AR 412 INTEGRAL UNIVERSITY

URBAN DESIGN
ELECTIVE II

SUBMITTED BY SUBMITTED TO
Muskan Bundela Ar. Shriya Agarwal
[Link] 4th year/ VII sem
2100101175
 TABLE OF
CONTENT

1 2 3 4 5
A 500-word report on
the differences
between architectural 2-page report
Urban Design A 400-word report A3-sized
design, city planning, analyzing a case
Terminologies. with diagrams illustrated report
and urban design. study of urban
analyzing the analyzing the
design's impact on
Elements of Urban effects of urban urban design
Two urban architects, cityscapes.
Design growth. evolution of a
explaining their specific project.
philosophy and one Principles of Urban
project. Design.
ASSIGNMENT 1

Architectural design, city planning, and urban design are three critical fields in CITY
shaping the built environment. Though they are interconnected, each has a PLANNING
distinct focus, scope, and purpose.

City planning focuses on organizing land use

ARCHITECTURAL and development across a city or region.

DESIGN City planners' responsibilities include:

1. Developing long-term strategies for urban
Architectural design focuses on creating individual growth, infrastructure, transportation, and
buildings. land use.
Architects balance aesthetics, functionality, and 2. Creating zoning regulations.
client requirements. 3. Conducting environmental assessments.
4. Analyzing demographic trends to support
Responsibilities include: sustainable development.
1. Drafting architectural plans.
2. Selecting appropriate materials. City planners typically work at the policy
3. Ensuring the structural integrity of the design. level, guiding land utilization over time.
4. Overseeing the construction process.
They address community needs by planning
Architects work closely with clients to realize their for:
vision. 1. Housing.
Often, architects work on one building at a time. 2. Transportation networks.
3. Public facilities.
Key focus areas include: 4. Open spaces.
1. Spatial design.
2. Sustainability and energy efficiency. Their role involves:
3. Integration of the building into its surroundings. 1. Engaging in public consultations.
2. Gathering feedback from stakeholders.
Architects must comply with legal codes and 3. Collaborating with government bodies to
regulatory requirements. approve development proposals.
 URBAN DESIGN KEY DIFFERENCES
Urban design lies between architectural design and
city planning. SCOPE

Focuses on spatial organization and aesthetics of Architects focus on individual buildings, urban
urban areas. planners handle large-scale land use and
policy, while urban designers focus on public
Urban designers work on public spaces, spaces within the urban environment.
streetscapes, parks, and neighborhoods.

Ensures these spaces are functional, attractive, and

FOCUS
accessible to residents.

Addresses both macro (city-wide) and micro Architectural design is about functionality and
(individual spaces) elements. aesthetics at the building level, city planning
addresses community needs and land use,
Blends physical design of public areas with the and urban design concerns itself with the
broader framework of city planning. interplay between buildings and public
spaces.
Aims to foster social interaction within urban spaces.

Improves livability through thoughtful spatial design.

COLLAB
Considers environmental concerns, including green
infrastructure. Architects, city planners, and urban designers
often work together on projects. For instance,
Promotes sustainable mobility within urban areas. while an architect designs a building, an urban
designer ensures it fits well within the city’s
Enhances quality of life by considering how landscape, and a city planner ensures the
development aligns with broader community
individuals experience spaces.
goals.

ASSIGNMENT 1
REM KOOLHAAS KEVIN A. LYNCH
Kevin A. Lynch was a pioneering
Rem Koolhaas is a revolutionary Dutch architect, urban American urban planner and
planner, journalist, and urban essayist. author.
Won the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 2000.
Known for his work on mental
Known for challenging traditional architectural norms.
mapping and urban perception.
Notable projects include:
These concepts form the
Seattle Public Library. URBAN
foundation for understanding how
Euralille (an urban quarter in France). ARCHITECTS
Kunsthal exhibition space. people navigate and perceive
urban spaces.
PHILOSOPHY KEVIN A. LYNCH
Lynch emphasized place design
and placemaking.
Koolhaas thrives on change and His ideas remain highly relevant in
uncertainty, advocating for "new urbanism" PHILOSOPHY urban design today.
as the manipulation of infrastructure to
create intensified, diversified spaces. He Lynch focused on the human perception of cities,
encourages designers to challenge
advocating for designs that improve the visual aesthetics
conventions, master their craft, and
and sensory experiences of urban spaces. His mental
accept urban realities.

