Urban forms Flashcards
Urban forms
The physical characteristics that make up a city e.g. size, shape, population density and how it is arranged (land use patterns)
Where are cities usually established?
In areas with good water supplies, fertile soil, natural resources and goof defence positions.
Topography
A physical factor affecting urban forms.
Steep slopes are harder to build on
Large flat areas encourage low density developments because there is plenty of space.
Water
A physical factor affecting urban forms.
Cities may grow along the course of a river, with shops and business allocated at the water front.
Natural resources
A physical factor affecting urban forms
Resources such as coal encourage growth in cities.
Land type
A physical factor affecting urban forms.
Land such as swamps and wetland is more difficult to build on so urban growth is limited.
Planning
A human factor affecting urban forms
Planned urban expansion includes open spaces and leisure facilities.
In contrast, unplanned expansion occurs in LICS (slums).
Infrastructure
Transport links such as motorways lead to linear growth.
Land value
High value land (city centres) is occupied by profitable businesses whilst independent shops are further out.
Land use patterns in the developed world
Central business district, surrounded by housing.
Housing generally increases in value with distance away from the city centre.
Land value - developed world
Inner city = high value High density (sky scrapers), low wages, poverty, lots of ethnic minorities.
Rural/semi-rural areas = lower value
Less dense, more open space, larger and newer houses, relatively high wages, low proportion of ethnic minorities.
Shopping centres e.g. cribbs causeway may be built on the outskirts of rural areas due to cheap land.
Land value - developing world
Inner city = high value
High cost housing, high wages, wealthy residents (sometimes immigrants)
Zone of medium cost housing that may have original been an informal settlement. Housing has been improved and some services are provided.
Outskirts = low cost
Informal housing, limited access to clean water and electricity, poorly paid jobs, high unemployment, immigrants from else where in the country.
Town centre mixed aid developments
Recent changes to developed countries.
Residential, commercial and leisure uses are all combined.
Flats, offices, shops, gyms and bars are all in the same place.
Cultural and heritage quarters
Recent changes to developed countries.
Areas that focus on the history or character of a city - home to theatres, art galleries and historical buildings.
Often developed by local councils to regenerate former industrial areas, attract visitors, and create jobs. e.g. tobacco factory.
Gentrified areas
Recent changes to developed countries.
Wealthy people move to run-down inner city areas and regenerate them by improving housing. e.g. Bristol harbourside.
Large range of services
Poorer residents are displaced, leading to segregation.
Fortress developments
Recent changes to developed countries.
High security areas.
Located in suburbs and only those with permission can enter them.
Safe environment however they are very divisive- only rich people can afford to live in them.
e.g. Oakbrook, Illinois
Edge cities
Recent changes to developed countries.
New areas with shops, offices and leisure facilities that are developed close to major transport links where land is cheaper.
They often contain housing but most people travel to them.
They have developed since the 1950s and 1960s as car ownership has increased - particularly in the US e.g. Las Colinas, Texas (near Dallas)
Post-modern cities
Cities that are moving away from uniformity in architecture. Their characteristics include:
Multiple centres with different purposes
Focus on tertiary and quaternary rather than secondary
Planning prioritises aesthetics over practical use.
Higher social and economic inequality.
e.g. Gherkin in London
