Urban Forms Flashcards
Describe what Urban Form is?
Urban form is the physical characteristics that make up a city, including its size and shape, population density and how the city is arranged (e.g. land use patterns in different areas).
Where were many cities established?
Many cities were initially established in areas with good water supplies, fertile soil for growing food, plentiful natural resources and good defensive positions.
How does the topography affect the growth of cities?
Physical features often influence the growth of cities. E.g. steep slopes are harder to build on and less accessible, so poorer housing may be built on them. Large flat areas encourage low density developments because there’s lots of space to build.
How does water affect the growth of the cities?
The presence of lakes and seas limit urban growth in those areas, while cities may grow along the course of the river. City centre shops and businesses are usually located close to the waterfront, rather then at geographical centre of the city.
How do natural resources affect the growth of cities?
Rich resources encourage growth in size and population of cities.
How does the land type affect the growth of cities?
Some ground surfaces are more difficult or expensive to build on than others, e.g. swamps and wetlands can limit urban growth.
How does planning affect urban expansion?
Urban expansion can be planned or unplanned. For example, a lot of urban growth in developing countries is caused by the unplanned expansion of slums. In contrast, planned development often include open space, leisure facilities etc.
How does infrastructure affect urban growth?
New developments are often built along transport links leading to linear growth.
How does land value affect the urban growth?
The highest land value land is often found in the city centre, so profitable businesses normally locate there, while less profitable businesses may be found further from the centre.
Describe features of inner city areas in the developed world?
The CBD is surrounded by housing. Although land value tends to be highest in the city centre, houses generally increase in value with distance away from the centre. Inner city areas have high land value, so housing is typically high density. Wages are often low and many residents live in relative poverty. The proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be high.
Describe features of the outer city in the developed world?
Land value is lower in rural and semi rural areas, so residential areas are less dense and have more open space. Houses are usually larger and newer than those in inner city areas. Residents are generally quite wealth and earn relatively high wages. The proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be low.
Describe the features of inner city areas in the developing world?
Cities in the developing world have CBD’s which is surrounded by housing, which decreased in value with distance away from the centre. Land value is generally highest around the city centre, so high cost housing is built there. Wages are generally high, and residents are wealthy. These areas are often home to wealthy immigrants from developed countries and emerging countries and emerging economies.
Describe the features of the outer city in the developing world?
Surrounding the high cost housing there is often a zone of medium cost housing. It may have started as an informal settlement, but gradually the housing has been improved and some services have been provided. Land value is very low on the outskirts of cities, so low cost and informal housing is built there, often with limited access to services such as clean water and electricity. Most residents have poorly paid jobs and poverty levels are high. Immigrants from elsewhere in the country and from other developing countries may settle there.
Describe Town Centre Mixed Developments in modern urban areas?
These are areas where land use is mixed - luxury flats, offices, shops and entertainment facilities (bars, cinemas, gyms) are all located there, so residential, commercial and leisure uses are combines. Developments are planned by local councils, often with private investment. The aim is to attract people back to city centres by giving them opportunities to live, work and relax there.
Describe features of cultural and heritage quarters in modern urban areas?
These areas focus on the hisotry or character of city, e.g. Southampton’s Cultural Quarter includes Sea City Museum, which has exhibits about the city’s maritime history. Such areas are often home to theatres, art galleries and historical buildings. They are often developed by local councils to regenerate former industrial areas. They attract visitors, encouraging economic development and creating jobs.
