This document discusses urban design principles and controls. It begins by defining urban design and its role in shaping public spaces and urban patterns. It then covers various design principles like scale, enclosure, grain, texture and morphology. It discusses the importance of factors like building height, ground coverage, and floor area ratio that are regulated through urban controls. The document uses examples from Chandigarh to explain how zoning and architectural controls were used to shape its development according to Le Corbusier's plan. In summary, the document outlines key urban design concepts and analyzes how regulations and controls were applied in Chandigarh to achieve its planned urban form.
3. INTRODUCTION
Urban design deals with the larger scale of groups of buildings, streets and public
spaces, whole neighborhoods and districts, and entire cities, with the goal of making
urban areas functional, attractive, and sustainable.
Urban design theory deals primarily with the design and management of public
space and the way public places are experienced and used. Public space includes
the totality of spaces used freely on a day-to-day basis by the general public, such
as streets, plazas, parks and public infrastructure.
WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN?
arrangement, appearance & functionality
of towns and cities, especially,
shaping and uses of urban public space.
4. ROLE OF URBAN DESIGN SHAPING AND USES OF PUBLIC SPACE
Urban Design Theory deals primarily with āDesign and Management of Public
& Public Places are experienced Public Space -- 'environment',
the way and used.
Some aspects of privately owned
spaces,such as building facades or
domestic gardens, also contribute to
public space and are, therefore, also
considered by Urban Design Theory.
public environment ,
'public realm' or 'public domainā --
includes all manners of spaces used
freely on a day-to-day basis by the
general public --streets, plazas, parks..
5. DESIGN PRINCIPLES ā
URBAN SCALE
WHAT IS āSCALEā?
ā¢ System of measurement convenient to us
and whatever we are measuring
ā¢ Relative proportion or āmoduleā ā
Full extent of a building or a city whose design is based
on a module
consists of elements occurring at regular intervals ā
Allows us to imagine
parts that we cannot see
ā¢ Keeping things in context with each other
and with people ā
City and its parts are interrelated and also related to
people and their
abilities to comprehend their surroundings ā to feel āin
placeā in the
environment
6. Hierarchy of
Spatial Types
based on
āScaleā
Ranges from
small, intimate
court spaces,
to grand urban
spaces,
ending with
vast space of
nature in
which the city
is set
URBAN SCALE
8. ā¢ A person 3-10ā from us is in ācloseā
relationship, 8ā is normal conversation
distance āspeak in normal voices, catch
subtleties of speech & facial gestures.
ā¢ 40ā -- distinguish facial expressions.
ā¢ 80ā ā friendās 80 Recognize a friend s face
ā¢ 450ā ā Discern body gesture. Maximum
distance at which we can distinguish a
man from a woman, or tell if someone is
waving for a taxi, catching ball, etc. (Max.
acceptable distance in athletic stadiums)
ā¢ 4,000ā ā Maximum distance for seeing
people, beyond which they are too small to
How does this determine Urban Scale?
be seen at all.
ā¢ āIntimate Spacesā of a city are usually not
more than 80ā across
ā¢ āUrbane Spacesā are generally around 450ā
ā¢ In āMonumental Vistasā greater than 4000ā,
human beings cease to play a part
9. Grand āurban spacesā cannot exceed
450ā without seeming too large ,
unless some intermediary elements
are introduced to sustain the
character of the place
Intimate Scaleā of our fine old
residential streets
In āMonumental Vistasā
greater than 4000ā, human
beings cease to play a part
TRIUMPHAL ARCHWAY,PARIS
Ā St. Peterās Square
in the Vatican
10.
11. DESIGN PRINCIPLES āURBAN ENCLOSURE &URBAN MASS -1
A fundamental requirement of urban space is
actual urban enclosure, or its strong
articulation by urban forms.
Just how much enclosure is necessary?
Our frontal field of view in a space
determines ādegree of enclosureā ā sense of
space ā which is given by the relationship of
viewing distance to building height.
Full Enclosure (1:1): Since building is
considerably higher than the upper limit (30
degrees) of our vision, we feel well-enclosed)
Threshold of Enclosure (1:2):FaƧade height
coincides with the upper limit of our normal
view. This is the threshold of distraction, the
lower limit for creating a feeling of enclosure.
Minimum Enclosure (1:3):We perceive the
prominent objects beyond the space as much
as the space itself.
Loss of Enclosure (1:4):The space loses its
containing quality and peripheral facades
function more as edges.
12. Click to add title
45 degrees (1:1):Tend to notice details more than the whole facade or object
30 degrees (1:2): See object as a whole composition together with its details.
