Urban Design Theory Research Articles

Measuring Street Quality: A Human-Centered Exploration Based on Multi-Sourced Data and Classical Urban Design Theories

Advancements in analytical tools have facilitated numerous studies on perceived street quality. However, most have focused on limited aspects of street quality, failing to capture a comprehensive perception. This study introduces a quantitative approach to holistically measure street quality by integrating three key dimensions: visual perception, network accessibility, and functional diversity. Using Beijing and Shanghai as case studies, we employed artificial neural networks to analyze street view images and quantify the visual characteristics of streets. Additionally, street network accessibility was assessed through spatial design network analysis, and functional diversity was evaluated using the entropy of points of interest (POIs) data. The evaluation results were combined using the analytic hierarchy process. The reliability and accuracy of this method were validated through further testing. Our approach offers a human-centered, large-scale measurement framework, providing valuable insights for urban street renewal and design.

Keeping It Loose: Promoting Physical Literacy in Schoolyards Through Landscape Design and Movement Provocations

In this essay, Lisa Sandlos and Rennie Tang investigate the potential for movement to play a more significant role in schoolyard design processes to enhance the physical literacy of middle school youth. This research responds to a need for prioritizing physical literacy for historically marginalized youth whose movement needs are often different from what is currently provided by athletics- focused school programming. The study draws on urban design theory, an ecological approach to psychology, movement/ dance studies research theory, and creativity studies to explore landscape design strategies that have the potential to cultivate a more robust culture of physical literacy in schoolyards.

Architecture & Life of Indore City -The Heart Of Modern India

Indore, nestled in the heart of Madhya Pradesh, India, epitomizes a harmonious blend of historical architectural marvels and contemporary urban landscapes. This paper embarks on a comprehensive journey through the architectural tapestry of Indore, unraveling its historical epochs, iconic edifices, and the intricate interplay between tradition and modernity in shaping its urban fabric. Employing a multidisciplinary lens encompassing historical narratives, urban design theories, and cultural discourses, this research endeavors to offer profound insights into the distinctive architectural character of Indore and its profound implications within the broader spectrum of Indian urbanism. Moreover, it illuminates the challenges impeding the preservation of Indore's architectural legacy while navigating the imperatives of sustainable urban development. Keywords: Indore, architecture, heritage, urban dynamics, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Based on 3D Virtual Reconstruction of Modern City Landscape Sculpture Planning Design

INTRODUCTION: With the continuous advancement of urbanization, urban landscape sculpture plays an increasingly important role in modern urban planning. Traditional planning and design methods make it challenging to demonstrate the three-dimensional sense and artistry of sculpture fully; therefore, this study explores a new method of planning and designing modern urban landscape sculpture based on three-dimensional virtual reconstruction.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to enhance the three-dimensional sense and artistry of urban landscape sculpture planning and design through three-dimensional virtual reconstruction technology to meet the needs of modern urban development better. By using advanced technical means, the planning and design can be made more intuitive and specific and provide urban residents with a more artistic public space.METHODS: The study adopts advanced three-dimensional virtual reconstruction technology, combined with urban planning and design theory, to plan and design modern urban landscape sculpture. Firstly, relevant literature on urban planning and sculpture design is collected to understand the existing design concepts and technical means. Secondly, a detailed virtual reconstruction of the sculpture is carried out by using three-dimensional modeling software to show the three-dimensional effect of the sculpture. Finally, the design scheme is optimized and improved through fieldwork and expert review.RESULTS: Through three-dimensional virtual reconstruction technology, this study successfully shows the whole picture of modern urban landscape sculpture. The design scheme not only has a three-dimensional sense but it has also been improved in artistry. The results of fieldwork and expert evaluation show that the new design scheme is more in line with the needs of urban development and adds a unique artistic atmosphere to the urban space.CONCLUSION: This study has achieved positive results in the field of modern urban landscape sculpture planning and design through 3D virtual reconstruction technology. The new design method not only provides a more specific tool for urban planners but also creates a more creative and artistic public space for urban residents. In the future, the application of this method in different urban contexts can be further explored and expanded to inject more innovation and vitality into urban planning and sculpture design.

