Urban Aesthetics and Space in Urban Design: Elements, Configurations, and Infrastructure

Urban Aesthetics

Explores how the artistic arrangement of elements in a city contributes to human well-being, a city's identity, and its functionality.

Impacts of Urban Aesthetics

Impacts the residents' sensory experience and enhances the quality of life.

Elements of Urban Aesthetics

Includes architecture, landscape & urban greenery, public art, and street furniture.

Architecture

Comprises style, materials, and form.

Landscape & Urban Greenery

Includes aesthetics, ecological services, and social benefits.

Public Art

Any artistic work placed in a public urban environment to be enjoyed by the public.

Street Furniture

A collective term for objects and equipment installed in public spaces for various functional and aesthetic purposes.

Aesthetic Experience

Involves human perception and sensory experience, emphasizing the people-place connection.

Light, Scale & Color

Elements that contribute to the aesthetic experience in urban environments.

Culture and Urban Aesthetics

Involves identity and heritage, symbolic meaning, and community engagement.

Identity and Heritage

Aspects of culture that influence urban aesthetics.

Symbolic Meaning

The significance that elements of urban aesthetics hold within a community.

Community Engagement

The involvement of community members in the aesthetic aspects of urban planning.

Hein, C. (2010)

Author of 'Urban Planning and Aesthetics.'

Lynch, K. (1960)

Author of 'The Image of the City.'

Nia, H. & Olugbenga, F. (2020)

Authors of 'A Quest on the Role of Aesthetics in Enhancing Functionality of Urban Planning.'

Paetzold, H. (2024)

Author of 'Aesthetics of Urban Design.'

Jan Gehl Quote

"First, we shape cities - then they shape us."

Space

Refers to the area between and around buildings and other elements that make up the physical environment of cities.

Physical or existential space

The tangible, built elements of a city, such as streets, plazas, and parks.

Mental or experiential space

The representation and perception of a physical space by the people who use it.

Public Space

Places that are open and accessible to everyone, defining the character of a city and functioning as the city's 'living room.'

Private Space

Property owned by private individuals or sectors, with access and use typically restricted to those permitted by law or custom.

Semi-Public Space

Privately owned spaces that are publicly accessible.

Semi-Private Space

Areas that are primarily for residents or a specific group but are sometimes accessible to the wider community.

Spatial configurations

Refers to how the physical layout of a city's streets and open spaces is structured.

Axial Relations

Refers to the straight line of sight and movement that can be drawn through public space.

Hierarchy of Spaces

Organizes areas from most public to most private, structuring the city from public to private realms, to guide human activity and foster a sense of place and order.

Systems of Movement

The interconnected system of streets, roads and paths that accommodates pedestrians and cyclists, on-road public transport, emergency and private vehicles.

Physical foundation

Systems for transport, water, energy, and telecommunications.

Transportation systems

Fundamental drivers of urban spatial structure, shaping land use, economic activity, and social equity.

Urban Infrastructure

Influences how cities are built, how people live and move within them, and how they interact with their environment.

Green Infrastructure

Crucial for creating sustainable and resilient cities that can withstand climate change and population growth.