Urban Forms Flashcards
Urban form
Physical characteristics and organisation of a city
Includes size, shape, population density and arrangement
Physical factors affecting urban form
Topography - physical features
Natural resources - coal and metal
Water
Land type
Human factors affecting urban form
Planning
Infrastructure
Land value
how does topography affect urban form?
steep slopes are harder to build on and less accessible
- results in poorer housing eg favelas
how do natural resources affect urban form?
rich resources encourage growth in size and population
eg coal and metals
how does water affect urban form?
presence of lakes and oceans limits urban growth
cities often grow along rivers
city centres on waterfront
how does land type affect urban form?
some surfaces harder to build on or more expensive
eg swamps
how does planning affect urban form?
planned urban expansion can include open space and leisure facilities
unplanned expansion often results in poorer housing
eg favelas
how does infrastructure affect urban form?
new developments often built along transport links
leads to linear growth
how does land value affect urban form?
highest value often in city centres
profitable business locate there
eg chain stores
less profitable business further out
Urban form in HICs (burgess model)
with distance:
- land value decreases
- house prices increase
CBD - buisness and shops
Inner city - high land value, high density, lower wages
Inner suburbs - residential, lower quality
Outer suburbs - residential housing
Rural urban fringe - suburbanised villages, land value decreases, house prices increase
Urban form in LICs (burgess model)
with distance:
- land value decreases
- house prices decrease
CBD - shops and buisness, high cost housing
Improved housing - informal housing that has been developed
Favelas - informal housing, limited services
Industry - along transport links, good supply of workers
Town centre mixed developments
Mixed land use - offices, shops, entertainment etc
Planned often with private investment
Aims to attract people back to city centres
Wide range of facilities and spaces
TCMD example
South Bank
Offices, new homes, lesuire
Cultural and heritage quarters
Focus on history and character of a city
Such as theatres, historical buildings, art galleries
Aim to attract visitors and encourage economic development
Cultural quarter example
Cultural and heritage quarter, Leeds
Corn exchange, FD arena, playhouse
Gentrified areas
Buying and renovating of properties, often in more run down areas by wealthier individuals
Helps regenerate and improve housing
Causes of gentrification
The rent gap - difference between actual and potential prices, attracts individuals to renovate
Commuting costs reduced in city centre
Positives of gentrification
Increased local tax
Improved physical environment
Growth in area
Negatives of gentrification
Increase house prices, locals can’t afford
Loss of original services
Tensions and conflict
Gentrified area example
Headingly, Leeds
Gentrification caused 28% rise in house prices since 2011
PMWC
Based on idea of postmodernism reflects changes in western society in 20th cent.
changes to architecture and form:
- Fragmented urban form
- Less uniform architecture
socio economic changes
- more ethnically diverse
- more social segregation
- move from manufacturing to services (tertiary)
PMWC example
Leeds trinity
Less uniform
Fortress developments
Lots of security
CCTV, guards, high walls
Often in suburban areas
Designed to be safe for families but expensive, create sgregation as only rich can live there
Gated communities
