Looking at urban design : the visual component

Abstract

Urban designers are concerned generally with the process of design of the city as a whole and not just individual buildings. There are many different issues that affect Urban Design such as the difficulty of integrating new development into the existing fabric without disturbing or destroying the existing character of the space. At a smaller scale, there is also the difficulty of incorporating the 'humane dimension' into the space. These issues are addressed in chapter 1. Chapter 2 looks at the external influences exerting pressures on an urban space which cause it to lose it's identity and uniqueness. These influences come in many different forms; the impact of the motor car and the problem many cities have with coping with it, both in movement and in storage; the privatisation of the public urban space surrounding corporate and institutional buildings producing inhospitable spaces. These and other influences addressed in chapter 2 give good reason for a 'managed vision' to be carefully implemented in urban spaces to protect their existing character. There are desirable characteristics which together form the character of a space and make for a 'good' quality environment. These must be protected and enhanced. Chapter 3 analysis these characteristics via the use of design models.