Urban Design Practice Research Articles

Space in Michel Foucault’s work and its intersection with Henry Lefebvre’s production of space

ABSTRACT Taking Henry Lefebvre’s The Production of Space (Translated by D. Nicholson-Smith, Malden: Blackwell Publishing, 1991) as its starting point, this paper examines Foucault’s seminal works, and Foucauldian scholars’ publications, to explore Foucault’s notion of space and its overlap with Lefebvre’s. The paper investigates the relation in Foucault’s work between knowledge, discourse, and spatial arrangements and discusses the Foucauldian space in relation to the exercise of power. It concluded that Foucault’s space encompasses features from Lefebvre’s lived, perceived, and conceived realms of space. But Foucault is mostly concerned with the experienced or lived space. Like Lefebvre’s, Foucault’s lived space hides the social relations embodied within it. Unlike Lefebvre, however, Foucault translates social relations into power relations in which power operates from the bottom up. This paper provides an original comparison between Foucault’s and Lefebvre’s understandings of space, filling a research gap. It encourages urban scholars to use the Foucauldian lens in future studies and consider applying a theoretical framework combining Foucault’s and Lefebvre’s conceptions of power in relation to space. Such studies can enhance knowledge about the built environment and further the understanding of Foucault’s space, expand on it, or contest it, especially in non-Western contexts. The paper emphasizes the practicality of the Foucauldian space and its implications to urban planning and design practices and provides practice-related recommendations.

Towards child-friendly and walkable cities: Children’s insights on neighbourhood design

ABSTRACT Current urban design practices often fail to recognise streets as social and inclusive spaces, restricting children’s freedom to walk, cycle, and enjoy public spaces. Cities are typically designed by adult urban planners with a car-centred focus, and they frequently overlook the health and wellbeing benefits of walkable neighbourhoods as well as children’s rights to use and participate in the planning of these public places. This paper draws on 19 map-based focus groups with 76 children (aged 9–10) from four different schools and neighbourhoods in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, to explore children’s views on their neighbourhood design. This in-depth qualitative study aims to identify built environment features that may encourage or discourage walking and cycling based on children’s experiences. Using rigorous qualitative GIS mapping and thematic analysis, the findings emphasise children’s need for safe active travel infrastructure and connected streets, well-maintained green spaces, and cohesive communities. This evidence provides new insights into the relationship between the physical environment and children’s experiences, making an original contribution to the field of child-friendly cities by offering practical recommendations to integrate children’s needs into the urban planning and design process, towards equitable cities that support active and healthy lifestyles for all.

How 2D and 3D Built Environment Impact Urban Vitality: Evidence from Overhead-Level to Eye-Level Urban Form Metrics

The built environment is the key to creating vibrant urban spaces that contribute to the health and sustainability of cities. Studies have demonstrated that a reasonable built environment helps to stimulate urban vitality. Nevertheless, there are limitations to the understanding that three-dimensional (3D) built environment indicators from the ‘human perspective’ can substantially affect urban vitality. This study provides an empirical analysis of Xi’an, a city with both traditional historical blocks and a modern city landscape. By applying the ordinary least square model and the geographically weighted regression model, this study explores the impacts of the two-dimensional (2D) and 3D built environments on urban vitality. Results show: (1) the urban vitality exhibits significant spatial and temporal difference characteristics; (2) the 3D built environment exerts a greater influence on urban vitality than 2D; (3) taking weekdays for instance, the indicators of green space and road space (e.g., normalized difference vegetation index (−0.092), green view index (−0.104), road density (−0.021), and enclosure (−0.089)) are negatively correlated with urban vitality, while the indicators of building space and mixed function (e.g., building density, floor area ratio, points of interest (POI) mixing degree, and 3D mixing degree) present a positive effect. To improve urban vitality, the study provides suggestions from the perspective of 3D and human perception, which will contribute to the meticulous practice of urban design.