"
mapping process is widely used in urban design research to

"
help create legible, navigable environments.

NOTABLE WORK
NOTABLE WORK

Euralille, France: Developed in the early

1990s by Koolhaas, this urban masterplan
Boston’s Urban Design Study: This project laid the
transformed Lille into a European hub. groundwork for Lynch’s theory of urban perception, showing
Designed as a high-density, mixed-use how individuals form mental maps of their cities. It remains
area, it combines transport, retail, and a critical study for understanding how people interact with
offices, reflecting Koolhaas's vision of their built environments.
REM KOOLHAAS
flexible, complex urban spaces.
ASSIGNMENT 1
ACCESSIBILITY ASSIGNMENT 2

The ease with which locations can be reached. People of any age, skill, or financial level can
easily access a wide range of activities and destinations in an area. Travel costs, route safety,
and topography gradient may also be taken into consideration.

ADAPTABILITY OR ADAPTIVE RE-USE T

The capacity of a building or space to respond to changing social, technological, economic E
and market conditions and accommodate new or changed uses such as changing a R
warehouse into gallery space or housing or any old historic building.
M
ARTERIAL ROAD I
An arterial road or arterial thoroughfare is a high-capacity urban road. The primary function of N
an arterial road is to deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways or expressways, and
between urban centres at the highest level of service possible.
A
L
BUILT FORM O
Built form refers to the function, shape and configuration of buildings as well as their G
relationship to streets and open spaces. Built form refers to the function, shape and Y
configuration of buildings as well as their relationship to streets and open spaces.

CUL-DE-SAC

A street with only one inlet/outlet connected to the wider street network. A closed cul-de-
sac provides no possible passage except through the single road entry. An open cul-de-sac
allows cyclists, pedestrians or other non- automotive traffic to pass through connecting
paths at the cul-de-sac head.
 ASSIGNMENT 2
ENCLOSURE

Enclosure refers to the extent to which buildings, walls, trees and other vertical items frame a
street and public space. Public spaces that are framed by vertical elements in relative
proportion to the width of the space between the elements have a room-like quality that is
comfortable for people.

T
ENCROACHMENT
E
R Or Urban Encroachment or Urban sprawl is defined as “the spreading of urban developments on
undeveloped land near a city”. Urban sprawl has been described as the unrestricted growth in
M many urban areas of housing, commercial development, and roads over large expanses of land,
with little concern for urban planning.
I
N FABRIC OR URBAN FABRIC

A The term ‘urban fabric’ describes the physical characteristics of urban areas, that is, cities, and
L towns. This includes the streetscapes, buildings, soft and hard landscaping, signage, lighting,
roads and other infrastructure. Urban fabric can be thought of as the physical texture of an
O urban area.

G
FAR (FLOOR AREA RATIO)
Y
A formula for determining permitted building volume as a multiple of the area of the lot; the FAR
is determined by dividing the gross floor area of buildings on a lot by the area of the lot.

GRID PLAN

In urban planning, the grid plan, grid street plan, or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which
streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid. The infrastructure cost for regular grid
patterns is generally higher than for patterns with discontinuous streets.
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN
BUILDINGS PUBLIC SPACES STREETS TRANSPORT LANDSCAPE