Research on Urban Sustainability Indicators Based on Urban Grain: A Case Study in Jinan, China

As a concept to describe the characteristics of urban spatial forms, urban grain emphasizes the size of urban parcels. Fine grain and coarse grain are considered essential attributes. Fine grain plays a crucial role in promoting the adaptability of urban development, improving urban vitality, and helping achieve sustainable urban development. Current research on urban grain is scattered and difficult to apply to solve practical urban problems. Therefore, this paper aims to identify the spatial indicators that affect the urban grain, to solve urban problems by adjusting spatial indicators. It contains significant suggestions for improving urban design theory and promoting sustainable urban development. This study primarily uses the comparative method to identify spatial indicators influencing urban grain by comparing coarse- and fine-grain study areas. This study screens relevant spatial indicators (building density, road network density, age of housing structures, building façade width along streets, number of entrances and exits along streets, and function mixture) affecting urban grain through a review and measurements, and it visualizes the representation of spatial indicators using the grid method, determining the correlation between spatial indicators and urban grain. The results show that all six indicators have an impact on urban grain.

Analyzing jogging activity patterns and adaptation to public health regulation

Outdoor running is one of the most popular physical activities, with numerous health benefits and minimal cost. Despite such importance, limited scientific understanding of collective behavioral patterns of running activity constraints more evidence-based spatial planning and urban design for promoting an active lifestyle. This study investigates the underlying spatial, temporal, and typological patterns of running activities within a university campus by analyzing a large number of running trajectory data ( n = 11088) at high spatial-temporal resolution. Based on classification and pattern identification, the results reveal three major running activity types on streets, tracks, and mixed spatial conditions. This study further investigates data during a specific period when the campus experienced public space regulation as a part of the COVID-19 prevention protocol. Results reveal the disruption, change, and recovery of running activity, revealing local behavioral adaptation and resilience towards spatial intervention. Overall, our findings resonate with classic urban design theory and existing literature, and the proposed analytical workflow can further support more evidence-based and data-informed planning decisions and design actions for promoting physical activity and active living.

The politics of the city: Critical theory of technology and urban design(s)

This article aims at approaching urban design from a philosophical point of view, specifically through Andrew Feenberg's critical theory of technology. It attempts to present the politics of urban design, rejecting an urban-technological determinism that refers to a specific technical environment as the only one possible. If technology is an open process with social implications and consequences, the same holds for urban technologies and designs. This approach argues that contemporary cities are formed within a specific socio-technical context which is seemingly the most functional for the current social, political and economic world, but since environmental and urban crises rise, there seems to be a need for rethinking over the form of current cities. Thus, this article attempts to offer a theoretical contribution to the debate over alternative urban designs through Andrew Feenberg's insights. Drawing upon some of his most crucial notions, like the “technical code”, the “interpretative flexibility” and the “operational autonomy” and presenting their role in a philosophy of the city, I attempt to highlight that current urban forms could be replaced by other functional alternatives. The choice over one or another urban design is political hence the need for the relation between the philosophy of the city and technical politics.

A Review of urban design projects and theories: types and criteria

This article reviews urban design projects in terms of types and criteria. It categorizes urban design projects and identifies the criteria based on which an urban project comes to fruition. Reviewing categories and successful factors for urban design projects may supports urban decision makers and activists to enhance their activities more systematically. In addition to an extensive urban design literature review, the consensus from various professional panels is generated through structured questionnaires. Some groups of urbanists including architects, urban designers, planners, sociologists, and urban managers have continuously taken part in the surveys. In the first stage, proper urban projects are suggested by various groups. After categorizing the suggested projects, next surveys have continued structurally to discover, summarize and evaluate these selections. As a result, four urban project types and three main criteria have been summarized.

Diagramming Urban Fragments: Collage City and the ‘Vest-pocket’ in the Case Study of Canberra

Written as part of the reaction to Modernist planning in the late 1970s, Collage City by Colin Rowe and Fred Koetter proposes an urban design theory which applies collage as a method from art, shifting the focus from the scale of the totality down to the ‘fragments’ of the city. As design theory, Collage City focuses on the relationships between different elements in space through space and time, and it is through this multi-dimensional approach to the understanding of the city and its fragments that Collage City theory has the potential to generate a different approach. This paper starts by outlining the aspects of Collage City theory to generate the framework for the analysis of the ‘vest-pocket’ fragments and proposes the use of diagram as the main tool to examine the relationships between various scales, alongside a diachronic study of change and persistence of the urban fragment. Canberra’s early civic precinct will be utilised as a case study, mapping its context over time and the relationships of urban fragments to the city. The paper concludes that the diagram complements the reading of the city through its multidimensional relationships and the level of abstraction which contributes to the spatio-temporal collage.

