3.2.3.2 Urban forms

Urban forms

Physical structure and organisation of an urban area

Factor s shaping urban forms

Economy, social, political, envriomental,technological

Positive characteristics of megacities

expand services in an economically efficient manner, less environmentally damaging for a dense population, urban dwellers access larger and diverse employment, better levels of education and healthcare, centres of innovation and political power

Negative characteristics of megacities

Growth in population not matched by infrastructure, challenges in providing employment etc, hard to effectively govern, haphazard urban sprawl causes congestion

World City

Great influence on a global scale due to financial/coommerical power

Edge City

Self contained settlement emerged beyond a city and developed in its own right

Fortress landscapes

Designed around security, protection and surveillance

Urban morpohology

Spatial structure and organisation of an area

CHange in importance of urban morphology

Physical factors like relief, drainage and proximity to water no longer matter

Peak Land Value Intersection

Highest land value which declines in line with the distance decay theory

CBD

Central area containing shops, officies and entertainment

Bin rent theory

Land value falls away from the centre as residents require more land for cheaper

Causes of decline in city centres

Out of town retail parks, Decentralisation, High parking costs/congestion, Negative city perceptions

Town centre mixed development features

Increased flagship attractions/leisure facilities, green spaces, street entertainment, clubbing

Positives and negatives of Town centre mixed development

Strict out of town planning regulations bring people back to centre, CBD still declines

Gentrification

Buy and renovating properties in run down areas by the wealthy

Causes of gentrification

Rent gap theory, No need to commute, Pioneer image, Support from government, Household composition change

Positives on gentrification

Rise in services, increased tax, physical enviroment improved

Negatives of gentirifcation

lower incomes cant pay rent, loss of business for ‘corner shops’, friction between newcomers

Features of fortress landscapes

CCTV, speed bumps, street lighting

Fortress LA features

Gated communities, armed response units, staked metal fences around malls, anti homeless spikes

Postmodern western city

Changes in western society/culture in 20th century

Features of Postmodern western citys

Fragmented urban forms, greater emphasis on knowledge based industries, varied architecture/spectacular flagship development, greater diversity but heightened inequality