Buildings are the Great public spaces Streets are the Transport systems The landscape is the
most pronounced are the living room of connections between connect the parts of green part of the city
elements of urban the city - the place spaces and places, as cities and help shape that weaves
design - they shape where people come well as being spaces them, and enable throughout - in the
and articulate space together to enjoy the themselves. They are movement form of urban parks,
by forming the city and each other. defined by their throughout the city. street trees, plants,
streetwalls of the Public spaces make physical dimension They include road, rail, flowers, and water in
city. Well designed high quality life in the and character as well bicycle, and many forms.
buildings and groups city possible. Public as the size, scale, and pedestrian networks,
of buildings work spaces range from character of the and together form the
together to create a grand central plazas buildings that line total movement
sense of place. and squares, to small, them. Streets range system of a city.
local neighborhood from grand avenues
parks. such as the Champs-
Elysees in Paris to
ASSIGNMENT 2
small, intimate
pedestrian streets.
THE EFFECTS OF URBAN GROWTH IN SINGAPORE ASSIGNMENT 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL INNOVATION AND RESILIENCE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND
STATUS THROUGH SMART TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Singapore’s structured urban growth has Singapore’s urban planning incorporates Limited land led Singapore to embrace
established it as a global financial and smart technology in waste management, green infrastructure. Projects like
technological hub. Business districts like water conservation, and energy Gardens by the Bay and the Park
Marina Bay and Jurong Lake District are efficiency, enhancing resilience against Connector Network integrate green
strategically designed for global appeal, climate and resource challenges. This spaces within the city, enhancing
attracting foreign investment and focus on technological solutions biodiversity and providing residents with
diverse employment opportunities, supports sustainability and positions accessible recreational areas. Vertical
which strengthen the economy and raise Singapore as a leader in urban gardens and green rooftops contribute
living standards. innovation. to reducing the urban heat island effect.

IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE AND

SOCIAL COHESION
EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
AND CONNECTIVITY An extensive Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)
Public housing projects in Singapore network connects all parts of the city,
support inclusivity, offering affordable reducing reliance on cars and easing CHALLENGES OF URBAN
housing options in mixed-income areas. traffic congestion. Neighborhoods are GROWTH IN SINGAPORE
Integrated community spaces and planned around transit stations,
High Cost of Living
cultural hubs within neighborhoods promoting efficient land use and
Land and Space Limitations
foster social interactions, enriching urban reducing air pollution. Cycling paths and
Environmental and Heat-Related
life and enhancing residents’ sense of pedestrian-friendly zones further
Pressures
belonging. encourage sustainable commuting.
ASSIGNMENT 4
DESIGN FORMS AND THEIR
IMPACT ON CITYSCAPES
THE IMPACT OF URBAN
DESIGN ON CITYSCAPES - A In Copenhagen, streets are
designed as multifunctional
CASE STUDY OF
public spaces rather than
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK mere thoroughfares for
vehicles. Key features are
Urban design plays a crucial role in shaping cityscapes, influencing
Shared Spaces and Green
not only the aesthetic qualities of urban environments but also
Corridors
their functionality and livability. This report examines the urban
design practices in Copenhagen, focusing on the relationship
between design forms, streets, and open spaces. The city's
approach integrates pedestrian-friendly layouts, vibrant public
spaces, and sustainable design elements, resulting in a cohesive
urban experience.

COPENHAGEN'S URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Copenhagen is renowned for its progressive urban design strategies that prioritize
human-scale development and sustainability. The city's design principles include:

Pedestrian and Bicycle-Friendly Infrastructure: The integration of wide sidewalks, bike

lanes, and car-free zones promotes active transportation, reducing reliance on
automobiles.

Mixed-Use Development: Neighborhoods are designed to combine residential,

commercial, and recreational spaces, fostering a vibrant community atmosphere.

Quality Public Spaces: Copenhagen emphasizes the creation of accessible and inviting
public spaces, including parks, squares, and waterfront areas, encouraging social
interaction and community engagement.
ASSIGNMENT 4 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
DESIGN FORMS, STREETS, AND
THE IMPACT OF URBAN OPEN SPACES

DESIGN ON CITYSCAPES - A The interplay between design forms,

CASE STUDY OF streets, and open spaces in Copenhagen
demonstrates the importance of integrated
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
urban design. Key observations include:

Enhanced Livability: The prioritization of

pedestrian and cyclist accessibility leads
to increased foot traffic, promoting local
businesses and fostering a lively urban
atmosphere. This design approach
encourages residents to engage with their
OPEN SPACES AND COMMUNITY INTERACTION surroundings actively.