Urban Mobility in Istanbul: Unveiling Gender and Group Dynamics in Pedestrian Walking Speed

Urban mobility is influenced by a complex interplay between pedestrian behavior, urban design, and social dynamics such as gender and group interactions. This study investigates how these factors shape walking speeds in Istanbul, aiming to inform more efficient and equitable urban design practices. Using advanced video analysis techniques on 1,177 individuals along a major thoroughfare, this research reveals an average walking speed of 1.37 meters per second (m/s). Analysis revealed men (1.41 m/s, N=610) walking faster than women (1.32 m/s, N=567), and groups (1.26 m/s, N=287) slower than solo walkers (1.40 m/s, N=890). These findings underscore the importance of considering diverse user needs and social dynamics in urban planning. By accounting for gender-specific speeds and group behaviors, Istanbul's urban planners can better optimize sidewalk widths, intersection layouts, and social spaces to accommodate a variety of pedestrian experiences. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of pedestrian behavior in a non-Western context, providing valuable insights for creating safer, more accessible, and equitable urban environments in Istanbul.

Earthquake resilience of densely populated settlements: A strategic approach to mitigate Istanbul’s earthquake risk

One of the most significant challenges confronted by earthquake-prone cities results from the urban planning strategies and interventions preferred during the construction and development efforts. The planning of infrastructure that will serve the increasing population is even more important, especially in cities that have historical importance and have evolved into large metropolises in a short time. Proper planning and renewal efforts that align with earthquake-resistant urban development strategies not only add value for all stakeholders but also help avoid significant material and moral losses caused by poorly planned urban development. Although earthquake-prone settlements have thousands of years of construction traditions, these traditions have often been replaced by modern construction techniques nowadays. In cities where the transformation from traditional to modern construction techniques is rapid and uncontrolled, a severe earthquake is more likely to cause a significant damage. Türkiye has a high earthquake risk due to its geographical location. The Main Marmara Fault is an active fault line that poses a serious threat to Istanbul. The devastating earthquake series along the East Anatolian Fault in February 2023 have once again highlighted the urgency of taking necessary precautions and preparations for the anticipated Marmara earthquake. Istanbul is one of the most historically significant metropolises in the world. Accordingly, the city has expanded by receiving immigration since the last major earthquake. Given its unique place in world history and its centuries-old role as the capital of great civilizations, it is crucial to ensure the seismic resilience in Istanbul to protect both the lives and property of its dense population and to safeguard its cultural heritage sites. The aims of this paper are to evaluate the current characteristics of Istanbul in the event of a possible earthquake, to identify potential challenges of the city and to put forward a strategic approach to improve seismic resistance of the city. The evaluation was carried out by conducting a SWOT analysis based on the physical, environmental, social and economic conditions of the city. For this purpose, firstly the previous and current urban design practices adopted in the city was evaluated. The key features effective in the construction of an earthquake resilient settlement was emphasized and taken into consideration. Besides, the crucial stakeholders and their potential contributions were also evaluated. In this context, the problems that needs to be improved are revealed and a conceptual framework of an urban planning strategy is presented to construct an earthquake resilient city that provides satisfaction to all its stakeholders.

Unfreezing the City: A Systemic Approach to Arctic Urban Comfort

The urban landscape of the Russian Arctic, shaped during the Soviet era of extensive urbanization, embeds narratives of colonial appropriation and serves as the foundation for ongoing urban development. In light of climatic, political, and social uncertainties, design disciplines must navigate the balance between environmental sustainability and the varied needs of residents, requiring a systemic approach to design. This study combines theoretical analysis with qualitative field research conducted in two Western Siberian cities (Novyy Urengoy and Tarko-Sale), including interviews, mental mapping, and systematic observation of urban life. Analysis of the collected data revealed significant challenges in current urban design practices, particularly regarding weather protection, seasonal adaptation, and social space creation. The proposed model constitutes a pioneering initiative in domestic Arctic urban research, aiming to conceptualize a context-sensitive approach to urban environmental formation, thereby challenging prevalent universal/mainstream methodologies and establishing a theoretical framework for future applications. Our theoretical model synthesizes representations, perceptions, and materiality, conceptualizing the architectural environment as a context-sensitive “life-support module”. This conceptualization emphasizes that successful Arctic urban design must emerge from specific local contexts rather than universal solutions, as demonstrated by our analysis of residents’ spatial practices and adaptations to extreme conditions. We reference media studies to analyze urban materiality as both an artificial construct that mediates perceptions of the immediate surroundings and as a generative force that actively shapes meanings, practices, and sensations. Our findings indicate that current standardized approaches to Arctic urban development often fail to address local needs and environmental conditions, suggesting the necessity for a fundamental shift in design methodology. Given that the urban realm is a fundamental component in shaping individual and collective perceptions, this conceptual shift has the potential to significantly influence prevailing societal views of the “empty” and “hostile” Arctic.

