Changing Urban Environments Flashcards
What are the characteristics of the CBD?
The central business district (eg Broadmead)
- shopping
- cinemas, clubs + restaurants
- business headquarters
- offices
- multistory car parking
How is land used in the Inner City?
eg Stokes Croft
exciting but troubled area, declined over years, where workers used to live in victorian era
-small shops, cafes, and restaurants
-terraced housing
-brownfield sites and abandoned housing/buildings
How is land used in the suburbs?
eg Westbury on Trym Once villages that are now part of the city -housing (detached + semi detached) -convenience stores - parks and gardens
How is land used in the Rural Urban Fringe?
eg Abbots Leigh used for leisure -woodlands and fields -large parks -small villages -housing (large detached)
What is an example of an Urban Land Use Model?
The Burgess Model
What is a greenfield site?
An area of land unbuilt on, fresh
eg Cribbs causeway
What is a brownfield site?
An area of land with buildings already on it that have to be knocked down in order to build more
eg Cabot circus
What is an example of a squatter settlement caused by rapid rural to urban migration?
Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya
psd – Where is Kibera located it + size, population etc
Kibera is located in the southern edge of Kenya’s capital city Nairobi ( RURAL URBAN FRINGE )
It is North of the Ngong river, a flood prone area reducing the cost of the land
1 Million people in 1 mile squared ( 1 metre of floor space per resident)
Case study: Kibera
What are the negative effects of living in the squatter settlement?
- Only 20% kibera has electricity
- Scarce water, has to be paid for as well as toilets
- Unsanitary open sewers -> rats, sewage, vermin, disease
- one of highest HIV/AIDS rate in Africa
- 50% unemployed
- recreational drugs
- High abortion rates
Case study: Kibera
How can the squatter settlement be improved with DIY schemes?
- Stealing electricity
- Improving housing with scrap material found
Case study: Kibera
How can the squatter settlement be improved by Assisted self help schemes?
- Film school provides residents with no education with physical and practical skills
- Gym allows an opportunity of escape for residents both in training and in competing in world events, MUAY THAI BOXING, ANDRE LEENHEER
Case study: Kibera
How can the settlement be improved by site and service and relocation?
- Kenya Slum upgrading project (KENSUP)
- residents moved, their homes improved with plumping, electricy, and mains connection
- residents pay monthly fee to encourage them to get work
-not sustainable due to sheer volume of people moving to slums
Case study: Kibera
How can the settlement benefit from international aid?
- kibera UK sends young students from MEDCS to help slum upgrading
- Comic relief raises awareness + funds
(not all funds go towards helping the area)
What is urbanisation?
Countryside and rural areas converted to town and city
What environmental factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Droughts causing water shortages
- Better communications abroad such as phone signal
- Access to raw materials
- More sites available for development
What social factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Better education in cities
- More shopping opportunities
- Better infrastructure and healthcare
- Isolation in community
What economic factors have lead to urbanisation?
- Mechanisation on agriculture
- Better wages
- More job opportunities
How is housing an issue for city environments in Britain?
- Increasing population by 7% since 1971
- Households have risen by 30% (due to more people living alone and so requiring more houses)
- Govt. wants to build 240,000 new homes per year (60% on brownfield sites)
- People against building on greenfield sites though
What are advantages and disadvantages of building on brownfield sites?
+ Improves ugly urban sites
+ Existing buildings can be split into multiple homes
+ Reduce urban sprawl and need for cars
+ Services already in place
- Often in undesirable areas
- Land needs clearing first
- Land may be polluted due to previous use
What are advantages and disadvantages of building on greenfield sites?
+ Cheaper to build on
+ Can aquire large amounts of land for extensive projects
+ Attractive scenery
- Less greenbelt for people to use for leisure
- Roads and utilities will need to be built and serviced
- Permanently destroys habitats
How did the olympic park in Stratford, London help target inner city decline?
- ODA spent £1.3 billion regenerating park and areas around it
International quarter now includes: - Stratford station, fast efficient network (£100 million investment)
- 4 million sqr ft of grade A office space
- 350 homes
- 15 000 new jobs
- New schools and open play areas
- ‘Urban wilds for plants etc
Why has there been a rise in the use of cars?
- Increasing demand for personal mobility
- 27% of households have more than one car
Why is the increase in cars a problem?
- Air and noise pollution form vehicles
- Discoloured buildings
- Health problems (eg Asthma)
- UGLY
