“STREETS” based on “URBAN DESIGN”
Introduction to Essential Elements of Urban Design
The goal of urban design is to create environments that meet the requirements of people. It includes not just these locations’ use and security but also their visual beauty. In towns, cities, and villages, people must know how to create vibrant communities, balance the preservation of natural structures with the construction of man-made ones, and design streets and buildings that are both visually captivating as well as practical. (Manual for Streets, Department for Transport, 2007)
Fig 1: Vibrant Communities
Undoubtedly, a well-used urban thoroughfare is safe. To walk along a city street as deserted as a country road is probably dangerous. For instance neither should there be any withdrawal into private space within itself. Corbusier-inspired superblocks and tower projects of the postwar period, the lingua franca of contemporary planning practice, rendered the semi-public spaces of the modern city, which were essential to the maintenance of ‘eyes on the street’ for neighborhoods safety, under participatory community control completely ineffective, especially where women and young people are concerned.
Fig 2: Eyes on street
Designing streets as social spaces.
An approach to designing streets as social spaces would focus on building public spaces that encourage human interaction, civic participation, and community spirit by foregrounding the pedestrian, encouraging walkability, public space interaction, communal events, and street-life celebrations, and facilitating continued spatial development and the incorporation of street furniture, green infrastructure, and public art. In essence, design regulations that effectively elevate pedestrians and street users will lead to favorable design outcomes in terms of the environment being intrinsically and consistently pedestrian-friendly, safe, and accessible, ultimately becoming more conducive to life in the city.
Fig 3: Pedestrian-friendly
Streets have two key functions: place and movement.
- Street design
Street design has often followed vehicle traffic corridors, a disturbing history that has given rise to many streets dominated by rules and often out of context with their own places. In contrast, the central aim of Designing Streets is to begin the reversal of this trend and to return the importance of creating successful places back to the design of streets. The feeling of a location and how people relate to it is called a sense of place. Moreover it mainly comes from making a strong connection between the road and the nearby areas and buildings. Many things, especially the streets, affect a good sense of place.
A ‘sense of place’
1. Unique features specific to the area
2.Visual appeal
3. Ability to promote both economic and social activities.
Fig 4: Schematic experience of inside out.
- Movement
Building roads for travel is very important. It’s not only about moving around; it’s also about the good things the road brings. Though builders know that cars need room on these roads, they forget about people who walk and ride bikes. Walking and biking are great ways to get around. They’re better for the Earth than driving, make places look nicer, keep people healthy and social, and fight climate change by lowering pollution.
Fig 5: Healthy and Social Environment
Policy
Street design should meet the six qualities listed by Designing Locations as effective locations.
- Distinctive
- Safe &pleasant
- Easy to move around.
- Welcoming
- Adaptable
- Resource
Fig 6: Sense of element
These qualities provide a plan for street design. The table shows how they link and lists key points for ‘quality’. It then gives more information on how to make good street designs.