A NOVEL WAY TO FORECAST FUTURE URBAN FORMS: WELSH CASE STUDIES VIA THE LITERARY METHOD OF URBAN DESIGN

This paper explores a novel application of the Literary Method of Urban Design to predict and shape the future forms of three new “case study” towns set in Wales: Swansea, Gilfach Goch and Dinas Mawddwy. This method uses literary works to create “design fictions”. These design fictions aim to provoke debate about potential future opportunities for towns and cities and potential future problems for towns and cities. The three novel case studies explored in this paper are variously inspired by Alan Garner’s novel The Owl Service, Richard Llewellyn’s novel How Green Was My Valley and Dylan Thomas’ poem The Force. Each case study invokes a graphic representation - in the form of scenario art - which visually narrates a future shaped by the themes of the respective works: so transforming the town of Dinas Mawddwy into an urban woodland, reimagining the town Gilfach Goch as a post-industrial paradise and harnessing natural forces to create the living city of Swansea. This approach attempts to consider the vagaries of human characters within unpredictable and dynamic ecologies and social structures but which also integrates cultural and aesthetic dimensions into the art and practice of urban design. The emerging scenarios underscore the potential value of considering artistic methods with qualitative narratives and historical insights to achieve a potentially more holistic understanding of future urban developments - at least in the land of legends and stories that is Wales.

A ‘NOVEL’ WAY TO FORECAST FUTURE URBAN FORMS: WELSH CASE STUDIES VIA THE LITERARY METHOD OF URBAN DESIGN

This paper explores a novel application of the Literary Method of Urban Design to predict and shape the future forms of three new “case study” towns set in Wales: Swansea, Gilfach Goch and Dinas Mawddwy. This method uses literary works to create “design fictions”. These design fictions aim to provoke debate about potential future opportunities for towns and cities and potential future problems for towns and cities. The three novel case studies explored in this paper are variously inspired by Alan Garner’s novel The Owl Service, Richard Llewellyn’s novel How Green Was My Valley and Dylan Thomas’ poem The Force. Each case study invokes a graphic representation - in the form of scenario art - which visually narrates a future shaped by the themes of the respective works: so transforming the town of Dinas Mawddwy into an urban woodland, reimagining the town Gilfach Goch as a post-industrial paradise and harnessing natural forces to create the living city of Swansea. This approach attempts to consider the vagaries of human characters within unpredictable and dynamic ecologies and social structures but which also integrates cultural and aesthetic dimensions into the art and practice of urban design. The emerging scenarios underscore the potential value of considering artistic methods with qualitative narratives and historical insights to achieve a potentially more holistic understanding of future urban developments - at least in the land of legends and stories that is Wales.

Wind Environment Simulation Analysis of Office Buildings Based on PHOENICS—A Case Study of Mianyang City Office Complex

This electronic investigates the wind environment optimization of office build-ing clusters in hot-summer and cold-winter regions through computation-al fluid dynamics simulations under dual-season conditions. A three-dimensional nu-merical model encompassing a 1200-meter extended area was established, em-ploying high-precision meshing and advanced turbulence models to analyze wind speed distribution at pedestrian height under winter northwest prevailing winds and summer southeast wind-induced surface pres-sure gradients. Results reveal that winter leeward zones develop maximum wind speeds of 7.2 m/s, with 18.3% of the area exceeding standard limits. Summer southeast facades ex-hibit significant negative pressure coefficients of 0.82, re-ducing natural ventila-tion efficiency to 1.2 air changes per hour. Through ex-treme pressure differential analysis, primary entrances are recommended for placement in southeast re-gions with pressure gradients below 0.3 to mitigate winter wind disturbances. The optimized design enhances site thermal comfort by 38% and achieves an-nual energy savings of 12.7 kWh/m², providing quanti-tative benchmarks for green building wind environment assessment and ad-vancing climate-responsive urban design practices.