18 degrees (1:3):Tend to see the object in relation to its surroundings.
14 degrees (1:4):Tend to see the object as a forward edge in an overall scene.
13. Click to add titleSpatial enclosure is also a matter of
continuity of wall surface:
the role of building facades must be
subservient to the spaces they form.
Spatial enclosure can be weakened
by too many gaps in building walls,
drastic variation among the facades
Facades , and, abrupt changes in cornice
line
DESIGN PRINCIPLES āURBAN ENCLOSURE &URBAN MASS - 2
18 degrees (1:3):18 degrees (1:3): Tend to see the
object in relation to its surroundings
14. 14 degrees (1:4): Tend to see the object
as a forward edge in an overall scene.
QUIPO CHURCHGOLDEN TEMPLE
30 degrees (1:2): See object as a whole
composition together with its details.
15. Traditionally streets in
hot climates were
frequently built to be
much narrower than their
height in order to provide
shaded streets, and
many pleasant streets in
cooler climates also
display this
characteristic.
Phoenix Town, Hunan, China.The Shambles, York
CONTRADICTION OF ENCLOSURES SATISFYING RATIO
16. ļ±URBAN GRAIN
ļ±URBAN PATTERN
ļ±URBAN TEXTURE
ļ±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 āfine urban grainā 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.
17. Urban grain refers to the street pattern, block sizes and building pattern within a city
and describes the interrelationship between these elements.
A fine urban grain is highly desired to create a precinct which is as inviting and
approachable as possible to visitors.
The Design must balance high quality permanent landscape with flexible, well-
designed urban spaces that can continually change and support a variety of
activities and events and draw an increased number of visitors to the site.
FINE GRAIN
COURSE GRAIN
Grain is fine when similar elements or functions are widely dispersed throughout the
district without forming any large clusters. On the other hand, grain is coarse if
different elements and functions are segregated from each other in a way that
extensive areas of one thing are separated from extensive areas of other things
18. ļ±URBAN PATTERN
ļ±The pattern of the city is the way how
different functions and elements of the
settlement form are distributed and mixed
together spatially. It can be measured by
the size of its grain.
ļ±The design pattern in the cityās outer
neighborhoods is less formal than it is in
the heart of the city. Their image is defined
more by architecture, scale, tree cover, and
topography than it is by monumental vistas.
ļ±IT CAN BE OF DIFFERENT TYPES:-
RADIAL PATTERN
GRID PATTERN
LINEAR PATTERN
19. Urban texture usually refers to the urban space patterns which include the urban
space structure and the arrangement of its related factors .
At beginning phase, urban texture was used as a method of analyzing space and
its importance was subsequently realized in urban historic preservation, urban
design, and urban landscape studies.
At the macroscale, urban texture examines the main urban landscape
characteristics of a city.
At the microscale, urban texture underlines the interrelations of land-use, block,
and street layouts, which are the physical expressions of urban evolution.
PATTERNS CAN BE EVEN AND UNEVEN PATTERNS.
ļ±URBAN TEXTURE
24. Urban Morphology is the study of the physical form of a city, which, among other things,
consists of
o street patterns,
o building sizes and shapes,
o architecture,
o population density and patterns of residential, commercial, industrial and other uses,
Urban morphology is, thus, the study of urban tissue, or urban fabric, in order to discern and analyse
o the basic structure of the built landscape,
o the manner in which social forms are expressed in the physical layout of a city, and
conversely, how physical form of a city can produce various social forms
o how the physical form of a city changes over time
o how different cities compare to each other
URBAN MORPHOLOGY
25.
26.
27. WHAT ARE āURBAN CONTROLSā
At no stage in the growth of a human
settlement can one
predict its total or ultimate form ā
development takes place in
space and time, and, is subject to social,
economic, political,
technological , and, several other stresses
The Purpose of āUrban Controlsā or
āUrban Regulatory
Measuresā is, thus, to create a system of
development that
will permit the realization of form in which
an urban settlement
is conceived, and, which will give the
designersā hand the
strength of law.
28. DEVELOPMENT OF REGULATORY MEASURES
ā¢Formal Beginning around mid-19th century
ā¢Instituted to clarify boundaries of āpublicā and āprivateā domain ā
ā¢Social, health and safety requirements began to be major regulators of
urban form (Adoption of Housing Codes, Regulations for fire prevention,
etc.)
