9.3 urban forms

Urban form

A cities physical characteristics - shape, size, layout and density

Physical factors that affect urban form

Water supply, topography, aspect and shelter and natural resources

Human factors that affect urban form

Demographics, political, economic, transport, communication

Demographics effect on urban form

Population change can affect housing, services and employment

Political effect on urban form

National and local planning policies

Economic effect on urban form

Market forces (supply and demand) or government intervention affects land value which affects location of retail/housing/industry

Transport effect on urban form

Road and railways encourage growth along routes and by stations

Communication effect on urban form

Location of high speed broadband and mobile phone masts

Factors that influence spatial patterns

Land use, economic inequality, social segregation and cultural diversity

Land use impact on spatial patterns in HICs

Focused around CBD, residential suburbs, older inner city areas next to city centres, edge of town developments

Land use impact on spatial patters in LICs/NEEs

Informal settlements on edge of city, high value housing in city centres, CBDs with rapidly expanding urban areas

Influencing factors of land use on spatial patterns

Outside city centre housing prices increase with distance, gentrification, facilities in informal settlements developed by residents

Economic inequality impact on spatial patterns

Leads to richer and poor areas of the city, divide

Influencing factors of economic influence on spatial patterns

Differences in:

• house prices

• Crime rates

• Presence of informal settlements

Social segregation impact on spatial pattern

Different groups are separated from each other within the city (rich and poor, different ethnic communities)

Influencing factors of social segregation on spatial patterns

• government policy and planning

• Large post WW2 social housing estates in UK

• People from ethnic/religous communities decide to join those already in the city

Cultural diversity impact on spatial patterns

Central areas tend to be more culturally diverse than suburbs, internal and international migrants to the city

Characteristics of new urban landscapes

Town centre mixed developments, fortress development, edge cities, gentrified areas, cultural and heritage quarters

Town centre mixed development in new urban landscapes

Mixed city centre land use, funded by government and private investors, encourage people back to city centres

Gentrified areas in new urban landscapes

Public and private investment to regenerate run down inner cities, wealthy individuals buy properties and make housing prices unaffordable for residents

Fortress developments in new urban landscapes

Use defensible space design and security, increases safety but can polarise and discourage social mixing

Edge cities in new urban landscapes

Close to major road junctions, mixed use development, reliant on car ownership

Cultural and heritage quarters in new urban landscapes

Focus on historical background and architecture and cultural experience

Natural resources affect on urban form

Areas with rich natural resources encourage development as is can support the population and economy (building material, fuel)

Waters affect on urban form

Water is necessary for agriculture, sanitation and health, water also acts as physical barrier to growth (prevents urban sprawl)

Topography’s affect on urban form

Flat topography is easier to build on, urban sprawl is difficult on slopes so areas become densely populated (Rio)

Climate and land types affect on urban form

Permafrost or waterlogged ground is expensive to build on, limits urban growth

Wealth and development affect on urban form

Richer areas are more structurally safe (building regulations), in developing countries its more rapid which can become unmanageable

Plannings affect on urban form

Planned developments are considerate of space, safety and well-being, unplanned developments can be unsafe and overcrowded

Patterns of growth affect on urban form

High value land in the CBD and land value decreases further away from it, wealthy businesses near CBD

Past developments affect on urban form

Original structure of a city may change how a city is developed, limiting construction to protect important buildings or poor transport links (old roads)

Post-modern western city

Idea that contemporary cities are changing their industries, architecture and land use in order to keep up with socioeconomic changes

Characteristics of a PMWC

Unusual architecture that priorities aesthetics

Tertiary and quarterly industry’s main sectors

Fragmented urban forms

More diversity

Large amount of socioeconomic inequality

Gentrification

Process of housing improvement on a piecemeal basis associated with low income groups being replaced by more affluent people moving in

Reason for gentrification

The rent gap

Desire to live in the inner city for employment opportunities

Young singles/couples see benefits of inner city living

Rent gap

The price of property has fallen below its real value due to lack of maintenance and investment and people that can afford the renovation make profit from it

Process of gentrification

Lower-middle class incomes move into run-down inner city places

Renovated the homes, improving the environment

Place gains fashionable status = attractive

Wealthy migrants and foreign investors move in

House prices rise, locals are priced out

Benefits of gentrification

Increased tax revenue for local authorities

Improved physical environment

Increase in level of prosperity and increase in range of services and businesses

Drawbacks of gentrification

Low income groups, residents, get priced out

Threat to community

Tension between new and old residents

Losses to lower older local services

Re-urbanisation

Government backed movement of people back into the city centre as part of the regeneration

Trends in re-urbanisation

Increase in construction of centrally located residential areas, attracts new demographic (young professional)

Increase in studentification with expansion of city centre student accommodation and centrally located unis

Growing effectiveness of public transport made city living more viable