The Line: A Zero Gravity Theory for Urban Design

Investigating The Line, Saudi Arabia's newest megacity, through the lenses of the Cartesian and Relativity paradigms appears paradoxical, but it is critical to our understanding of future cities. Most cities worldwide have been experimenting with various concepts to connect people to nature but have yet to succeed. The Line pioneered a zero-gravity approach to balancing people's relationships with nature and people with themselves. This paper examines the essential urban design concepts and theories during the last century's quantum leaps in their development. The goal is to provide a framework for future cities by uncovering concepts for future cities regarding layout, density, urban space, and urban ecology through a comparative analysis with The Line.

How streetscape affects car use: Examining unexamined features of urban environment with fine-grained data

The urban built environment has been extensively studied as a means to reduce car use, but most of the built environment features that have been examined mostly include so-called ‘D-variables’, namely, density, (functional) diversity, (road network) design, etc. The influence of the three-dimensional street space, which cannot be directly understood from maps, is much less studied. However, characteristics of the street space are considered to influence people's travel behavior according to urban design and walkability theories. A major reason for this gap is the lack of data providing relevant information. This paper aims to fill the gap by harnessing new urban data to measure these characteristics of the urban environment and analyze their impact on travel behavior, as indicated by the amount of car use. Among the many characteristics of street space, we chose the quality of street buildings, continuity of street walls, and height-width ratio of the street valley as three key characteristics to study. Using Beijing as a case study, we found that the three street space characteristics had a statistically significant relationship with residents' car use, mainly by influencing travel mode choice. The continuity of street walls is the most influential factor in reducing car use. • We expanded existing research by examining the influence of the street space on urban car use. • The streetscape is measured using street view images, deep learning models and building footprint data. • The continuity of street walls is the most influential streetscape feature in reducing car use.

Exploring lost spaces towards regaining them for urban life: The case of Konya historical city center

The functions, values, and meanings of cities, which have been in constant change and transformation throughout history, are changing in response to rapidly changing conditions, particularly in recent times. The areas where this change can be observed most concretely are generally urban spaces. Some places in the city, which cannot keep up with this speed, may lose their structural or functional use over time and remain idle when they are not fed or equipped with suitable activities that will integrate with the environmental character and bring vitality. Therefore, within the very valuable urban land, they may become lost spaces for the city. It seems very important to regain such spaces in the rhythm of daily urban life, considering that they have strong economic, social, and physical potential, as well as being lost. From this point of view, the aim of the study is to identify the lost spaces in the historical city center of Konya, which was chosen as the sample area, and to identify the urban space(s) that should be intervened in with priority among the identified lost spaces. The Trancik method was used to find the lost spaces in the area using detailed analysis. With the help of figure-ground, linkage, and place theories in Roger Trancik's book titled "Finding Lost Space: Theories of Urban Design" (1986), both morphological analyses (figure-ground and linkage analyses) and questionnaires and cognitive maps were used to understand "place" and measure its perceptibility. The research to understand the "place" was carried out with a total of 50 people using the random sampling technique. Then, within the scope of the study, all the findings obtained from figure-ground, linkage, and place analyses were synthesized, and all lost spaces within the sample area were determined. Among these identified lost spaces, Kılıçarslan Square and its environs were determined to be the most undetected, unused, disliked, and first intervention requested by the participants. This result underlines the necessity of saving an important public space in the heart of the city from its current transition space and using it more effectively through scientific evidence. This result underlines the necessity of saving an important public space in the heart of the city from its current transition space and using it more effectively through scientific evidence. With its effective use, the area will be reintroduced to the city.

