Urban Forms Flashcards
Define a CBD:
Central business district
What are the three features of a CBD?
- Shopping facilities (e.g. retail stores)
- Business offices
- Entertainment and leisure facilities
Define gentrification:
When deprived or run-down areas get regenerated into more affluent areas.
Give three positives of gentrification:
- Increase in economic activity
- Increased employment opportunities
- Better standard of living
Give three negatives of gentrification:
- Locals are unable to afford the area when house prices increase
- Conflict between locals and newcomers
- Cultures are lost by newcomers
Give five features of a fortress landscape:
- CCTV
- Fencing off on restricted areas (with fences, railing)
- Street lighting
- Methods to control transport speed (e.g. speed bumps, low speed limits)
- Alarms
Give two positives of fortress landscapes:
- Can be effective at reducing crime
- Increase residents safety
Give one negative of fortress landscapes:
- Can cause segregation
Define a postmodern western city:
City formed through development typically at the end of the 20th century.
Give features of postmodern western cities:
- ‘Iconic’ architect all designs
- High levels of ethnic diversity
- Social inequalities
- High economic activity
How can topography influence the growth of a city?
- e.g. steep slopes are harder to build on and less accessible, so poorer housing (ie. slums) may be built on them.
- Large flat areas encourage low density developments as there is a lot of space to build on.
How can water influence the growth of a city?
- e.g. presence of lakes and seas limit urban growth in those areas, while cities may grow along the course of a river.
- City centre shops and businesses are usually located close to the waterfront, rather than at geographical centre of the city.
How can natural resources influence the growth of a city?
Rich resources (e.g. coal, metal) encourage growth in size and population of cities.
How can land type influence the growth of a city?
Some ground surfaces are more difficult or expensive to build on than others, e.g. swamps and wetlands can limit urban growth.
How can planning influence the growth of a city?
- Urban expansion can be planned or unplanned.
- Planned developments = open space, leisure facilities
- Unplanned developments = Slums
How can infrastructure influence the growth of a city?
New developments are often built along transport links, leading to linear growth.
How can land value influence the growth of a city?
The highest value land is often found in the city centre, so profitable businesses usually locate there, while less profitable businesses may be found further from the centre.
In an urban area, where is the highest value land found?
City centre
