Urban design is concerned with the arrangement, appearance and function of our suburbs, towns and cities. It is both a process and an outcome of creating localities in which people live, engage with each other, and engage with the physical place around them.

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Q1 What is Urban Design? Compare between Architecture and Urban Design?
A1
URBAN DESIGN
Urban design is concerned with the arrangement, appearance and function of our suburbs, towns and
cities. It is both a process and an outcome of creating localities in which people live, engage with each
other, and engage with the physical place around them.
Urban design involves many different disciplines including planning, development, architecture,
landscape architecture,engineering, economics, law and finance, among others.
Urban design operates at many scales, from the macro scale of the urban structure (planning, zoning,
transport and infrastructure networks) to the micro scale of street furniture and lighting. When fully
integrated into policy and planning systems, urban design can be used to inform land use planning,
infrastructure, built form and even the socio-demographic mix of a place.
URBAN DESIGN CAN SIGNIFICANTLYINFLUENCE THE ECONOMIC,
ENVIRONMENTAL,SOCIALAND CULTURAL OUTCOMES OF A PLACE:
 Urban design can influence the economic success and socio-economic composition of a
locality—whether it encourages local businesses and entrepreneurship; whether it attracts people
to live there; whether the costs of housing and travel are affordable; and whether access to job
opportunities, facilities and services are equitable.
 Urban design determines the physical scale,space and ambience of a place and establishes the
built and natural forms within which individual buildings and infrastructure are sited. As such, it
affects the balance between natural ecosystems and built Environment and
their sustainability outcomes.
 Urban design can influence health and the social and cultural impacts of a locality: how people
interact with each other, how they move around, and how they use a place.
Although urban design is often delivered as a specific ‘project’, it is in fact a long-term process that continues
to evolve over time. It is this layering of building and infrastructure types, naturalecosystems, communities
and cultures that gives places their unique characteristics and identities.
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN
This diagram shows the approximate hierarchical relationship between the elements of urban design,
followed by a brief definition of each of the elements. The section below provides basic explanations for
terms that are commonly used for urban design in the Australian context.

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ELEMENTS OF URBAN FORM MACRO TO MICRO
1. URBAN STRUCTURE
The overall framework of a region, town or precinct, showing relationships between zones of built forms,
land forms, natural environments, activities and open spaces. It encompasses broader systems including
transport and infrastructure networks.
2. URBAN GRAIN
The balance of open space to Built form, and the nature and extent of subdividing an area into smaller
parcels or blocks. For Example a ‘fine urban grain’ might constitute a network of small or detailed
streetscapes. It takes into consideration the hierarchy of street types,the physical linkages and movement
between locations, and modes of transport.
3. DENSITY + MIX
The intensity of development and the range of different uses (such as residential, commercial, institutional or
recreational uses).

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4. HEIGHT + MASSING
The scale of buildings in relation to height and floor area,and how they relate to surrounding land forms,
buildings and streets. It also incorporates building envelope, site coverage and solar orientation. Height
and massing create the sense of openness or enclosure, and affect the amenity of streets,spaces and other
buildings.
5. STREETSCAPE + LANDSCAPE
The design of public spaces such as streets,open spaces and pathways, and includes landscaping,
microclimate, shading and planting.
6. FACADE + INTERFACE
The relationship of buildings to the site, street and neighbouring buildings (alignment, setbacks,boundary
treatment) and the architectural expression of their facades (projections, openings, patterns and materials).
7. DETAILS + MATERIALS
The close-up appearance of objects and surfaces and the selection of materials in terms of detail,
craftsmanship, texture, colour, durability, sustainability and treatment. It includes street furniture, paving,
lighting and signage. It contributes to human comfort, safety and enjoyment of the public domain.
PUBLIC REALM
Much of urban design is concerned with the design and management of publicly used space (also referred
to as the public realm or public domain) and the way this is experienced and used.
The public realm includes the natural and built environment used by the general public on a day-to-day
basis such as streets,plazas, parks, and public infrastructure. Some aspects of privately owned space such
as the bulk and scale of buildings, or gardens that are visible from the public realm, can also contribute to
the overall result.
At times, there is a blurring of public and private realms, particularly where privately owned space is
publicly used.
TOPOGRAPHY, LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT
The natural environment includes the topography of landforms, water courses,flora and fauna—whether
natural or introduced. It may be in the form of rivers and creeks,lakes, bushland, parks and recreational
facilities, streetscapes or private gardens, and is often referred to as ‘green infrastructure’.
SOCIAL + ECONOMIC FABRIC
The non-physical aspects of the urban form which include social factors (culture, participation, health and
well-being) as well as the productive capacity and economic prosperity of a community. It incorporates
aspects such as demographics and life stages,social interaction and support networks.
SCALE
The size, bulk and perception of a buildings and spaces. Bulk refers to the height, width and depth of a
building in relation to other surrounding buildings, the street,setbacks and surrounding open space. For
example, a large building set amongst other smaller buildings may seem ‘out of scale’.

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URBAN FORM
The arrangement of a built-up area. This arrangement is made up of many components including how
close buildings and uses are together; what uses are located where; and how much of the natural
environment is a part of the built-up area.
https://urbandesign.org.au/what-is-urban-design/
COMPARE BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
RESPONSIBLITIES OF VS ARCHITECTS
There are times that urban planners and architects may work together to finalize plans for a building that's
going to be constructed. While architects design building plans, urban planners are responsible for
recommending how land will be used and what types of things are needed to meet the needs of a
community. Architects and urban planners both need to be familiar with building codes and land use
regulations to ensure that their work complies with all applicable regulations. While an architect may be
focused on one building project at a time, an urban planner may be considering that project as well as
severalother projects, including how outdoor areas will be developed. Architects focus on a specific
client's needs,while urban planners must consider the needs of the community as a whole.
URBAN PLANNERS
To prepare for a career as an urban planner it's common to major in disciplines such as environmental
design or geography. After earning a bachelor's degree, aspiring planners must complete a master's degree
in urban or regional planning. Urban planners determine how land will be developed in urban areas to
accommodate the city's needs based on population growth. Urban planners typically work regular daytime
hours, although they may need to attend some evening or weekend meetings, and they do need to travel to
the locations they are considering for development projects. The majority of urban planners work for
local governments, although they may also find work with architectural or engineering firms.
Job Responsibilities Of An Urban Planner Include:
 Meeting with community members to discuss development proposals
 Addressing concerns from the community
 Assessing development proposals
 Reviewing relevant bylaws and regulations that may affect how land is developed
 Assessing the long-term needs of an area and prioritizing development needs
ARCHITECTS
Some architects are self-employed, but the majority work for architectural or engineering firms. They are
responsible for designing structures that will be constructed. Architects spend a lot of time working
regular daytime hours in offices, although they do need to travel to the location where a structure they
designed is being built to ensure that their design plan is followed. They need to have a bachelor's degree
in architecture, and must also complete an internship and pass a national exam to work as an architect.
Architects use their creative talents when developing design plans but they also need strong analytical
skills, because they must consider building codes,clients' needs and budgets when working on their
designs.

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Job Responsibilities of An Architect Include:
 Meeting with potential clients to discuss their projects and needs
 Developing a proposed budget for the project
 Drafting sketches of what the building would look like
 Preparing blueprints
 Checking on the construction crew's progress
 Finalizing contracts with construction crews
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