CUE - Urban forms Flashcards
What is the hierarchy of world cities?
alpha ++ alpha + alpha alpha - beta gamma
What are the different types of hub a world city can be?
Political hubs and international events
Business, transport and trade
Production
Migration
Characteristics of world cities
High proportion of residents employed in services and information centres Financial headquarters Decision making power at a global level Multifunctional infrastructure Headquarters of TNCs Centres of new ideas and innovation International financial services Major manufacturing centres Centres of media and communications High quality educational institutions
What is urban morphology?
The spatial structure or form and organisation of an urban area
Where did early industrial areas develop?
Close to rivers on flat land
What are found on steep slopes in poorer countries?
Informal settlements e.g Rocinha
What is the larger factor influencing urban form and land use now?
Human factors
What is the main factor affecting land use in HICs?
Land value
WHat is the PLVI?
The peak land value intersection - point of the highest land value, land prices decline with distance
Why are land use patterns more complicated now in UK towns and cities?
Decentralisation of retailing
Infrastructure
Suburbanisation
Decline of CBD
How has land use pattern changes in UK towns and cities?
There are now second peaks of high land value outside the city centre
Describe the Bid-rent curve
Those willing to pay the most get the most expensive buildings in the CBD. These tend to be TNCs. Smaller businesses who will pay less get land in the inner city. Those who can’t afford as much get buildings even further out, mainly residential
Causes of the decline of UK city centres in the last 30 years
Out-of-town retail parks and decentralisation of businesses and residential areas
Push factors including high parking costs, congestion, perception of city centre as dirty and unsafe
Recent competition from internet shopping
4 strategies to reverse the city centre decline
More attractive shopping environments
All-weather shopping malls
Public transport link improvements
Business and marketing teams to coordinate management of CBD and run special events
Name 5 new urban forms
Town centre mixed developments Cultural and heritage quarters Gentrified areas Fortress Developments Edge cities
What are town centre mixed developments?
Areas where land use is mixed - residential, commercial and leisure uses are combined
Planned by councils with private investment
Attract people back to city centres
What are cultural and heritage quarters?
Areas of a city that focus on the history and character of a city. There may be theatres, art galleries, historic buildings.
Often developed by councils to regenerate former industrial areas.
What are gentrified areas?
When wealthier people move into rundown inner city areas and improve housing. They may have high quality services and high quality housing. Poor residents may be displaced, leading to social and ethnic segregation
What are fortress developments?
Developments for residential or retail use with lots of security.
Often in suburban areas. Provide safe environment but very divisive.
What are edge cities?
New areas of shops, offices and leisure facilities developing close to transport links, outside city centres where land is cheaper. May have housing but most people travel to them. Most have developed in 60s in USA as car ownership increased.
How is gentrification different to regeneration schemes?
It involves the rehabilitation of old houses and streets on a piecemeal basis and is carried out by groups of individuals rather than large organisations
5 causes of gentrification
The Rent Gap Commuting costs reduced The Pioneer Image Support of government and local decision makers Changing composition of households
What is the rent gap?
When the price of property has fallen below its real value, usually due to lack of investment
4 disadvantages of gentrification
People on low income can’t afford the higher property prices
Increased car ownership may lead to congestion
Loss of businesses for original low order services
Incomers may be seen as a threat to the original community
4 advantages of gentrification
Rise in general prosperity and growth of certain services and businesses
Increased local tax income
Physical environment improved
Employment opportunities
Give an example of a sprawling settlement. Give evidence
LA - core city 30km wide and 4 million people
Metropolitan area of under 18 million people and 100km at its widest.
More than 20 edge cities
What is postmoderism?
The changes that took place in western society and culture in the late 20th century
Give 5 key features of a postmodern western city.
Fortress landscapes
Edge cities
More fragmented urban form
Greater emphasis on tertiary and quaternary sectors
Varied architecture
Greater ethnic diversity but heightened economic, social and cultural inequalities
