

A town must A town must work properly work properly and be and be economically soundeconomically sound….but it should also be ….but it should also be pleasant to the observer pleasant to the observer (fusion of technical (fusion of technical to aesthetics)…to aesthetics)…function-economy-aestheticsfunction-economy-aesthetics

City building programs are statements of the City building programs are statements of the principal tools of urban designprincipal tools of urban design

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Is urban space an essential dimension of sustainable Is urban space an essential dimension of sustainable development?development?

……………….Sustainability is local.Sustainability is local...: it needs a place to ...: it needs a place to happen. happen.

……… ……….Although problems aggregate and become.Although problems aggregate and become

manifest on a global scale (e.g., ozone depletion, global manifest on a global scale (e.g., ozone depletion, global climate change), climate change), offenses to the environment are offenses to the environment are produced locally. produced locally.

PROPERLY DESIGNED & PROJECTED SPACE PROPERLY DESIGNED & PROJECTED SPACE IS A RESOURCEIS A RESOURCE

It is a It is a registerregister of development of development

It It facilitatesfacilitates access, proximity, mobility, security, flexibility, access, proximity, mobility, security, flexibility, appropriation, identity, etc…..through articulation of appropriation, identity, etc…..through articulation of morphological conditions morphological conditions

It acts as a It acts as a generator/localizergenerator/localizer of economy of economy

It works as an It works as an integrating deviceintegrating device [between conflicting interests, [between conflicting interests, specialized sectors, etc.]specialized sectors, etc.]

becomes a becomes a generator of an urban culture & citizenshipgenerator of an urban culture & citizenship, aiming , aiming at diversity, inclusion, tolerance, responsibility, involvement, at diversity, inclusion, tolerance, responsibility, involvement, etc.etc.

Space is almost a non-renewable resourceSpace is almost a non-renewable resource…not recognizing it …not recognizing it as a resource results in a waste of opportunityas a resource results in a waste of opportunity

Inappropriate planning/design is a burden to developmentInappropriate planning/design is a burden to development..

URBAN SPACE & URBAN SPACE & POVERTY REDUCTIONPOVERTY REDUCTION

Space is able to generate economic Space is able to generate economic opportunities:opportunities:

………….[at all scale levels, including the localizing of global economies, the .[at all scale levels, including the localizing of global economies, the provision of informal economies, etc.]provision of informal economies, etc.]

urban agriculture: livelihood provision, green lung & edge to urban expansion

URBAN SPACE & URBAN SPACE & POVERTY REDUCTION (cont’d)POVERTY REDUCTION (cont’d)

synergies of activities:mobility & informal economic activites

URBAN SPACE & URBAN SPACE & POVERTY REDUCTION (cont’d)POVERTY REDUCTION (cont’d)

Design increases quality of life:Design increases quality of life:… … [by providing qualitative space as collective wealth][by providing qualitative space as collective wealth]

Design provides multiple life Design provides multiple life improvements:improvements: …………..[security, access to facilities, infrastructure, etc.]..[security, access to facilities, infrastructure, etc.]

Design proposes means for the spatial Design proposes means for the spatial redistribution of wealth:redistribution of wealth:

… …. [cross-subsidy, land sharing, density management, etc.]. [cross-subsidy, land sharing, density management, etc.]

Land sharing: co-presence of classes, equal accessibility to infrastrcuture & services.......Aranya Community Housing, Indore, India [B. V. Doshi, 1982, masterplan]

URBAN SPACE & SUSTAINABILITYURBAN SPACE & SUSTAINABILITY

●● Rational use of landRational use of land1. natural resources1. natural resources2. historical resources [patrimony] 2. historical resources [patrimony] 3. material resources [material, knowledge, skills & technology]3. material resources [material, knowledge, skills & technology]4. social & cultural resources [including interests and 4. social & cultural resources [including interests and involvement of civil organizations, community, individuals]involvement of civil organizations, community, individuals]

●● Development of sustainable design technologiesDevelopment of sustainable design technologies[energy balances, ecological footprints, material life-cycles, etc. ][energy balances, ecological footprints, material life-cycles, etc. ]

●● Integrates aspects of social, economical, Integrates aspects of social, economical, ecologicalecological

●● Expands Brundtland definitionExpands Brundtland definitionpreservation of existing resources + structure growth & preservation of existing resources + structure growth & investmentinvestment

Confrontation between national park and modern city(Nakuru, Kenya)

Missing synergetic relations between two........