Thermal Landscapes: Rahm's Meteorological Architecture

<p>In this paper, we will consider the issue of climate discourse, which is consistently connected with the emergence of the meteorological approach in the theory and practice of contemporary architecture and urban design. Thermal modernity appears as a contemporary space of critical debate that expands the possibilities of architectural thinking, positioning it in a transdisciplinary knowledge framework. The concept of meteorology is the result of research on biological and ecological causes and processes, thermal factors, actions, and interactions to establish a sensory connection of users with space. Therefore, invisible spatial qualities, atmospheres, are recognised as ontologically important elements of spatial experience. The new paradigm opposes visual dominance, formalism, and semiological interpretations, establishing a new way of social and environmental responsibility.</p>

The Impact of the Local Environment on Achieving an Atmosphere in Interior Architecture

Studies of atmosphere considerably expand the humanist aspect of architectural and urban design theory. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the concept of atmosphere went beyond aesthetics, to the field of anthropology, musicology, art criticism, architecture and urban design. However, this term is still new in Egyptian studies, where the concept of atmosphere is abbreviated with the concept of identity or mood. Therefore, this research sheds light on thephilosophicalnotion of the term atmosphere in the field of interior architecture. One of the most important goals of interior architecture, besides achieving the physical function, is designing interior spaces that achieve an atmosphere of a distinctive character that bears aesthetic values ​​and meanings that affect the human psychologically and physiologically. This research studies the possibility of achieving an atmosphere of a distinctive character inspired by the different local environments in Egypt. It displays the importance of atmosphere in interior architecture and the methods of achieving it from the point of view of scholars. A set of criteria is deduced that includes methods of deriving design elements from the surrounding environment, such as shape, colour, materials, shade and light. Then, three models of interior architecture in three different Egyptian local environments are analysed. The research studies the extent to which each building’s design elements are inspired by their surrounding environment. Then, it analyses how these elements are implemented in the interior architecture to create sensory and psychological experiences. The research concludes that the Egyptian local environments are diverse and rich. It is possible to extract design elements from it, whether from an environmental, social, heritage and cultural point of view. This interior architecture designs creates an atmosphere that maintains psychological and mental health, which is considered one of the Sustainable Development Goals to achieve a better life. Research problem: Does the inspiration from local environment achieve a distinctive atmosphere for contemporary interior architecture in Egypt? How can the local environment be used to inspire contemporary interior architecture that achieves a distinctive atmosphere, and connect the building with the place and the user? Research objective: The research seeks to study the extent to which an atmosphere of a distinctive nature is achieved in the interior architecture of Egypt.

Spaces of the maybe: fragments as new urban possibilities in Cairo’s extended urbanisation

ABSTRACT Urban “fragments” play a key role in healing megacities and carving new relationships of civic connectivity. At the edge of a gated community in Cairo, AlRehab, the open market or souq serves as an urban fragment, creating different experiences that unsettle the normative assumptions of the separation between the private and public spheres. Using a Lefebvrian analysis to examine the souq of AlRehab, a two-phase longitudinal study was conducted between 2008–2012 and 2018–2022. Within the geopolitical context of the Arab Spring and the New Administrative Capital, the narratives of the souq’s developer, urban planner, residents, activists and shop workers reveal the power of agency and activism in the provision of “multiple publics” as a civic-common space. This allows the creation of transient connections, sites for political expression, as well as a base of operations for expanding job opportunities and social networks. Based on urban design theories and literature on Global South urbanism, this article poses the nuanced possibilities of re-imagining the edge as a “space of the maybe,” given its capacity to create new public spheres and a new urban grammar of entangled livelihoods, able to adapt to an urbanity of movement and growth.

A salutogenic urban design framework: the case of UK local high streets and older people.

The article provides a novel look at the links between salutogenesis, health promotion, and urban design supported by the findings of recent research on local high streets and their benefits for the well-being of older people. Salutogenesis and the related explanatory concept of sense of coherence (SOC) have provided a theoretical framework for developing healthy settings interventions, shifting the focus from exploring barriers and deficits to assets and resources in promoting people's health and well-being. While these concepts have informed policies and programmes at the level of regions and cities, no attempt has been made to establish more direct links with the disciplines devoted to the organization and design of the built environment at the scale of public spaces and streets. This article advances the idea that the main categories of SOC-comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness-have found application in urban design theory. Linking these categories with urban design concepts in a comprehensive framework, it is possible to guide interventions aimed at strenghtening well-being resources available in the public realm. This is corroborated by the findings resulting from a study of the well-being experiences of older people (n = 84) across a range of local high streets in the city of Edinburgh (UK) applying an innovative multi-methods approach. The discussion establishes the links between well-being benefits, SOC constructs and urban design concepts, and underscores the potential of the proposed framework to guide a design-oriented salutogenic approach to the built environment.

