plx 111 final Flashcards
Ways to define a city
declarative, legal and political terms
variety of amenities available means
schools, parks, hospitals, transport, electricity, etc
structure of population
population density and size
How does Ontario define cities
declarative
Lewis Mumford “What is a City”?
collection of primary groups and purposive associations
Purposive definition
groups that support themselves through economic organization that are publicly regulated (churches, governments, armies, etc)
primary groups
organizations without legal structure (families, neighbourhoods)
why are cities important
80% of the global gdp is generated in cities (create lots of wealth). citizens also have a higher quality of life (better education)
How many people live in cities
over 50% of the worlds pop. by 2045 city population is expected to rise to 6 billion
Richard Florida definition of creative class
people whose economic function is to create new ideas, technology, and creative content. people are paid to use their minds. social and economic factors of the individual can vary
what is class traditionally concerned with
social standing (hierarchal), economic basis, social basis, dependent on culture and geographic role (in NA we do not discuss class)
why is the creative class important
drives economic change
Landry’s idea of a creative city
“how do you create the conditions in which people can think, plan, and act with imagination”
Contributor to making great cities
place, connection, design, experience, inspiration, learning, possibility
Public space
open and freely accessible to the general public
importance of public space
cities have political and social life depend on public space, public spaces have both practical and symbolic uses, and the image of a city is formed through experiences of public spaces
impact of good quality public space
people spend more time there, improves mental and physical health, helps prevent crime (“eyes on the street”), facilitates political mobilization and engagement
impact of poor quality public space
makes us insecure, become places of passage, poorer health outcomes due to inactivity and stress
quality public space and safety
people will be on the street if they feel safe, street will be safer if more people are present
public space highly regulated and contested
but, rules tend to reflect priorities of the most powerful socioeconomic groups. instead, regulations should be focused on tending to what people deem socially undesirable
Gehl: Types of Outdoor Activity
elements that contributes to people’s enjoyment of public spaces are stable.
Types of activities
necessary: things that happen all year round
optional: influenced by physical environment (taking a walk, sitting in the sun)
social: develop because people are in the same space. short duration
types of social contact
high intensity (close friends, friends) low intensity (acquaintances, chance contacts, passive contacts)
public space and social contact
people are attracted to other people