Urban Forms Flashcards
Megacity
Urban agglomeration with a population of 10 million or more
Periphery
Outlying regions of a country
Periphery Characteristics
Least economic value Provide resources for core Less affluent People leave due to push factors Wales, Scotland, Cornwall
Core
Central area of a country, usually with the seat of government
Core Characteristics
Most economic growth = most jobs
Most affluent live there
Best infrastructure
London + South East
Megacity Characteristics
2-3 times more GDP than other cities
Less environmentally damaging- public transport
Fuel political pressure- protests
Centres of innovation- solutions to global problems trialed
Better education and healthcare
Empower women
More efficient to provide utilities and services in densely populated areas
World City
A city not necessarily the largest in terms of population, but is disproportionately important to the economy
How are World Cities ranked?
What are the 4 main aspects?
Globalisation and World Cities Research Network, part of the ‘knowledge economy’
Accountancy
Law
Advertising
Banking / Finance
More economically interconnected cities ranked as alpha ++, progressively moves down
Characteristics of World Cities
Production Hub Political Hub Migration Hub Cultural Hub Business, Transport, Trade
Production Hub
Manufacturing centres i.e. East End
Media and communications centres
TNC headquarters
Political Hub
Power at a global level Dictate trading links between countries Majors promote city globally Influence and participate in global events i.e. 2012 Olympics i.e. G8 Summits
Cultural Hub
Museums
National theatres
High quality educational institutions
Multi-functional infrastructure
Migration Hub
Jobs = migration
Attracts a large number of talented and globally mobile people
i.e. London’s population speaks over 300 languages
Business, Transport, Trade
Financial headquarters i.e. Canary Wharf
Dominate trade
TNC headquarters
Large levels of international passenger traffic i.e. Heathrow Airport
Urban Form
Relates to physical characteristics going towards the makeup of an area
Physical factors impacting the make up of an area
Topography- gap towns
Water
Natural Resources
Land Type
Human factors impacting the make up of an area
Planning
Infrastructure
Land Value
Town Centre Mixed Developments
Mixed land use
Planned by local councils
Funded partly by private investment
Aims to attract people back to city centre
Town Centre Mixed Developments: Example
Cube, Birmingham
24 storey mixed use development
BBC, Highways England, Hotel Indigo
135 flats
Cultural and Heritage Quarters
Focuses on history and character of an area
Local councils redevelop former industrial areas
Attracts visitors = economic development
Jewellery Quarter
Fortress Developments
Security: CCTV, high walls, security guards
Often in suburban areas
Safe place for families- only rich can afford
Gentrified Areas
Wealthy regenerate run down inner city areas by improving housing
Creates a range of high quality housing
Large access to services
Poorer residents maybe displaced due to increased living costs- social and ethnic segregation
Edge Cities
New areas of offices, shops, leisure facilities
Built near major transport links- cheap land
Some housing too
Most travel to them for work or to use available services
Become more popular with increased car ownership
Common in USA
How does topography affect an urban form?
Steep hillsides = slums
Flat areas encourage low density housing as lots of space
How does water affect an urban form?
Cities grow along rivers i.e. London
Seas and lakes inhibit urban growth
How do natural resources affect an urban form?
Areas rich in resources encourage population gorwth
How does land type affect an urban form?
Some land types difficult and expensive to build on
Swamps and wetlands inhibit urban growth
How does planning affect an urban form?
Unplanned leads to expanding slums and poor infrastructure
Planned often includes open spaces and leisure facilities
How does infrastructure affect an urban form?
New developments often built along transport links- linear growth
Utilities can be extended to connect to new developments
How does land value affect an urban form?
Highest in city centre- profitable chain stores and skyscrapers
Less profitable shops and large houses located further out where land is cheaper
Structure of a city in a developed country
CBD
Inner City- relative poverty, high pop. density, high proportion of ethnic minorities
Suburbs- less dense housing as lower land value, houses are large and newer, less ethnic minorities, science parks and out of town shopping
Structure of a city in a developing country
CBD
High cost housing- wealthy residents, luxury apartments, wealthy immigrants from HIC’s
Medium cost housing- Likely to have initially been informal that has slowly improved and had some services provided
Low cost housing- Informal, limited service access, high poverty, rural to urban migrants
Industrial areas located along transport links
5 Characteristics of Post Modern Western Cities
Multiple centres with different purposes
Focus on tertiary and quaternary industries
Less uniform architecture
Planning priorities aesthetics over practicality
Higher social and economic inequality
