Cities/Urban Land Use…

Cities/Urban Land Use…

In 1950 1/3 of the world lived in cities.

Today :1/2 live in cities; number is increasing.

Historic City Functions

Commercial Centers – Miami (?), Aventura (?)

Industrial Cities - Chicago, Detroit

Resort Cities – Rio de Janeiro, St Tropez, Marbella

Government / Religious Centers - D.C., Brasilia, Vatican City

Education Centers – Berkeley, Massachusetts

Ancient World CitiesOldest cities are found in

Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China.

Mediterranean (Culture)

Athens 2,500 B.C. 1st city to exceed

100,000

Ancient Athens

Feudalism

During MEDIEVAL TIMES (14th - 15th cents), in a broad sense, refers to the relationship among European nobles. Ex: granting of fiefs (lands) (for labor) (towns? Cities?), in return for political and military favors.

Seignorialism: relation(s) between European lords and their peasants.

Medieval World CitiesAfter collapse of Roman

Empire in 5th cent, European cities were diminished/abandoned.

European Feudal Cities Began in 11th Century Independent cities

formed in exchange for military service to/among feudal lord.

Improved roads encouraged trade

Dense and compact within defensive walls

Cittadella, Italy

Paris, France

Modern World CitiesA high percentage of world’s business is

transacted and political power is concentrated in cities.

Headquarters of large businesses Media control centers Access to political power

Ex.: London, New York, Tokyo… Chicago , Los Angeles Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, & Sao Paulo

Urban Planning

Urban planning (UP): branch of architecture dealing with thedesign and organization of urban space(s) and activities.

UP is composed of: land use planning: orders and regulates the use of land in

an efficient and ethical way, preventing land use conflicts.

transport planning: the evaluation, assessment, and design of transportation facilities (streets, highways, and public transportation).

Sprawl (1/3)

The spreading outwards of a city to its outskirts.

Sprawl: disadvantages (2/3)High car dependenceInadequate facilities (cultural, emergency,

health)Inefficient street layoutsLost time and productivity for commutingHigh rates of obesity due to less walking and

bikingLess space for parksHigh use of energy, land, and water

Ex of “sprawl” (3/3): San José, CA

Smart Growth

Growth in compact, walkable, there are urban centers, to avoid sprawl and advocates for compact, bicycle-friendly, & land use.

Ex: neighborhood schools, and complete streets.

Urban Planning

Building Better Cities

How to Make a Great City

Famous Planned CitiesBrasilia, BrazilHavana, CubaWashington, D.C.

Smart Growth Pedestrian Friendly Increase Density Mixed Ethnic and

Income Groups

Largest World CitiesTen Most Populous Today ???

Rank City Population

1 Tokyo, Japan 28 million

2 New York City, United States 20.1 million

3 Mexico City, Mexico 18.1 million

4 Mumbai, India (Bombay) 18 million

5 Sao Paulo, Brazil 17.7 million

6 Los Angeles, United States 15.8 million

7 Shanghai, China 14.2 million

8 Lagos, Nigeria 13.5 million

9 Kolkata, India (Calcutta) 12.9 million10 Buenos Aires, Argentina 12.5 million

Megalopolis (1/2)

Megalopolis (Μεγαλόπολις, 371 BC; 1825–35: megalo- + polis): Greek for “great city”. An urban region consisting of several large cities and suburbs that adjoin each other.

Ex: the East Coast of the US, from Boston to Washington, D.C.

Megalopolis: another example (2/2)

Cities in Crisis: urban problems

U.S. City Problems Sprawl

commutes environmental problems

tax flight Racial and Economic Segregat

ion schools taxes

European Cities: result of very long histories

Complex street patterns - prior to automobile, weird angles

Plazas and Squares - from Greek, Roman, Medieval Low skylines - many built before elevators, others

required cathedral or monument to be highest structure

Lively downtowns - center of social life, not just office work

Neighborhood stability - Europeans moved less frequently than we do.

Scars of War - many wars , many cities originally defensive

Symbolism - gothic cathedrals, palaces, and castles