Problem turned into opportunity to stucture Problem turned into opportunity to stucture entire cityentire city

...........accentuating natural assets, protecting fragile ecologies & green links (Nakuru kenya)

Urban Park: Urban Park: mediating between two potentially mediating between two potentially conflicting urban land uses (Nakuru, Kenya)conflicting urban land uses (Nakuru, Kenya)

Thus, Thus, sustainability not only aims to protect the sustainability not only aims to protect the

rights of the next generation, but also rights of the next generation, but also requires investment for the next requires investment for the next generation [creating future patrimony]generation [creating future patrimony]

An urban design definition of An urban design definition of sustainability sustainability may suggest:: may suggest::

A dense, compact city A dense, compact city with a dynamic balance with a dynamic balance between community and privacy. between community and privacy.

A community of richness A community of richness in architectural form, public in architectural form, public space, and individual and collective opportunitiesspace, and individual and collective opportunities

A city with a strong sense of itself A city with a strong sense of itself as a place, a clear as a place, a clear and defined form, and a common destiny and defined form, and a common destiny (identity)(identity)

A human-scaled environment, A human-scaled environment, not one that is over-not one that is over-scaled and sized to primarily accommodate vehicles, scaled and sized to primarily accommodate vehicles, industries, and faceless institutionsindustries, and faceless institutions

A city with appropriate spaces A city with appropriate spaces for modern processes for modern processes (metabolic and economic)(metabolic and economic)

Basic Design Principles in DevelopmentBasic Design Principles in Development

Strengthening Strengthening existing spatial existing spatial structure structure

• • Dynamic, coherent, Dynamic, coherent, and integrating and integrating frameworkframework

• • Addressing threats Addressing threats & creating & creating new new opportunitiesopportunities

Basic Development ConceptsBasic Development Concepts

• • Qualifying urban spaceQualifying urban space

• ‘• ‘Localizing’ urban developmentLocalizing’ urban development • • Broadening of ‘sustainability’ definitionBroadening of ‘sustainability’ definition

• • Visions / actions / projectsVisions / actions / projects

• • Co-productive processesCo-productive processes

• • Governance triangle (Public, civil society, & Governance triangle (Public, civil society, & private sector)private sector)

• • Innovation based on practiceInnovation based on practice

Development StrategiesDevelopment Strategies

• • Make apparent urban visionsMake apparent urban visions

• • Unite and canalize different contested urban Unite and canalize different contested urban forcesforces

• • Consider structural impact and leverage effectConsider structural impact and leverage effect

• • Build capacity to link, mediate, and organize Build capacity to link, mediate, and organize multiple multiple

actions and actorsactions and actors

• • Emphasize feasibility, visibility, and Emphasize feasibility, visibility, and innovationinnovation

Thematic AreasThematic Areas1.1. Urban Design and SafetyUrban Design and Safety • • design / policy & disaster preventiondesign / policy & disaster prevention • • emergency measures with long-term visionemergency measures with long-term vision • • condition of destruction creates new opportunitiescondition of destruction creates new opportunities • • threat managementthreat management

2.2. Urban Design and Poverty AlleviationUrban Design and Poverty Alleviation

• • generation of economic opportunitiesgeneration of economic opportunities

• • qualitative space as collective wealthqualitative space as collective wealth

• • multiple day life improvements [security, access…]multiple day life improvements [security, access…]

• • rational / economic use of scarce resourcesrational / economic use of scarce resources

• • means for the spatial redistribution of wealthmeans for the spatial redistribution of wealth

Thematic Areas (Cont’d)Thematic Areas (Cont’d)

3. Urban Design and Sustainability3. Urban Design and Sustainability

• • facilitate appropriate use of available resourcesfacilitate appropriate use of available resources

• • integrate multiple time framesintegrate multiple time frames

• • develop technologies of sustainable designdevelop technologies of sustainable design

• • integrate social, economical, ecological integrate social, economical, ecological sustainabilitysustainability

