Understanding Urban Planning: Essential City Concepts
Location in Urban Planning
Location refers to the relative position of a city within a wider geographical area. This concept is crucial as it relates to the city’s role and its influence on urban morphology.
Understanding the Urban Plan (Plano)
The Urban Plan (or Plano) is a foundational document that details the built-up and open areas of a city. It is a key element of a city’s urban morphology. Three main types of plans can be distinguished:
- Irregular Plan
- Radiocentric Plan
- Grid Plan
Urban Plot and Building Arrangement
An Urban Plot describes the arrangement of buildings within a city. These arrangements typically fall into two main types:
- Compact (or Closed)
- Open
Defining Urban Structure
Urban Structure refers to the division of a city into areas with distinct morphologies and functions. In conventional cities, these areas, which differ from the surrounding countryside, typically include:
- The Old Town
- The Urban Widening (or expansion areas)
- The Periphery
Urban Agglomeration Explained
Urban Agglomeration is a contemporary urban phenomenon characterized by multiple cities growing together. Key types of urban agglomerations include:
- The Metropolitan Area
- The Urban Region
- The Megalopolis
Urban Path and City Layout
An Urban Path refers to the arrangement of roads, buildings, green spaces, and other elements within a city’s plan. These layouts vary significantly depending on the historical era.
The Urban Widening (19th Century Expansion)
The Urban Widening describes the new territory or space outside the old city, specifically dedicated to new buildings during the 19th century’s urban expansion.
The Garden City Concept
The Garden City was an urban planning project that aimed to create self-contained communities. While aspiring to be complete cities, its implementation often resulted in family housing neighborhoods integrated with gardens.
The Linear City Project
The Linear City was an urban project characterized by a wide, central street lined with blocks of single-family homes, each featuring an orchard and garden. This concept emerged in Spain, influenced by naturalistic and hygienist ideas.
Defining Slums and Informal Settlements
Slums are impoverished, densely populated areas, often characterized by informal settlements on suburban land that is illegally occupied and lacks proper planning organization.
What is a Conurbation?
A Conurbation is a type of urban agglomeration characterized by the formation of a continuous urban area, resulting from the parallel growth and eventual joining of two or more cities.
Understanding the Urban Region
An Urban Region is a type of urban agglomeration that forms a discontinuous urban area. It consists of cities that, while scattered, are dense enough collectively to exhibit overall urban characteristics.
The Megalopolis Phenomenon
A Megalopolis is a type of urban agglomeration characterized by the formation of a continuous urban area. It results from the junction of three or more cities, often reaching a supra-regional scale.
The Discipline of Urbanism
Urbanism is the comprehensive body of knowledge related to the creation, development, reform, and progress of cities, ensuring they appropriately meet the needs of human life.
The General Urban Development Plan
The General Urban Development Plan is the fundamental tool for integrated urban planning within a municipality.
The Urban Network System
An Urban Network System is a system of cities clearly defined by its constituent elements and the relationships established between them.
Understanding Urban Hierarchy
Urban Hierarchy refers to the ranking or degree of cities within a region or country’s urban system, typically based on population size.
Urban Relationships and City Connections
Urban Relationships encompass the set of connections and communications established between the cities within an urban system.
Human Settlement Patterns (Folding)
Human Settlement Patterns, sometimes referred to as Folding, describe the process by which human groups establish settlements across different regions of the Earth. The two main types are:
- Concentrated Settlement
- Dispersed Settlement
The Historic Old Town
The Old Town is the oldest urbanized part of a city, typically dating from its origin up to the industrialization period of the 19th century.
Defining the City Downtown Area
The Downtown area is the central part of a city where historic buildings, government bodies, commercial establishments, and general public life are typically clustered.