🌆3.2.3.2 - Urban forms Flashcards
What is an urban form?
The physical characteristics that go towards making up an urban area, shape, size, population density etc
What features do world cities have?
Major transport links
Higher quality education facilities
More luxurious leisure and entertainment
Hub for trade and manufacturing, industry
Centre for decision making and power on global scales
What are pre-industrial cities?
Largely unaffected by industrial developments and have retained much of urban layout and characteristics, historic buildings such as churches and castles dominate city centre eg Bath, York, Lincoln
What are modern/industrial cities?
Similar activities and similar people group together, homogenous areas with each area dominated by particular land use. Dominant CBD and residential zoning eg Birmimgham
What are post-industrial cities?
Urban mosaic - more chaotic and looser structure with many smaller zones rather than one or two domination. Multi-nodal structure and less dominant CBD eg Tokyo, Milton Keynes
What are public-transport oriented/motor based cities?
Integrated approach to planning, developments along railway lines and main roads, linked to major road networks and non-residential land use on urban fringe eg. Hong Kong and Detroit
What are African cities?
Cities grown from colonial settlements and have not experienced the industrialisation of US/European urban centres, dominant CBD and political/cultural centre. eg Nairobi, Cape Town
What are socialist cities?
Followed principle of classless cities, everyone should live in same type of housing block irrespective of location, housing located close to services to encourage walking, homogeneous with large administrative/political centre rather than commercial eg Prague
What are wet points?
If an area is likely to flood, people are less inclined to live there. If there is reliable water sources, a population may thrive.
What are dry points?
In areas of drought, people are less inclines to live there, but if floods are rare it may be beneficial
What are gap towns?
Between hills/mountains where less people visit due to the difficult location, smaller population and long, thin shape due to valleys
How do resources affect urban characteristics?
The more resources a city has, the more they can build and the more growth can occur economically and physically
How does relief affect urban characteristics?
Flatter land requires higher prices, good to build on. Attracts wealthy people and businesses
Which contrasting settings can be used to compare urban characteristics?
Dharavi, Mumbai and Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham
What is the CBD?
The commercial and business centre of a city
What are residential areas?
Area providing accommodation and other services
What are out of town retail developments?
Large, specially built areas usually on the edge of town where there are lots of large shops and other facilities as well as free parking
What are business and science parks?
An organisation managed by professionals whose main aim is to increase the wealth of its community by promoting the culture of innovation and competitiveness
What is the inner city?
An area near the centre of a city, especially associated with social and economic problems
Describe the Hoyt model:
A central CBD, with surrounding lower class residential and light manufacturing extending out from the centre in some areas. Middle and upper class residential towards the outside, round the edge
Describe the multiple nuclei model:
A fairly central, but offset CBD surrounded by lower and middle class residential on either side. Includes industrial parks and heavy industry on outskirts and different nuclei of light manufacturing and wholesale
What is Bid-Rent theory/distance decay?
The further the distance from the CBD, the lower the price of land
What are examples of new urban landscapes?
Cultural and heritage quarters
Gentrified areas
Fortress landscapes
Edge cities
What are town centre mixed developments?
Blends residential, commercial, cultural, institutional and industrial uses, interconnected both physically and functionally. Safely and easily accessed by pedestrians
What are the pros of town centre mixed developments?
Helps prevent/manage CBD decline
New offices and recreational areas
People encouraged into the city centre
What are the cons of town centre mixed developments?
Still possible for CBD decline, doesn’t always prevent it
Expensive, high land value
What is an example of a town centre mixed development?
BedZED
What are changes in city centre cultural and heritage quarters?
Cultural quarter developed to encourage growth and revitalise the local economy in the arts and creative industries
What are the pros of cultural and heritage quarters?
Make use of long term associations with certain things, eg Gloucester Docks
Focused on the history of the area
What are the cons of cultural and heritage quarters?
An area must have some sort of cultural heritage for the scheme to be successful
What is an example of cultural and heritage quarters?
Jewellery Quarter - Birmingham
Cardiff Bay
What are Gentrified areas?
A form of inner city regeneration, involves movement of affluent usually young middle class people into traditionally run down, cheaper areas of the inner city
What are the pros of gentrified areas?
Property values increase as money is invested
Local services upgraded
Desirable, improved previously run down areas
What are the cons of gentrified areas?
Local people may feel alienated and price out of the local housing market Trickle-down effects on working class people
What is an example of a gentrified area?
Oxford
What are fortress developments?
Anti-terrorist and crime prevention measures, plus the urge to kee people moving contribute to the way that buildings are designed. Designed around security, exclusion, surveillance and protection
What are the pros of fortress developments?
