G.1.1 Characteristics of Urban Places Notes

Urban Form and Function Across Different Scales

Site: The Foundation of Urban Form

1. These features often determine the city's initial growth and continue to shape its expansion.

Key Natural Features

1. Rivers: Cities like London and Cairo developed along rivers, providing water for drinking, agriculture, as well as transportation and trade.
2. Topography: Double-edged sword balancing between connectivity and safety.
   1. Plains and lowlands: Flat terrain facilitates building urban infrastructure and engaging in trade, but makes it more difficult to defend a city like Warsaw.
   2. Hills and mountains: Elevated areas offer natural defense and strategic advantages. Rome, for example, was built on seven hills, as well as variety of cities in Latin America like Mexico City, Bogotá or La Paz were built in the mountains.
3. Timber: Availability of local construction materials and traditional fuel fostered early urbanization, e.g. across Europe.
4. Coast: Coastal cities such as New York and Singapore thrive due to access to maritime trade.
5. Climate: Favorable climates attract settlers, while harsh conditions may limit growth. Ancient cities mostly developed in areas offering moderate climatic conditions in the Fertile Crescent, in the Mediterranean and in most favorable areas in contemporary India and China.

Situation: Relationship With Surrounding Areas

1. Economic Connections: The proximity to major transportation routes, trade networks, and other economic hubs that affect commerce and accessibility.
2. Cultural and Political Influences: The geographical relationship to neighboring cities, regions, or countries that can impact social and political dynamics.
3. Environmental Context: The surrounding natural features, such as rivers, mountains, or climate, that influence the urban area's development and functions.

Function: The Roles Cities Play

1. Cities serve multiple functions, which often evolve over time.
2. These functions shape land use and influence how different areas of a city are organized.

Key Urban Functions

1. Residential: Housing for the population, ranging from high-density apartments to suburban homes.
2. Commercial and for Services: Business districts, retail, shopping centers and markets.
3. Industrial: Factories, warehouses, and manufacturing zones.
4. Recreational: Parks, sports facilities, and entertainment venues.
5. Administrative: Government buildings, courts, and public services.
6. Transportation: Roads, train and tram tracks and stations, bus terminals airports.

Land Use: Organizing Urban Space

1. Urban areas are typically divided into zones based on their primary function.
2. This segregation of activities helps cities operate efficiently but can also lead to challenges such as inequality and congestion.

Key Land Use Zones

1. Residential Zones: Vary from high-density inner-city apartments to low-density suburban housing.
2. Central Business District (CBD): The commercial and economic core, characterized by high land values and skyscrapers.
3. Industrial Areas: Often located on the outskirts or near transportation hubs.
4. Green Spaces: Parks and recreational areas that enhance urban livability.

Hierarchy of Settlements: From Hamlets to Megacities

1. Settlements exist in a hierarchy based on size, population, and function.
2. Understanding this hierarchy helps explain how urban areas are interconnected.

The Settlement Hierarchy

1. Hamlets: Small clusters of homes with basic services.
2. Villages: Larger than hamlets, often with schools and shops.
3. Towns: Provide more services, such as hospitals and shopping centers.
4. Cities: Major urban areas with diverse functions and large populations.
5. Megacities: Cities with over 10 million inhabitants, such as Tokyo and Mumbai.

Small and Large Settlements Serve Different Needs

1. Sphere of Influence: The area served by a settlement.
2. Range: The maximum distance that people are prepared to travel for a good or service
3. Threshold: The minimum number of people required for a good or service to stay in business

1. Small settlements like villages or towns offer low-order goods and have a limited sphere of influence.
2. Large settlements like cities and megacities offer both low-order goods and high-order goods, and their sphere of influence is significantly larger, covering entire regions or even countries.

Growth Processes: Planned vs. Spontaneous

1. Urban growth occurs through two primary processes: planned and spontaneous development.
2. Each has distinct characteristics and challenges.

Planned Growth

1. Organized Expansion: Guided by zoning laws and infrastructure development.
2. Functions and ideology: Some cities were built to deliver a specific function (e.g. mining towns) or were designed to reflect certain ideology (e.g. new capitals).
3. Focus on Sustainability: Incorporates green spaces and efficient transportation.

Examples: New towns like Milton Keynes in the UK or Songdo in South Korea.

Example

Brasilia, Brazil: Built between 1956 and 1960 is known for its unique plan and ideological meaning, reflecting modernism and sense of Brazilian pride and ambitions.

Spontaneous Growth

1. Informal Settlements: Develop without formal planning, often on marginal land.
2. Overpopulation: Urban growth driven by massive migrations from rural areas.
3. Lack of Infrastructure: Limited access to water, sanitation, and electricity.

Urban Growth and Global Economic Flows

1. Cities are not just local hubs.
2. They are deeply embedded in global networks of trade, finance, and communication.

The Role of Globalization in Urban Systems

1. Globalization has transformed cities into nodes in a vast global network.
2. This is particularly evident in global cities like New York, London, and Tokyo, which act as command centers for international trade and finance.

• Economic Linkages: Cities are connected through trade routes, supply chains, and financial markets.
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI): Multinational corporations often invest in urban areas, creating jobs and boosting local economies.
• Cultural Exchange: Cities become melting pots of cultures, attracting talent and fostering innovation.

Challenges of Global Economic Flows

1. While globalization can drive urban growth, it also creates challenges:

• Economic Disparities: Not all cities benefit equally from global economic flows, leading to uneven development.
• Vulnerability to External Shocks: Cities reliant on global trade are exposed to risks like economic recessions or supply chain disruptions.

Why Urban Form and Function Matter

1. Understanding urban form and function is essential for addressing modern challenges such as congestion, pollution, and inequality.
2. It also helps planners create sustainable, livable cities for the future.