Copenhagen's open spaces, such as King's Garden and Social Cohesion: Well-designed streets and
Freetown Christiania, serve as vital community hubs. open spaces facilitate social interactions,
These spaces are characterized by: bridging divides between different
community groups. The emphasis on public
Flexible Design: Open spaces are designed to spaces encourages diverse activities, from
accommodate various activities, from casual gatherings cultural festivals to casual meetups,
to organized events. This flexibility fosters community enhancing social cohesion.
interaction and engagement, creating a sense of
belonging among residents. Environmental Benefits: Incorporating
greenery into streets and open spaces
Cultural Identity: Public spaces reflect the cultural identity improves air quality, mitigates urban heat,
of the city, often featuring art installations, historical and provides habitats for wildlife. This
monuments, and local markets that celebrate alignment with sustainability goals
Copenhagen's heritage. These elements contribute to the enhances the overall quality of life for
overall character of the cityscape. residents.
 FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY
HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN
Design spaces that can accommodate
Focus on creating spaces that prioritize the various uses and adapt to changing needs
needs, experiences, and well-being of people. over time.

CONNECTIVITY COHESION AND IDENTITY

Design an integrated network of streets, Foster a cohesive visual and functional

pathways, and transit options to enhance identity across neighborhoods to reflect the
mobility and accessibility. culture and heritage of the area.

MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATION OF NATURE

PRINCIPLES
Encourage the coexistence of
residential, commercial, and OF Incorporate natural elements,
such as parks and greenery, to
recreational spaces to URBAN enhance aesthetics and
promote vibrancy and promote well-being.
economic activity. DESIGN
ASSIGNMENT 4
SUSTAINABILITY CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Incorporate green infrastructure and sustainable Involve the community in the planning
practices to minimize environmental impacts process to ensure that designs reflect their
and promote ecological health. needs and desires.

PLACE-MAKING SAFETY AND SECURITY

Create meaningful and distinctive public spaces Create environments that feel safe and
that foster community identity and social secure, encouraging people to use public
interaction. spaces confidently.

SCALE AND PROPORTION TRANSPORTATION CHOICES

Ensure that buildings and spaces are designed Support a variety of transportation options
at a human scale, making environments feel to reduce congestion and promote healthier
comfortable and inviting. lifestyles.
 ASSIGNMENT 5

DESIGN FEATURES URBAN DESIGN EVOLUTION OF

Green Infrastructure: THE HIGH LINE
Features over 200 species of plants, IN NEW YORK CITY
including native and drought-resistant
varieties.
INTRODUCTION
Landscaped areas designed to emulate
a wild, natural environment, enhancing Project Name: The High Line
biodiversity.
Location: Manhattan, New York
City
Public Spaces:
COMMUNITY IMPACT Completion: Opened in phases
Includes various areas for seating, art between 2009 and 2014
installations (like The River by artist Economic Impact: Design Firms: James Corner
Jessica Stockholder), and performance Field Operations (landscape
spaces. Property Values: Property architecture), Diller Scofidio +
values near the High Line Renfro (architecture), and the
have increased by as much non-profit organization Friends
Access and Connectivity: as 30%. of the High Line.

Connects several neighborhoods, Business Growth: The area

including the Meatpacking District, has seen the opening of new HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Chelsea, and Hudson Yards. restaurants, shops, and
Integrates stairs and elevators for easy galleries, contributing to
access at multiple points. economic revitalization. Original Use: Built in the 1930s
as an elevated rail line to
transport goods to the
Cultural Activities: Hosts industrial district of Manhattan.
events like the Summer
Movie Series, public art Closure: The rail line ceased
installations, and guided operations in 1980 due to the
tours, engaging the decline of freight traffic and the
community. rise of trucking.

Visitor Statistics: Grassroots Movement: In

2003, community residents
and advocates formed Friends
Attracts over 8 million of the High Line to promote its
visitors annually. preservation.