IMPORTANT LAWS / DATES LAWS / DATES
ā¢1916 ā Pioneering āZoning Lawsā in New York - Necessitated by threat
to property values posed by 40-storey Equitable Building that cut off
light and air from its adjoining plots Led to the āZoningā / public
regulations ensuring adequate light and air
ā¢1926 ā Standard Enabling Legislationā ā empowered state city
governments to prepare zoning plans, etc.
ā¢1954 ā Supreme Court of decided that aesthetics was a just public
concern worthy of support by law.
29. ELEMENTS AFFECTED BY URBAN CONTROLS:
Urban Controls affect anything that plays a role or role, or, occurs in the design of
the āpublic realmā ā i.e., spaces as well as objects in space ā
ā¢Constructed Volumes ( individual & occurring in groups). Features affected form,
scale, skyline, spatial setting, faƧade, materials, colour, etc.
ā¢Open Spaces / Urban Spaces: Features affected ā Scale, degree of
enclosure, surface contour, floorscape, landscaping, street furniture
ā¢Circulation Channels: Features affected ā size, right-of-way, flanking
buildings, trees, hoardings, and, all such elements seem on or from such
channels
ā¢Public Services, including electric supply lines, telephone lines, drainage,
water supply, etc. and the manner of taking connections from the public
supply lines to private / individual property
30. THE CITYāS MASTER PLAN -- an overall urban concept, an idea:
Document showing major components of the city ā Layout of Roads
of various categories; Disposition / location of major functions;
Public land for parks, bus stations, other public uses; Broad
densities FARs --
ZONING ORDINANCE -- enforcement of Master Plan:
set of specifications with LEGAL backing
Most forceful regulator of urban form and the appearance of cities
SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS -- Physical extensions of āzoningā:
More clear statement of building form and community character
Specify size of front and rear yard coverage yard, minimum coverage, sometimes
materials, fenestration, etc.
31. EFFECT OF SOME EVENTS --
ā¢Civic Defence required construction of defensive wall ā
regulated physical limits to city
ā¢Control on sale of land to inhabitants
generally led to grid layouts
Before 19th century No control on actual use of land
As city developed and became more dense ā it became important
to clarify the difference between the āpublicā and āprivateā domain
Right-of-way for traffic
Operation of a police and fire system
Sewage disposal, water supplyā¦
Social requirements began to be major regulators of urban form
Government tasks
Mid -19th century
32. TYPES OF URBAN CONTROLSTYPES OF URBAN CONTROLS
ā¢ZONING
ā¢ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS
ā¢GROUND COVERAGE
ā¢F.A.R.
ā¢BUILDING HEIGHT
70% of the city of Chandigarh was to be constructed through private development thus the
architects and planners conceptualized a series of architectural regulations meant to preserve
the street picture. These regulations became legislation in 1958.
36. Le Corbusier planned that every dwelling should
have three elements of Sun, Space and greenery.
ZONINGZONING
37. Chandigarhās architectural controls are
broken into four main categories:-
ā¢Along V2 streets
system of architectural and construction
controls were placed on all buildings.
ā¢Along V4 streets
Residential and commercial structures
regulated by full architectural controls.
ā¢Along V6 streets
Residential plots up to 10 marla in size
are governed by frame controls
concerning the faƧade.
ā¢Schematic controls
They are applied to special purpose
buildings like petrol pumps and cinemas
that do not fall under other categories.
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLSARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS
38. ā¢Along V4 streets
Residential and commercial structures
regulated by full architectural controls.
ā¢Along V6 streets
Residential plots are governed by
frame controls concerning the
faƧade.
ARCHITECTURAL CONTROLSARCHITECTURAL CONTROLS
39. GROUND COVERAGEGROUND COVERAGE
IT IS THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SITE COVERAGE ON A PLOT
a). Marla houses of less than one kanal:
Ground coverage : 70%
b) One Kanal and above
but less than two Kanals
Ground coverage : 50%
c) Two Kanals
Ground coverage : 45%
d) Above Two Kanals
Ground coverage : 25%
e)Apartment building
Ground coverage : 40%
f)Educational building
Ground coverage : 40%
g)Banquet halls
Ground coverage : 40%
40. FLOOR AREA RATIOFLOOR AREA RATIO
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) - The quotient of the ratio of the combined covered area
(plinth area) of all floors, excepting areas specifically exempted under these
regulations, to the total area of plot, viz.: -
Total Covered Area on All Floors
Floor Area Ratio (FAR) = Plot Area
a). Marla houses of less than one kanal:
FAR : 2.0
b) One and above but less than two Kanals
FAR : 1.50
c) Two Kanals = FAR : 1.25
d) Above Two Kanals = FAR : 1.0
e)Apartment building = FAR : 2.0
f)Educational building = FAR : 1.5
g)Banquet halls = FAR : 1.0
41. BUILDING HEIGHTBUILDING HEIGHT
a) Residential Buildings
Max. permissible ht.-32ā3ā
b) S.C.F along V4
Max. permissible ht.-32ā3ā
c)Apartment buildings
Max. permissible ht.-62ā3ā
d)Banquet halls
Max. permissible ht.-48ā9ā
e)Educational buildings
Max. permissible ht.-57ā6ā
f) S.C.O. in sector-17
Compulsory height 57ā7ā
43. ā¢Agra is an important city of Mughal Period...