Spatial Issues & ChallengesSpatial Issues & Challenges1. New Urban Frontiers1. New Urban Frontiers • • the ‘the ‘rurban’ fringe rurban’ fringe (residence/agriculture mix)(residence/agriculture mix)

• • the the unarticulated appendage unarticulated appendage (undifferentiated (undifferentiated sprawl)sprawl)

• • the ‘the ‘garden-city’ simulacrum garden-city’ simulacrum (the gated satellite)(the gated satellite)

• • Domain ‘jua kali’Domain ‘jua kali’ (Areas facing informal sector (Areas facing informal sector infestation)infestation)

• • The The indomitable slum indomitable slum (shanties & squatter (shanties & squatter settlements)settlements)

The ‘rurban’ fringeThe ‘rurban’ fringe

(Town/agriculture mix)

The unarticulated appendageThe unarticulated appendage (undifferentiated sprawl)(undifferentiated sprawl)

Unarticulated appendage:Bujumbura [Burundi]; village expansion [Ethiopia]

The ‘garden-city’ simulacrum (the The ‘garden-city’ simulacrum (the gated satellite)gated satellite)

The Domain ‘jua kali’The Domain ‘jua kali’

Areas facing informal sector infestationToi Market, Kibera, Nairobi

The indomitable slumThe indomitable slum

shanties & squatter settlementsMukuru Village, Embakasi, Nairobi

Spatial Issues & Challenges (cont’d)Spatial Issues & Challenges (cont’d)

2. 2. Transformation/Requalification of Transformation/Requalification of Existing Fabrics: Existing Fabrics:

• • Destruction of historic neighbourhoods Destruction of historic neighbourhoods • • Inner-city densification & gentrification Inner-city densification & gentrification • • Peripheral suburbanization Peripheral suburbanization • • Urban renewal (slum up-grading, Urban renewal (slum up-grading,

regularization, etc.)regularization, etc.) • • Informalization of inner-city areasInformalization of inner-city areas

Destruction of historic Destruction of historic neighbourhoodsneighbourhoods

Historic patrimoniumTraditional street [Zanzibar]; Gebel Barkal pyramids [Sudan];

Lamu [Kenya]

Informalization of city centreInformalization of city centre

street markets: Kilifi and Eastleigh[Kenya];

Slum upgrading / Exclusive suburbsSlum upgrading / Exclusive suburbs

Suburb Kigali [Rwanda]

Renewal [Nairobi, Kenya]

Inner City densification and Urban Inner City densification and Urban RenewalRenewal


3. Emerging Ecologies 3. Emerging Ecologies •• Urban agricultureUrban agriculture •• The urban nature reserveThe urban nature reserve •• Areas prone to natural disasters Areas prone to natural disasters

(drought, flood, earthquake, etc)(drought, flood, earthquake, etc)

Urban AgricultureUrban Agriculture

Kampala [Uganda]; Brick factory [Burundi]

Kampala [Uganda];

Brick factory [Burundi]

Nature ReserveNature Reserve

Highands [Rwanda]; Ngorongo Crater [Tanzania]

Areas Prone to Natural DisastersAreas Prone to Natural Disasters

Flood [Sudan]; Hafun Tsunami damage [Somalia]


4. Infrastructure Development:4. Infrastructure Development:

• • Dilapidated road network & traffic Dilapidated road network & traffic congestioncongestion

• • Disused infrastructure & underutilized Disused infrastructure & underutilized lands (railway sidings, port, speculative lands (railway sidings, port, speculative realty, etc)realty, etc)

• • Inadequate infrastructural services Inadequate infrastructural services • • Poor waste disposal & pollution Poor waste disposal & pollution

Dilapidated Road NetworkDilapidated Road Network

Nairobi [Kenya];

Mwanza [Tanzania];

Kinshasa [RD Congo]

Capacity of existing infrastructuresCapacity of existing infrastructures

Mombasa, Kenya Kinshasa, Congo

Poor waste disposalPoor waste disposal

Uncollected garbage (Nairobi,Kenya; Floating waste, Somali coast

Changing Development ContextChanging Development Context1.1. CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICSCHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS•• Increased urbanization & urban growth ratesIncreased urbanization & urban growth rates•• Impact of HIV/AIDS (depopulation, health care facilities access, etc)Impact of HIV/AIDS (depopulation, health care facilities access, etc)