High tech security features keep people inside safe
What are the cons of fortress developments?
Many features installed to prevent homeless people being able to sleep - anti-homeless spikes, sloped benches etc.
More liveable for the consumer, less so for other people
What is an example of a fortress development?
The US Embassy, London
What are edge cities?
The decentralisation of people and economic activities lead to the suburbs becoming centres with city like qualities. Offices, residential, leisure centres etc
What are the pros of edge cities?
Close to transport links and shops/recreational areas etc
What are the cons of edge cities?
Draws people out of the city, down to decentralisation
What is an example of an Edge City?
Bunkers Hill, Lincoln
What is a post modern western city?
An urban form associated with changes in urban structure and architectural design, reflecting the changed social and economic conditions of the late 20th century in some western cities
What is the concept of a PMWC based on?
The experiences of a small number of American cities
What were the features of modernism?
Concrete, glass, steel, less is more, blank canvas after WW2 destruction
What are the features of postmodernism?
Design over function, unnecessary ornamentation, mix of features from classical and modern with twists.
What urban structure do postmodern cities have?
Multi-nodal with high tech corridors and post suburban developments
What are postmodern economies based on?
The service sector, focused on niche markets. Globalised and dominated by telecommunications
What do post modern cities encourage?
Diversity and mixing of social groups
What are the characteristics of a post modern western city?
Fragmentation Globalisation Simulation Fortification Beautification
Where is an example of a PMWC?
Los Angeles
Megacity
Urban agglomeration with a population of 10 million or more
Periphery
Outlying regions of a country
Periphery Characteristics
Least economic value
Provide resources for core
Less affluent
People leave due to push factors
Wales, Scotland, Cornwall
Core
Central area of a country, usually with the seat of government
Core Characteristics
Most economic growth = most jobs
Most affluent live there
Best infrastructure
London + South East
Megacity Characteristics
. 2-3 times more GDP than other cities
. Less environmentally damaging- public transport
. Fuel political pressure- protests
. Centres of innovation- solutions to global problems trialed
. Better education and healthcare
. Empower women
. More efficient to provide utilities and services in densely populated areas
World City
A city not necessarily the largest in terms of population, but is disproportionately important to the economy
How are World Cities ranked?
What are the 4 main aspects?
. Globalisation and World Cities Research Network, part of the ‘knowledge economy’
. Accountancy
. Law
. Advertising
. Banking / Finance
. More economically interconnected cities ranked as alpha ++, progressively moves down
Characteristics of World Cities
. Production Hub
. Political Hub
. Migration Hub
. Cultural Hub
. Business, Transport, Trade
Production Hub
. Manufacturing centres i.e. East End
. Media and communications centres
. TNC headquarters
Political Hub
. Power at a global level
. Dictate trading links between countries
. Majors promote city globally
. Influence and participate in global events
i.e. 2012 Olympics
i.e. G8 Summits
Cultural Hub
. Museums
. National theatres
. High quality educational institutions
. Multi-functional infrastructure
Migration Hub
. Jobs = migration
. Attracts a large number of talented and globally mobile people
i.e. London’s population speaks over 300 languages
Business, Transport, Trade
. Financial headquarters i.e. Canary Wharf
. Dominate trade
. TNC headquarters
. Large levels of international passenger traffic i.e. Heathrow Airport
Urban Form
Relates to physical characteristics going towards the makeup of an area
Physical factors impacting the make up of an area
. Topography- gap towns
. Water
. Natural Resources
. Land Type
Human factors impacting the make up of an area
Planning
Infrastructure
Land Value
Town Centre Mixed Developments
Mixed land use
Planned by local councils
Funded partly by private investment
Aims to attract people back to city centre
Town Centre Mixed Developments: Example
Cube, Birmingham
24 storey mixed use development
BBC, Highways England, Hotel Indigo
135 flats
Cultural and Heritage Quarters
Focuses on history and character of an area
Local councils redevelop former industrial areas
Attracts visitors = economic development
Jewellery Quarter
Fortress Developments
Security: CCTV, high walls, security guards
Often in suburban areas
Safe place for families- only rich can afford
Gentrified Areas
. Wealthy regenerate run down inner city areas by improving housing
. Creates a range of high quality housing
. Large access to services
. Poorer residents maybe displaced due to increased living costs- social and ethnic segregation
Edge Cities
. New areas of offices, shops, leisure facilities
. Built near major transport links- cheap land
. Most travel to them for work or to use available services
. Become more popular with increased car ownership
. Common in USA
How does topography affect an urban form?
. Steep hillsides = slums
. Flat areas encourage low density housing as lots of space
How does water affect an urban form?
. Cities grow along rivers i.e. London
. Seas and lakes inhibit urban growth
How do natural resources affect an urban form?
