Urban Landscapes

Question 1

What is a fortress development?

Answer 1

An area of gated private housing
E.g. Johanassburg, South Africa

Question 2

What are the positives and negatives of Fortress developments?

Answer 2

P: low crime rates, little traffic, relaxing
N: expensive, creates divide with locals, sense of community isnt as strong

Question 3

Why might gated communities cause some tension?

Answer 3

There will be a hierarchy, so therefore rich people will feel superior to the poor

Question 4

What is a cultural /heritage quarter?

Answer 4

Area of cultural or historical attractions
E.g. Cardiff bay, Wales
Or Soho, London

Question 5

What are the positives and negatives of cultural heritage quarter?

Answer 5

P: brings in tourists which will boast the economy, learn about cultural events from around the world
N: overcrowding and congestion increasing pollution and litter

Question 6

What could Stratford upon Avon do to promote its heritage?

Answer 6

Have events every year to celebrate its heritage which will educate people on it and increase tourism

Question 7

What is a city edge?

Answer 7

Area at outskirts of a city with shops, offices etc…
E.g. Bunkers hill, east Lincoln

Question 8

What are the positives and negatives of Edge Cities?

Answer 8

P: cheaper land, higher security, transport, higher quality of life, greener. Schools, pedestrian and cycle paths
N: decentralisation of people and economic activities, have to build on greenfield land (destroying green areas and habitats for animals)

Question 9

What is meant by “donut cities”or “dead heart”

Answer 9

As the very centre of the city gets worse as there is more things going on at the edge

Question 10

What is meant by gentrified areas?

Answer 10

Where poorer areas which house lower income households change to higher end housing, so are more expensive

Question 11

What are the positives and negatives of gentrified areas?

Answer 11

P: makes poorer areas have a new lease of life, bringing in more tourists as area is more attractive, more small businesses
N: poor people loose their homes as they can’t afford to live their anymore

Question 12

How does gentrification lead to the change in character of an area?

Answer 12

Looses its traditional feel as people get kicked out, meaning that the culture will too

Question 13

What is urban form?

Answer 13

The physical characteristics of a town or city. It includes things such as the cities shape, size, population, density and layout. This can change over tiem

Question 14

How can population change an urban form over time?

Answer 14

Migration in and out of people need to be predicted. If numbers of people grow too fast levels of housing, schools and health services may fall behind

Question 15

How can environment change an urban form?

Answer 15

Things such as the amount of green spaces or parks per person or infrastructure such as sewer systems have to keep up with the pace of population

Question 16

How can economy change an urban form?

Answer 16

As population moves to suburbs or rural-urban fringe, many businesses follow to be closer to new customers

Question 17

How can technology change an urban form?

Answer 17

The internet and other advances have changed the ways people work. ‘Teleworking’ (working from home) has changed where people live in relation to their work place

Question 18

How can policy change an urban form?

Answer 18

Government decisions on things such as new housing, transport links, etc can either increase or slow down change in a city

Question 19

Why is urban sprawl bad for the environment?

Answer 19

• because to build more houses/infrastructure that make the city expand outwards, greenfield land has to be built on which takes away green areas and destroys animals habitats

Question 20

Why could redevelopment and conservation be good for the economy?

Answer 20

• as areas which are run down and look unattractive, can be renovated into nicer and more practical buildings which will hopefully bring in more people to the area, including tourists who will spend their money around the city in many different areas, this boasts the economy. Conservation can create jobs

Question 21

Why might infrastructure lead to issues like traffic?

Answer 21

• because more people will be travelling into the area to go to work or to the shops, meaning there will be an increase of cars on the road. Also, if infrastructure collapses e.g. a bridge, it will create traffic and diversions

Question 22

How can you tell that residential differentiation (people grouping together in certain areas based on their social or economic status) is more common in places such as Lagos, Nigeria?

Answer 22

As the poorest of people cant afford to build houses or buy a house so have to all live together in very close proximity, so they live together in slums

Question 23

What is transit oriented development?

Answer 23

• new housing or business developments surrounding transport links such as by passes or railway stations

Question 24

What is car dominated urban form?

Answer 24

• lower density housing tends to be at the edges of the city, these places are designed to be more accessible by car