Week 2: Reading 01 - Urban Form and Locality

The reading “Urban Form and Locality” by Hugh Barton is an analysis of urban planning in which he discusses prominent patterns that have been studied, relating to issues of dispersal/concentration, usage, low/high density and the form of a city.

Although I do not have much experience with Urban Planning, I felt its similarities to architecture in that there is no “one-size-fits-all” rule. In comparison and analysis, patterns were found to have both positive and negative attributes, however, for e.g., a linear concentration of urban forms could work in one context but not another.

I felt that depending on the existing context, a combination of specific patterns would lead to the most successful urban plan. It would also be important to take into account the existing social and urban infrastructure on a macro scale as well as the needs of the society and the objectives/goals to be achieved (Mining town? Farming town? International city? Satellite city? Fishing communities?).This is opposed to planning an urban area without consideration into neighbouring areas and the type of society that inhabits it.

I sensed that Architects were not the target audience for the article, however they stand to gain a lot from it. Everything architects design exist in a greater context and their ability to understand the context, not just in terms of sun paths, wind, traffic paths and superficial characteristics, but in terms of how it has come to be and why it exists the way it does, will help to inform their design decisions.

The planning strategies extrapolated upon by Barton will not only help us to better understand our cities but will also aid in the planning of future cities. Employed correctly, they will lay the foundation of cities that compliment the functioning of society in an urban context instead of marginalising them. Successful urban planning of cities for the people will aid in successful architecture for the people.