ā¢Total population of over 4,380,793 as of 2010ā¦
ā¢Population density - 1,084 persons per sq.km.
ā¢Agra is one of the top tourist destinationās in
Indiaā¦
ā¢Agra lies on the bank of the Yamuna riverā¦
ā¢It is the major tourist destination because of its
many splendid Mughal-era buildings , TAJ
MAHAL , AGRA FORT & FATEHPUR SIKRI all
3 are UNESCO World heritage sitesā¦
ā¢Shanghai is the highest populated city in the
worldā¦
ā¢Total population of over 23 million as of 2010ā¦
ā¢Population density - 13,631 persons per sq.km.
ā¢Major financial center and the busiest container
port in the worldā¦
ā¢Shanghai lies on the bank of the Yangtze
Riverā¦
ā¢Shanghai grew in importance in the 19th
century due to its favorable port location and
was one of the cities opened to foreign tradeā¦
AGRA SHANGHAI
44. Complete site is covered under built up area.
Streets are used for parking.
INFERENCE:
Public space is being used as private property,
further crowding the streets.
Residences in Shanghai have maximum
permissible FAR of 2 but Skyscrapers like
Shanghai Tower have F.A.R of upto 12.51ā¦
INFERENCE:
Building Volume is maintained.
AGRA SHANGHAI
FLOOR AREA RATIO(F.A.R.)/GROUND COVERAGEFLOOR AREA RATIO(F.A.R.)/GROUND COVERAGE
45. BUILDING SETBACKSBUILDING SETBACKS
AGRA SHANGHAI
No boundary wall is provided.
Entrance to the house is taken directly from the
street without any setbacks.
INFERENCE:
No scope of future expansion of any kind.
Lots of problems in vehicular movement.
Proper Setbacks are given.
INFERENCE:
Scope for Road Widening in Future.
46. BOUNDARY WALLBOUNDARY WALL
AGRA SHANGHAI
Wall of the building itself acts as a boundary wall
In buildings where boundary wall is provided no
specific heights are taken.
INFERENCE:
Streets become narrow with lack of natural light
and ventilation.
In Shanghai byelaws are not that strict for
boundary wall but still they have maintained
proper setback from the road.
INFERENCE:
More functional street.
47. WIDTH OF STREETWIDTH OF STREET
AGRA
ā¢
ā¢ INFERENCE:
ā¢ Vehicular and Pedestrian
movement are not Segregated.
SHANGHAI
No uniformity
in the width of
street is seen.
No sidewalks
are provided.
Lot of
encroachment
in the streets.
Heavy traffic on
streets.
Market places like
Nanjing Road has
road width of 28m.
No traffic
Movement is
Allowed there
In residential areas
Streets are
6.6 m to 30.0 m
wide.
INFERENCE:
Vehicular and
Pedestrian movement
are segregated in Market places.
48. PARK AREASPARK AREAS
SHANGHAIAGRA
Parks are provided only in the tourist buildings.
No neighborhood parks are provided.
1 -2 public parks are provided for the Agra city.
INFERENCE:
Makes the surroundings congested, Increases
the population density. No recreational spaces.
Shanghai has
Many outdoor
Gym Gardens
in every alternate
locality ā¦.
Shanghai has many smaller parks that offer
some reprieve from the urban jungle.
Yu-Yuan
Garden.
49. HEIGHT OF BUILDINGHEIGHT OF BUILDING
SHANGHAIAGRA
No height restrictions can be seen.
Skyline of the street is totally disrupted.
INFERENCE:
Doesn't create a balanced environment.
In Residential Area proper height is maintained
through out the street as per bye-laws.
Skyscrapers like
Shanghai Tower
has height of
632m.
(under construction)
INFERENCE:
They have different
Zone for Residential
Area and for sky-
Scrapers.