Temporal Awareness in Urban Place: Al-Mutanabbi Street- Case Study

Previous urban studies, which started from the twentieth century until now, have unanimously agreed to displace the human dimensions of the traditional city and replace them with inhuman dimensions in the modern city. Consequently, there were various calls for returning human dimensions to urban space via urban design theories. This research concentrated on the human temporal awareness as one of the dimensions that distinguish the human race and the connection of the connection between this dimension with urban place. The lack of urban principles resulting from human temporal awareness has created the knowledge gap. In addition, the objective of this research was to build an urban model with spatial indicators. In order to achieve this objective, a comprehensive theoretical framework was built by adopting a descriptive- analytical approach. The novelty of the research is to find an urban model with spatial indicators that works to enhance human temporal awareness and verify this model and give it a local character by applying it to urban space in Baghdad. The research faced significant limitations represented in the theoretical framework and the practical application of the research model. As for future research, the research recommends conducting studies to find a model with spatial indicators for the humanization of urban space, including all human dimensions.

Temporal Awareness in Urban Place: Al-Mutanabbi Street- Case Study

Previous urban studies, which started from the twentieth century until now, have unanimously agreed to displace the human dimensions of the traditional city and replace them with inhuman dimensions in the modern city. Consequently, there were various calls for returning human dimensions to urban space via urban design theories. This research concentrated on the human temporal awareness as one of the dimensions that distinguish the human race and the connection of the connection between this dimension with urban place. The lack of urban principles resulting from human temporal awareness has created the knowledge gap. In addition, the objective of this research was to build an urban model with spatial indicators. In order to achieve this objective, a comprehensive theoretical framework was built by adopting a descriptive- analytical approach. The novelty of the research is to find an urban model with spatial indicators that works to enhance human temporal awareness and verify this model and give it a local character by applying it to urban space in Baghdad. The research faced significant limitations represented in the theoretical framework and the practical application of the research model. As for future research, the research recommends conducting studies to find a model with spatial indicators for the humanization of urban space, including all human dimensions.

Quality of Life Parameters - An Urban Design Perspective

Quality of life (QoL) is an important goal that needs to be achieved by an urban society in general and a neighborhood in particular. The physical space and the QoL of a community are related to a very significant extent. Physical space provides a setting for community living among the residents. There is a sense of place attachment through the way people interact and engage with the physical space. This sense of space becomes even more important in the present context, because of the rapid process of urbanization, which has negatively impacted the QoL in Urban areas. This paper attempts to identify the connection between urban design parameters and Quality of life (QoL) through a literature survey. The attempt is to review various definitions and dimensions of QoL as discussed in the contemporary urban design theories and approaches, both objective and subjective. Furthermore, this paper discusses methods put forward by various researchers to quantify the qualitative aspects of QoL. Finally, a matrix is proposed to establish a set of parameters that includes physical, social, environmental, and psychological concerns of Quality of life in urban neighborhoods. These parameters may act as a guide for the analysis of the urban neighborhoods from the perspective of Quality of Life (QoL)

The Design of Spaces to Determine the Sustainability

Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the social challenges facing humanity. Ideally, humanity will redefine itself, its placement in nature, and refine the role of technology within the environment. In order to know the level of satisfaction of the city design, the ‘Sustainable Development Indicators’ been used. It refers to the aspect that need to understand which related to the urban design theory especially for the ‘street indicator’. This paper is to measure and compare the sustainability of 2 town centers by applying ‘Sustainability Development Indicators’ (SDI) by focusing on the street indicator. The objectives are to describe the tool and show of applying it in comparative assessment of 2 town centers and to determine how the built environment impacts the social wellness by focusing on the ‘street indicators’. The finding shows that Petaling Jaya New Town is more sustainable than Petaling Jaya Old Town in street indicators. General recommendations are propose several elements such as street furniture and parking. Therefore, Local Authorities should play an important role in ensuring the sustainability of a cities that can be formed with the availability of guidelines or policies that are appropriate for planning permission.