Designing Responsive City Centers

Applicable Urban Design Guidelines

Authors: Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore

Book Series : Design Science and Innovation

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Table of Contents

About this book

This book explores the history and evolution of city centers and provides practical guidance for designing successful city centers, emphasizing the importance of urban design guidelines in achieving this goal. With a focus on community engagement, environmental quality, and economic benefits, the book offers a roadmap for creating vibrant, dynamic, and sustainable city centers that enhance the overall quality of life for their communities. The book offers guidelines for urban design, which can be used to apply the main principles and solutions related to landscaping, building architecture, and access systems. The guidelines manifest development policies as key solutions and govern the qualitative aspects of the plan, enabling the creation of responsive city centers that benefit their communities. An invaluable resource for anyone interested in urban design and its role in shaping the cities of the future, this book is an essential tool for creating successful and sustainable urban environments.

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. Urban Design Guidelines and Their Role in Enhancing Environmental Quality

Abstract

Achieving desired quality—manifested functionally, aesthetically, and environmentally—is the primary goal of any urban design project. This chapter explores how a deep understanding of these environmental qualities and their components equips urban design professionals with the tools to create effective guidelines. These guidelines are crucial for imparting a range of positive emotional experiences through practical design solutions and details. Ultimately, these efforts culminate in urban design guidelines that embody the ideals of urban design in public and civic life. This chapter discusses the relationship between quality and urban design, reviewing various theoretical perspectives and criteria for enhancing environmental qualities. It concludes with a comprehensive table summarizing these qualities and their components, followed by a discussion on the practical implications of implementing urban design guidelines. This analysis aims to bridge theory with practice, offering actionable insights for urban design activities.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 2. An Introduction to the Concept of City Centers

Abstract

This chapter delves into the various definitions and perspectives surrounding the concept of city centers, providing a broad spectrum of opinions to enrich the reader’s understanding. Through an exhaustive review of successful historical city centers, this discussion identifies and categorizes key qualities and criteria that contribute to their vibrancy and functionality. These characteristics include accessibility, diverse usage, a distinctive identity marked by symbolic elements, spatial compactness, a variety of building types, and the availability of open public spaces. The chapter culminates with an exploration of the spatial systems and hierarchies typical of city centers. Equipped with this knowledge, readers will be able to articulate a clear definition of an ideal city center. Furthermore, the chapter offers a theoretical framework that can be applied to both the revitalization of existing city centers and the creation of new ones, aligning historical insights with contemporary design needs and requirements.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 3. The Evolution of City Centers

Abstract

This chapter explores the development of city centers both in Iran and globally, tracing their evolution across various historical periods. Initially, it discusses the functional and societal roles of city centers in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations before moving to the Sassanid and post-Islamic contexts of Iran. The narrative then shifts to modern urban planning theories, analyzing the contributions of pioneers like Ebenezer Howard with his Garden City, Tony Garnier’s Industrial City, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Broadacre City, Soria y Mata's Linear City, and the work of Pierre Charles L’Enfant in Washington, DC, alongside the collaborative efforts of Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret. Subsequent sections examine post-World War II urban centers and contemporary manifestations such as suburban centers, shopping centers, indoor malls, and fashion centers. This analysis aims to provide insights into the lessons learned from historical urban development and their relevance to designing effective modern city centers. The chapter concludes by addressing various challenges faced by today’s city centers, which are often the result of inadequate design and planning.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 4. Manifestation of the Spirit of City Centers on Main Streets

Abstract

Streets, often considered the lifelines of cities, serve as dynamic conduits to urban centers, encapsulating complex systems of human activity and aspirations. Historically, main streets have been the heart of communities, embodying the essence and character of urban life.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 5. Principles of Designing Successful City Centers

Abstract

This chapter delineates fifteen essential principles for designing successful city centers, transcending the notion that their success occurs by chance or follows a stereotypical blueprint. These principles are designed to cultivate vibrant, dynamic, and functional urban cores and are adaptable to cities of various sizes.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 6. Design Strategies for Dynamic and High-Quality City Centers

Abstract

Building on the fifteen principles of urban revitalization and quality enhancement detailed in Chapter 5, this chapter delves into specific design strategies that influence the landscape of city center streets, the architecture of central buildings, and the traffic systems, with a particular emphasis on parking solutions.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Chapter 7. Urban Design Guidelines

Abstract

This chapter explores the vital role of urban design guidelines in translating the physical form of cities into reality, beyond the theoretical frameworks of principles, policies, and strategies. Recognizing that the complex nature of environmental quality in urban design transcends conventional planning documents, urban design guidelines provide essential clarity and directive to effectively implement varied aspects of city development. These guidelines serve as practical tools for urban designers, architects, and planners, aligning development plans with established design principles and strategies. Detailed within this chapter, the guidelines are structured around three primary categories: landscaping, building architecture, and access systems. Each category is introduced with its objectives, followed by graphical representations of the guidelines that facilitate their application. This approach ensures that the implementation of the fifteen principles outlined in Chap. 5, along with the strategic solutions from Chap. 6, is both strategic and actionable in shaping the qualitative aspects of urban environments.

Amir Shakibamanesh, Mahshid Ghorbanian

Title: Designing Responsive City Centers
Authors: Amir Shakibamanesh
Mahshid Ghorbanian
Publisher: Springer Nature Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-9789-11-5
Print ISBN: 978-981-9789-10-8
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-8911-5