Areas rich in resources encourage population gorwth
How does land type affect an urban form?
. Some land types difficult and expensive to build on
. Swamps and wetlands inhibit urban growth
How does planning affect an urban form?
. Unplanned leads to expanding slums and poor infrastructure
. Planned often includes open spaces and leisure facilities
How does infrastructure affect an urban form?
. New developments often built along transport links- linear growth
. Utilities can be extended to connect to new developments
How does land value affect an urban form?
. Highest in city centre- profitable chain stores and skyscrapers
. Less profitable shops and large houses located further out where land is cheaper
Structure of a city in a developed country
. CBD
. Inner City- relative poverty, high pop. density, high proportion of ethnic minorities
. Suburbs- less dense housing as lower land value, houses are large and newer, less ethnic minorities, science parks and out of town shopping
Structure of a city in a developing country
. CBD
. High cost housing- wealthy residents, luxury apartments, wealthy immigrants from HIC’s
. Medium cost housing- Likely to have initially been informal that has slowly improved and had some services provided
. Low cost housing- Informal, limited service access, high poverty, rural to urban migrants
Industrial areas located along transport links
5 Characteristics of Post Modern Western Cities
. Multiple centres with different purposes
. Focus on tertiary and quaternary industries
. Less uniform architecture
. Planning priorities aesthetics over practicality
. Higher social and economic inequality
Characteristics of PMWCs (use the rhyme thing)
Fantastic Geographers Start Burping & Farting If Given Diet Pepsi
. Fragmentation
. Globalisation
. Simulation
. Beautification
. Fortification
. Information
. Gentrification
. Decentralisation
. Privatisation
Fragmentation
. Cities are more ethnically diverse, but social and cultural inequalities and segregation are more common.
. The division between ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ is often stark and planned resulting in areas of extreme wealth alongside areas of extreme poverty
Globalisation
. Shops, services and business are global brands and companies, rather than local. This has led to the ‘clone town’.
. The high street begins to die.
. A service-sector based economy that focuses on niche markets.
. Telecommunications dominate
Simulation
. Buildings often simulate heritage or other famous buildings/places.
. Cities planned in fragments, and focusing on aesthetic needs rather than social needs.
. Buildings are often iconic and architecturally unusual often resulting in shock
Beautification
Architecture is more an expression of art than function in PMWCs, it is very varied with decorative ornamentation more common, often linked to the heritage of the city
Fortification
Security is a key concern in PMWCs, so fortress landscapes are often commo
Information
PMWCs are dominated by the service and knowledge economies – many people are employed in these sectors, with global companies commonly located in these cities
Gentrification
This is a common process leading to change in the social landscape of cities, it also contributes to the increased polarisation between people in cities in terms of wealth and access to services
Decentralisation
Edge cities are commonly associated with PMWCs, especially as the term was first used in North America to refer to cities like Los Angeles
Privatisation
Cities are becoming more privately owned – this could be public space, streets, squares or shopping centres
Modern city vs PMWC - urban structure
Modern City:
Cities planned in totality rather than in smaller
sections. Urban open spaces planned and
shaped for social needs.
PMWC:
Cities planned in fragments, and focusing on
aesthetic needs rather than social needs.
Modern city vs PMWC - landscape/architecture
Modern City:
A landscape dominated by very functional architecture. Mass production of similar styles
(suburbia).
PMWC:
A landscape where the architecture is more of
an expression of art than function. There is also
a greater use of heritage. Buildings are
spectacular, playful and iconic
Modern city vs PMWC - economy
Modern City:
Industrial economy focusing on mass production and economies of scale. Service sector gaining in importance.
PMWC:
A service-sector based economy that focuses on
niche markets. A globalised economy.
Telecommunications dominate.
Modern city vs PMWC - planning
Modern City:
Dominant commercial centre (CBD) and a
steady decline in land values away from the
centre.
PMWC:
A multi-nodal structure, containing hi-tech
corridors and post- suburban developments.
Edge cities may be evident.
Modern city vs PMWC - culture & society
Modern City:
Divisions of class found within the city. A large
homogeneity across the city.
PMWC:
Ethnic diversity, resulting in a city that is highly
fragmented culturally, with a high degree of
social polarisation in some areas (seas of
poverty). Groups distinguished by their
consumption patterns.
How is Los Angeles a PMWC?
. Does not display the industrial legacy of the classic industrial city.
. Significance of CBD has been reduced, causing increased decentralisation
. Spread of the city = more cars
How is Las Vegas a PMWC?
. Strive economy
. Isn’t much urban planning
. It is a fragmented city particularly along the ‘Strip’
. Gated community