22.. GLOBALIZATION & ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATIONGLOBALIZATION & ECONOMIC LIBERALIZATION•• Structural adjustment programs & Unintended consequences (economic Structural adjustment programs & Unintended consequences (economic

decline & poverty)decline & poverty)•• Implosion of formal economic sector & explosion of informal sectorsImplosion of formal economic sector & explosion of informal sectors•• Public/Private, Global/Local Partnerships & International InvestmentsPublic/Private, Global/Local Partnerships & International Investments

3. POLITICAL DEMOCRATIZATION & ADMINISTRATIVE 3. POLITICAL DEMOCRATIZATION & ADMINISTRATIVE DECENTRALIZATIONDECENTRALIZATION

•• Devolution & re-designation of governance systemsDevolution & re-designation of governance systems•• Growing influence of community & non-governmental organizations Growing influence of community & non-governmental organizations •• Grater participation of civil society in governance processesGrater participation of civil society in governance processes

4. CIVIL WAR & INTENSIFICATION OF INTERNAL CONFLICT4. CIVIL WAR & INTENSIFICATION OF INTERNAL CONFLICT•• Politically instigated spatial displacement; proliferation of refuge camps; make-Politically instigated spatial displacement; proliferation of refuge camps; make-

shift settlementsshift settlements•• Collapse of urban systems Collapse of urban systems •• Degradation of urban environmentsDegradation of urban environments

Varying Roles at Different LevelsVarying Roles at Different Levels

1.1. National & Regional ScaleNational & Regional Scale- Regional design:Regional design: determination of significant and determination of significant and

integral physical sections and delineating these integral physical sections and delineating these according to their characteristic topography, climate, according to their characteristic topography, climate, and cultureand culture

- Recreational Area Design:Recreational Area Design: areas of natural terrain areas of natural terrain should be withtin one hour travel time from the should be withtin one hour travel time from the central citycentral city

- Developing regions:Developing regions: to encourage flow of to encourage flow of investment capital, maintain development interest, investment capital, maintain development interest, and create livable placesand create livable places

- Wilderness areas and old preserves:Wilderness areas and old preserves: safeguard safeguard the value of those that have acquired a character the value of those that have acquired a character that we can look back with pride and admirationthat we can look back with pride and admiration

2. 2. Metropolitan ScaleMetropolitan Scale- Metropolitan structure: Metropolitan structure: Plans for entire metropolises Plans for entire metropolises

addressing among others land use and transportaddressing among others land use and transport- Metropolitan form and pattern: Metropolitan form and pattern: careful design of form and careful design of form and

pattern to address land use, transport, topography, proximity pattern to address land use, transport, topography, proximity to open and green spaces e.t.cto open and green spaces e.t.c

- Metropolitan open space system:Metropolitan open space system: open space plan to open space plan to complement built up areas and also address open space complement built up areas and also address open space reservesreserves

- Metropolitan Transportation:Metropolitan Transportation: to increase mobility, while to increase mobility, while respecting urban tissue and equity in network distribution and respecting urban tissue and equity in network distribution and constructionconstruction

- Approach to the city: Approach to the city: The first sight of should leave a lasting The first sight of should leave a lasting impression…need for clarity amid increasing complexityimpression…need for clarity amid increasing complexity

- Metropolitan views and vistas:Metropolitan views and vistas: strong strong visual links to embrace the entire city or parts visual links to embrace the entire city or parts of it; these need formal recognition and of it; these need formal recognition and protection so as to enhance city imageprotection so as to enhance city image

- Metropolitan skyline/ Townscape:Metropolitan skyline/ Townscape: Townscape refers to the (3-dimensional) compositional character of Townscape refers to the (3-dimensional) compositional character of sequences of urban spaces and buildings.sequences of urban spaces and buildings.