Accessibility in Urban Coastal Areas: Antalya-Konyaaltı Case

Coastal areas are privileged spaces within the city, possessing high potential due to the presence of water. Defining coasts as areas under public access where everyone can equally and freely benefit underscores the significance of the concepts of publicness and accessibility. Urban design practices in coastal areas aim to enhance public use and strengthen the coast-city relationship through accessibility approaches. This study identifies the factors that determine publicness and accessibility through a literature review and examines these factors in the context of the redesigned Konyaaltı urban coastal area. On-site observations and analyses were conducted to assess the current situation. The findings suggest that improving accessibility and publicness in coastal areas requires the development of urban and architectural approaches in the legal framework that extend beyond defined boundaries to include coastal interaction zones. Ensuring accessibility for everyone, particularly along coastlines, is among the significant findings derived from this study for the effective and universal use of coastal areas. Regulations based on publicness and accessibility will support the physical and social sustainability of the coast. Well-designed public spaces will positively impact the quality of life, enhance the coastal city's image, and contribute to the city's identity.

Generative spatial artificial intelligence for sustainable smart cities: A pioneering large flow model for urban digital twin.

Rapid urbanization, alongside escalating resource depletion and ecological degradation, underscores the critical need for innovative urban development solutions. In response, sustainable smart cities are increasingly turning to cutting-edge technologies-such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), Foundation Models (FMs), and Urban Digital Twin (UDT) frameworks-to transform urban planning and design practices. These transformative tools provide advanced capabilities to analyze complex urban systems, optimize resource management, and enable evidence-based decision-making. Despite recent progress, research on integrating GenAI and FMs into UDT frameworks remains scant, leaving gaps in our ability to capture complex urban flows and multimodal dynamics essential to achieving environmental sustainability goals. Moreover, the lack of a robust theoretical foundation and real-world operationalization of these tools hampers comprehensive modeling and practical adoption. This study introduces a pioneering Large Flow Model (LFM), grounded in a robust foundational framework and designed with GenAI capabilities. It is specifically tailored for integration into UDT systems to enhance predictive analytics, adaptive learning, and complex data management functionalities. To validate its applicability and relevance, the Blue City Project in Lausanne City is examined as a case study, showcasing the ability of the LFM to effectively model and analyze urban flows-namely mobility, goods, energy, waste, materials, and biodiversity-critical to advancing environmental sustainability. This study highlights how the LFM addresses the spatial challenges inherent in current UDT frameworks. The LFM demonstrates its novelty in comprehensive urban modeling and analysis by completing impartial city data, estimating flow data in new locations, predicting the evolution of flow data, and offering a holistic understanding of urban dynamics and their interconnections. The model enhances decision-making processes, supports evidence-based planning and design, fosters integrated development strategies, and enables the development of more efficient, resilient, and sustainable urban environments. This research advances both the theoretical and practical dimensions of AI-driven, environmentally sustainable urban development by operationalizing GenAI and FMs within UDT frameworks. It provides sophisticated tools and valuable insights for urban planners, designers, policymakers, and researchers to address the complexities of modern cities and accelerate the transition towards sustainable urban futures.

A psychoanalytical approach in urban design: exploring dynamics of co-creation through theme-centred interaction

ABSTRACT Urban design practices are shifting towards inclusive co-creation processes to engage diverse stakeholders and create sustainable spaces. This paper explores co-creation dynamics in urban design using the theme-centred interaction (TCI) model from the field of psychoanalysis. Through a single-case study, qualitative and quantitative methods, balanced co-creation strategies are highlighted, empowering individuals, facilitating open dialogue, defining shared objectives, and considering external factors. This research extends literature by applying the TCI model, offering a novel lens and insights for effective co-creation practices in urban design. It informs future investigations and enhances stakeholder engagement, emphasizing a holistic approach.

Towards a configurational typology of informal settlements: A syntactic analysis of informal settlements in Nagpur

ABSTRACT Informal settlement serves as a critical means in the production of urban space in the Global South. Understanding the productive processes of self-organization and emergent morphological patterns is crucial not only in upgrading and integrating informal settlements but also in informing the practices of urban planning and design for shaping better urban places and public spaces. Contributing to the emerging literature on forms of informal settlement, this article presents a syntactic study of the configurational characteristics of 371 informal settlements in the city of Nagpur, India. The study identifies 18 different types based on four analytical variables generated using Space Syntax analysis—specifically, choice and integration at both local and global levels. The versatility and spread of these types indicate the flexibility of emergent informal settlements under a multitude of scenarios and conditions. The findings highlight the relations between formal and informal parts of the access network by showcasing the higher integration and choice values of the case studies when compared to the larger urban grid. The article contributes to the development of a typological framework for the classification of informal settlements based on their configurational characteristics.

