urban forms

what is urban form?

the physical characteristics that make up a city, including its size, shape, population density and how the city is arranged (land use patterns etc)

what physical factors can influence urban form?

topography, water, natural resources, land type

what human factors can influence urban form?

planning, infrastructure, land value

how can topography influence urban form?

physical features often influence the growth of cities

eg. steep slopes are harder to build on and less accessible so poorer housing may be built on them

eg. large flat areas encourage low density developments because there is lots of space to build

how can water influence urban form?

the presence of lakes and seas limits urban growth in those areas, while cities may grow along the course of a river

city centre shops and businesses are usually located close to the waterfront, rather than at the geographical centre of the city

how can natural resources influence urban form?

rich resources (eg. coal and metal) encourage growth in size and population of cities

how can land use influence urban form?

some ground surfaces are more difficult or expensive to build on than others eg. swamps and wetlands can limit urban growth

how can planning influence urban form?

urban expansion can be planned or unplanned

eg. lots of urban growth in the developing countries is caused by the unplanned expansion of slums

in contrast, planned developments often include open space, leisure facilities etc.

how can infrastructure influence urban form?

new developments are often built along transport links leading to linear growth

how can land value influence urban form?

the highest value land is often found in the city centre, so profitable businesses normally locate there, whilst less profitable businesses may be found further from the centre

what do cities in developed countries tend to have in terms of land use patterns?

a central business district (CBD) - a central zone of shops and businesses

in developed countries, what does the value of houses tend to do as distance from the city centre increases?

increase in value

what are inner city areas like?

high land value - housing is typically high density

wages are often low and many residents live in relative poverty

the proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be higher

what are rural and semi-rural areas like?

land value lower - residential areas are less dense and have more open space

houses are usually larger and newer than those in inner city areas

residents are generally quite wealthy and earn relatively high wages

the proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be low

what do cities in developing countries tend to have in terms of land use patterns?

a CBD - these zones contain shops, offices and entertainment services

in developing countries, what does the value of houses tend to do as distance from the city centre increases?

decrease in value

discuss the land value around the city centre in developing countries?

high cost housing is built there

wages are generally high and residents are wealthy

these areas are often home yo wealthy immigrants from developed countries and emerging economies

what surrounds the high cost housing in developing countries?

a zone of medium cost housing

it may have started as an informal settlement, but gradually the housing has been improved and some services have been provided

discuss the land value furthest from the city centre in developing countries?

land value very low - low cost and informal housing is built there

often limited access to services such as clean water and electricity

most residents have poorly paid jobs and poverty levels are high

immigrants from elsewhere in the country and other developing countries may settle here

what are town centre mixed developments?

luxury areas where land use is mixed - luxury flats, offices, shops and entertainment facilities are all located there so residential, commercial and leisure uses are combined

who plans town centre mixed developments?

local councils often with private investment

what is the aim of town centre mixed developments?

to attract people back to the city centres by giving them opportunities to live, work and relax

what are cultural and heritage quarters?

areas that focus on the history or character of a city - often home to theatres, art galleries and historical buildings

who develops cultural and heritage quarters?

local councils

what is the aim of cultural and heritage quarters?

to regenerate former industrial areas, attract visitors, encourage economic development and create jobs

what are fortress developments?

developments (eg. for residential or retail use) with lots of security such as CCTV, guards and high walls

they are often located in suburban areas of large cities and only those with permission can enter

what are fortress developments designed to do?

give a safe environment for families

what is a negative of fortress developments?

only rich people can afford to live in or use them

what is gentrification?

when wealthier people move into rundown inner city areas and regenerate them by improving housing

what do gentrified areas often have?

lots of service eg, shops, restaurants and high quality housing

what is a negative of gentrified areas>

poorer residents may be displaced as the cost of living increases, leading to social and ethnic segregation

what are edge cities?

new areas of offices, shops and leisure facilities that develop close to major transport links eg. motorway intersections outside city centres, where land is cheaper

they often contain some housing, but most people travel to them for work or to use the services

what are post modern western cities?

cities, especially in developed countries, that are moving away from uniformity in architecture and from clear cut patterns of land use

what are 5 characteristics of post modern western cities?

multiple centres with different purposes (eg. high tech industry, retail) rather than a single centre

a focus on tertiary and quaternary industry (eg. IT, media) instead of secondary industry

less uniform architecture - buildings with a wide range of styles

planning prioritises the aesthetics of the city over practical use

high social and economic inequality