Division 3: Programming & Analysis Flashcards
Describe the general characteristics of a medieval city layout.
The church was the center of the city and near two main streets. A market was organized near the church and the city grew outwardly from these two buildings (considered the most important aspects of life) in an irregular pattern. Rings of streets circled the main hub and were connected by intersecting streets. Lastly, the entire city was surrounding by a wall.
Describe the general characteristics of a star-shaped city.
There was a central plaza with streets radiating from it to connect to bastions at the city’s limits, which were regularly spaced along the perimeter for optimal defense. City gates were each positioned halfway between two bastions were accessible by crossing over a moat.
How did the Industrial Revolution of the 1700s and 1800s in England affect city design?
Factory towns became more widespread. Workers were required to be close to their factories and outlets for transportation and distribution. Design emphasized turning out goods instead of socializing and aesthetics, which led to cities becoming overcrowded, filthy, and devoid of open space and recreational activities.
What is Ebenezer Howard’s garden city?
A conceptual layout that aimed to combine the best of city and country living and was part of a reform movement that grew in response to factory towns’ living conditions. A 6,000-acre tract of land would be privately owned by its residents and divided into rings of different programs. At the center would be a civic and cultural center surrounded by housing and shops. Outside of that would be industrial facilities and beyond those would be an agricultural belt that could also house 2,000 people.
What is urban sprawl?
The rapid expansion of cities and towns, characterized by low-density housing, single-use zoning, and an increased reliance on cars for transportation.
What is new urbanism?
A movement that promotes environmentally friendly habits, walkable neighborhoods, and a wide range of housing and job types.
What are the five patterns of urban development?
Grid, star, field, satellite, and megalopolis.
What did Kevin Lynch identify as the five basic elements of the urban image?
Paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks.
What is a catchment area?
The geographic area from which a point of interest draws its visitors.
What is proxemics?
The interrelated observations and theories of man’s use of space as a specialized elaboration of culture.
What are the four basic categories of roads?
Local streets, collector streets, arterial streets, and expressways.
What is albedo?
The fraction of light that a surface reflects.
What is emissivity?
The measure of an object’s ability to emit infrared energy.
How are albedo and emissivity related?
They are inversely related.
What is solar reflectance index (SRI)?
The measure of a surface’s ability to reflect solar heat.