Analysing the role of the perceptual dimension in the formation of the urban third place

Urban third places like parks, plazas, and cafes play a significant role in fostering social interaction, community engagement, and a sense of belonging in contemporary society, and this recognition is growing. It has been a subject of critical analysis across multiple disciplines and intellectual traditions. Although the term 'Third Place' has been the subject of considerable research for some time, a sensible investigation into the psychological needs of users broadens the study's scope, adding a new dimension to the research. This study's perceptual dimension focuses particularly on an individual's perceptions of the built environment of the urban third place. It deals with how people perceive and experience these places. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the contribution of the perceptions that users generate in the formation of urban third places. Research begins with an understanding of this term and its significance in an urban environment. The theoretical approach interprets a perceptual dimension by analysing an individual's 'Sense of Place' in relation to the urban third place. A projective survey questionnaire further explores the concept. We decipher the qualitative observations of the survey using Nvivo, a software tool that supports both descriptive and inferential statistical inferences. The consideration of age versus the diverse perceptual needs of the users explains the interrelationship while making it convenient for the statistical analysis of the study's observations. As a result, this research examines the significance of associations, identifies dominant perceptions, and analyses the possible patterns of the same across the identified age groups of the sample population. A statistical analysis of these observations offers insights to designers, planners, and policymakers in terms of prioritising users' experiences, needs, and preferences, i.e., sense of place, to accommodate the contemporary needs of the users in the practice of urban design at the human scale.

Technological implications for planning and designing human-centred cities

The 4th Industrial Revolution characterized by the merging of info-tech and bio-tech will overturn existing modes of living and production, creating new spatial opportunities. The recent movement of counter-urbanization can be understood as urbanites taking advantage of info-tech and flexible working to explore new and more comfortable life. The 4th Industrial Revolution characterized by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) can offer technical supports for making urban life more human-centred. To explore the connection between technology and urban planning and design practice, a more humble and inclusive understanding of the term “human-centred” is provided, stressing humans’ deep connections with other species in the web of life. Meanwhile, three fundamental trends of the 4th Industrial Revolution are discussed; they are: job automation, new economy and industry, and flexible working. Following these trends and the new conception of “human-centred”, three principles are proposed for the planning and design of future cities: 1) Interwoven nature, which emphasizes a tight integration and harmonious co-existence of the built and natural environment; 2) Attraction-driven, which stresses the value of natural and cultural sites at non-central locations; 3) Dispersion, which encourages a decentralization and more equitable allocation of urban resources.

20∗20∗60: A multilevel climate change analysis framework.

20∗20∗60: A multilevel climate change analysis framework.

Parameters of Building Geometry that Affect Wind Flow With Regards to the Possibilities for their Implementation in Urban and Architectural Design in Poland

Abstract In recent years, there has been a surge in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) research into how urban morphology affects ventilation in cities. However, studies are scattered, with varying parameter definitions, limiting their application in architectural and urban design. This article aims to review and assess the relevance of geometric parameters studied in aerodynamics field to urban planning and architectural design in polish conditions. By reviewing previous publications on morphological parameters in wind studies, it evaluates their recognition and potential for their implementation in urban and architectural design in Polish conditions. Comparisons are made between these parameters and those commonly used in architectural and urban theory and practices in Poland. Results reveal minimal convergence, incorporating other parameters requires interdisciplinary research and significant planning procedure changes. This highlights the need for detailed interdisciplinary research and substantial planning changes to fully integrate CFD results into architectural and urban design practice in Poland.

Examining the impacts of urban tree structure and condition on adult depression in the United States

Examining the impacts of urban tree structure and condition on adult depression in the United States

Mumbai Dark Megacity: Informal Productions of Urban Night Space

Architect and photographer Élisabeth de Bézenac has been exploring many different types of nocturnal environments around the world, capturing changes in places after dark with the aim of informing urban design practices. In this visual essay, she reports on her nightwalking ventures into the 'evernight' life of Mumbai.

Investigating the response of urban surface thermal environment to urban morphology changes in Nanjing

Investigating the response of urban surface thermal environment to urban morphology changes in Nanjing