- To specify sites of special vertical heights as To specify sites of special vertical heights as well as the special low sites such as those well as the special low sites such as those along aviation linesalong aviation lines

3. City-wide Scale:3. City-wide Scale: System of open spaces: System of open spaces: design open spaces based ondesign open spaces based on an an

intricate classification of size and type to reflect urban vitalityintricate classification of size and type to reflect urban vitality

Pedestrian circulationPedestrian circulation:: a design that interweaves pedestrian a design that interweaves pedestrian

movement to the entire city, connecting to major activity areas movement to the entire city, connecting to major activity areas and generatorsand generators..

Municipal trees: Municipal trees: Planting design that beautify and humanize Planting design that beautify and humanize public environments, e.g streets public environments, e.g streets

Electric lighting: Electric lighting: designs for city illumination that will clarify designs for city illumination that will clarify different areas according to distinct type of lightingdifferent areas according to distinct type of lighting

- Street Furniture:Street Furniture: Design of street level objects that will Design of street level objects that will enhance pedestrian convenience: benches, advertising enhance pedestrian convenience: benches, advertising kiosks, pavillions, bus and cab shelters e.t.ckiosks, pavillions, bus and cab shelters e.t.c

- Street Hardware:Street Hardware: design of objects pertaining to utility and design of objects pertaining to utility and mechanical systems e.gutility posts, parking meters, traffic mechanical systems e.gutility posts, parking meters, traffic signals, bill boards e.t.csignals, bill boards e.t.c

- Civic Design: Civic Design: careful outdoor design for sculpture, careful outdoor design for sculpture, murals, pavements,fountains e.t.cmurals, pavements,fountains e.t.c

- Landscape Design:Landscape Design: artificial sculpturing of urban artificial sculpturing of urban landscape to enhance views, complement landform, landscape to enhance views, complement landform, and correct visual errors.and correct visual errors.

4. Comprehensive Area/District Design4. Comprehensive Area/District Design ……designing parts of the citydesigning parts of the city

- The Downton/CBD:The Downton/CBD: designing of downtowns to ensure designing of downtowns to ensure ease of access, diversity, and attractiveness; development of ease of access, diversity, and attractiveness; development of residence to keep them alive.residence to keep them alive.

- Renewal of old neighbourhoods:Renewal of old neighbourhoods: designs to restore designs to restore the soundness of old neighbourhoods and correct the effects the soundness of old neighbourhoods and correct the effects of blight while introducing stabilising elements.of blight while introducing stabilising elements.

- Historic preservation: Historic preservation: designs to restore and remodel designs to restore and remodel historic areas of the city to enhance their relevance and historic areas of the city to enhance their relevance and command regarding the contemporarycommand regarding the contemporary

- Suburban centres:Suburban centres: Designs for outlying centres that will Designs for outlying centres that will address issues of circulation for both pedestrians and motor address issues of circulation for both pedestrians and motor traffic, parking, landscaping, clustering of shops, location of traffic, parking, landscaping, clustering of shops, location of recreation areas e.t.crecreation areas e.t.c

- New Suburbs and New Towns:New Suburbs and New Towns: Designing new Designing new communities as guided by the need for open space reserves, communities as guided by the need for open space reserves, major utility services, zoning requirements e.t.cmajor utility services, zoning requirements e.t.c

5. Site Level5. Site Level preparation of site plans considering human preparation of site plans considering human

needs/function and the environment.needs/function and the environment. determination of detailed layout of an area in determination of detailed layout of an area in

relation to natural environment and human relation to natural environment and human requirements:requirements: What should happen on a given area of land? What should happen on a given area of land? Where it should happen?Where it should happen? An evaluation of the vast range of environmental, An evaluation of the vast range of environmental,

social, and economical factors with a bearing on social, and economical factors with a bearing on decision making.decision making.

6. Object level: 6. Object level:

- - design of individual objects as projects to design of individual objects as projects to complement wider urban objectivescomplement wider urban objectives

- Calls for specialised professionals with good - Calls for specialised professionals with good appreciation of urban design e.g architects appreciation of urban design e.g architects and engineers who design buildings and and engineers who design buildings and bridges meant to transform urban character.bridges meant to transform urban character.

Examples:Examples: Bridges, buildings, sculpture, Bridges, buildings, sculpture, monuments, fountains e.t.cmonuments, fountains e.t.c

Documents

ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN IN REAL DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT