Urban Design Principles

4.

The Elements of Urban Form

4.1.

The Public Realm

4.1.1.

The Space Between Buildings

4.1.1.1.

4.1.1.1.1.

Vehicular Corridors

4.1.1.1.2.

Pedestrian Spaces

4.1.1.1.3.

Utility Corridors

4.1.1.2.

4.1.1.2.1.

4.1.1.2.2.

Commercial Plazas

4.1.1.2.3.

Residential Courtyards

4.1.1.3.

4.1.1.3.1.

Neighborhood Parks

4.1.1.3.2.

4.1.1.3.3.

4.1.2.

Importance of Public Life

4.1.2.1.

Social Interaction

4.1.2.1.1.

Community Gathering

4.1.2.1.2.

Cultural Events

4.1.2.1.3.

Daily Encounters

4.1.2.2.

Civic Engagement

4.1.2.2.1.

Public Meetings

4.1.2.2.2.

4.1.2.2.3.

Civic Ceremonies

4.1.2.3.

Economic Activity

4.1.2.3.1.

4.1.2.3.2.

4.1.2.3.3.

4.2.

Streets as Public Spaces

4.2.1.

Street Hierarchy and Classification

4.2.1.1.

4.2.1.1.1.

High-Speed Traffic

4.2.1.1.2.

Regional Connections

4.2.1.1.3.

4.2.1.2.

4.2.1.2.1.

Moderate Traffic Volumes

4.2.1.2.2.

Local Distribution

4.2.1.2.3.

Mixed Functions

4.2.1.3.

4.2.1.3.1.

Low Traffic Volumes

4.2.1.3.2.

Residential Access

4.2.1.3.3.

Pedestrian Priority

4.2.2.

The Complete Streets Concept

4.2.2.1.

Multimodal Design

4.2.2.1.1.

Pedestrian Facilities

4.2.2.1.2.

Bicycle Infrastructure

4.2.2.1.3.

4.2.2.1.4.

4.2.2.2.

Accessibility for All Users

4.2.2.2.1.

Universal Design

4.2.2.2.2.

Age-Friendly Features

4.2.2.2.3.

Disability Accommodation

4.2.3.

Streetscape Design Elements

4.2.3.1.

Sidewalks and Paving

4.2.3.1.1.

Material Selection

4.2.3.1.2.

Pattern and Texture

4.2.3.1.3.

Maintenance Considerations

4.2.3.2.

Street Furniture

4.2.3.2.1.

4.2.3.2.1.1.

Placement Strategies

4.2.3.2.1.2.

Design Standards

4.2.3.2.1.3.

Maintenance Requirements

4.2.3.2.2.

Trash Receptacles

4.2.3.2.2.1.

Capacity Planning

4.2.3.2.2.2.

Aesthetic Integration

4.2.3.2.2.3.

Collection Access

4.2.3.2.3.

4.2.3.2.3.1.

Security Features

4.2.3.2.3.2.

Capacity Planning

4.2.3.2.3.3.

Weather Protection

4.2.3.2.4.

4.2.3.2.4.1.

Weather Protection

4.2.3.2.4.2.

Information Display

4.2.3.2.4.3.

Accessibility Features

4.2.3.3.

4.2.3.3.1.

Pedestrian Lighting

4.2.3.3.1.1.

4.2.3.3.1.2.

Safety Requirements

4.2.3.3.1.3.

Energy Efficiency

4.2.3.3.2.

Vehicular Lighting

4.2.3.3.2.1.

Visibility Standards

4.2.3.3.2.2.

4.2.3.3.2.3.

Intersection Lighting

4.2.3.3.3.

Decorative Lighting

4.2.3.3.3.1.

Character Enhancement

4.2.3.3.3.2.

4.2.3.3.3.3.

Seasonal Displays

4.2.3.4.

4.2.3.4.1.

4.2.3.4.1.1.

Directional Signs

4.2.3.4.1.2.

Distance Information

4.2.3.4.1.3.

4.2.3.4.2.

Regulatory Signs

4.2.3.4.2.1.

Traffic Control

4.2.3.4.2.2.

Parking Regulations

4.2.3.4.2.3.

4.2.3.4.3.

Information Signs

4.2.3.4.3.1.

Historical Markers

4.2.3.4.3.2.

Cultural Information

4.2.3.4.3.3.

Business Directories

4.2.3.5.

Street Trees and Landscaping

4.2.3.5.1.

Shade and Microclimate

4.2.3.5.1.1.

Temperature Reduction

4.2.3.5.1.2.

Wind Protection

4.2.3.5.1.3.

Air Quality Improvement

4.2.3.5.2.

4.2.3.5.2.1.

4.2.3.5.2.2.

Wildlife Habitat

4.2.3.5.2.3.

Ecological Corridors

4.2.3.5.3.

Stormwater Management

4.2.3.5.3.1.

4.2.3.5.3.2.

4.2.3.5.3.3.

Permeable Surfaces

4.3.

Public Squares, Plazas, and Parks

4.3.1.

Typologies of Public Space

4.3.1.1.

4.3.1.1.1.

Government Buildings

4.3.1.1.2.

Ceremonial Functions

4.3.1.1.3.

Public Gatherings

4.3.1.2.

Commercial Plazas

4.3.1.2.1.

Shopping Centers

4.3.1.2.2.

Business Districts

4.3.1.2.3.

4.3.1.3.

Neighborhood Parks

4.3.1.3.1.

Recreation Facilities

4.3.1.3.2.

Playground Equipment

4.3.1.3.3.

Community Gardens

4.3.1.4.

4.3.1.4.1.

Small-Scale Spaces

4.3.1.4.2.

Residential Areas

4.3.1.4.3.

Infill Development

4.3.2.

Design for Social Interaction

4.3.2.1.

Seating Arrangements

4.3.2.1.1.

4.3.2.1.2.

Moveable Furniture

4.3.2.1.3.

Informal Seating

4.3.2.2.

Flexible Spaces

4.3.2.2.1.

Multi-Purpose Areas

4.3.2.2.2.

Event Accommodation

4.3.2.2.3.

Seasonal Adaptability

4.3.2.3.

4.3.2.3.1.

Active Recreation

4.3.2.3.2.

Passive Recreation

4.3.2.3.3.

Performance Areas

4.3.3.

Programming and Activation

4.3.3.1.

Events and Markets

4.3.3.1.1.

Farmers Markets

4.3.3.1.2.

Cultural Festivals

4.3.3.1.3.

Seasonal Events

4.3.3.2.

Temporary Installations

4.3.3.2.1.

Art Exhibitions

4.3.3.2.2.

Pop-Up Activities

4.3.3.2.3.

Experimental Programs

4.3.3.3.

Permanent Amenities

4.3.3.3.1.

4.3.3.3.2.

Exercise Facilities

4.3.3.3.3.

4.3.4.

Comfort and Amenities

4.3.4.1.

Shade and Shelter

4.3.4.1.1.

4.3.4.1.2.

Built Structures

4.3.4.1.3.

Temporary Shade

4.3.4.2.

Restrooms and Water Fountains

4.3.4.2.1.

Public Facilities

4.3.4.2.2.

Accessibility Standards

4.3.4.2.3.

Maintenance Considerations

4.3.4.3.

Food and Beverage

4.3.4.3.1.

Cafes and Restaurants

4.3.4.3.2.

4.3.4.3.3.

Vending Machines

4.4.

Buildings and the Urban Fabric

4.4.1.

Building Typologies and Massing

4.4.1.1.

4.4.1.1.1.

Attached Housing

4.4.1.1.2.

Street-Facing Entrances

4.4.1.1.3.

Private Rear Yards

4.4.1.2.

Apartment Blocks

4.4.1.2.1.

Multi-Story Housing

4.4.1.2.2.

Shared Entrances

4.4.1.2.3.

Courtyard Configurations

4.4.1.3.

4.4.1.3.1.

High-Rise Buildings

4.4.1.3.2.

4.4.1.3.3.

4.4.1.4.

Mixed-Use Buildings

4.4.1.4.1.

Ground Floor Commercial

4.4.1.4.2.

Upper Floor Residential

4.4.1.4.3.

Integrated Parking

4.4.2.

Façade Design and Articulation

4.4.2.1.

4.4.2.1.1.

Local Materials

4.4.2.1.2.

Durability Considerations

4.4.2.1.3.

Maintenance Requirements

4.4.2.2.

Rhythm and Repetition

4.4.2.2.1.

Window Patterns

4.4.2.2.2.

Structural Bays

4.4.2.2.3.

Decorative Elements

4.4.2.3.

Scale and Proportion

4.4.2.3.1.

Human Scale Elements

4.4.2.3.2.

Building Proportions

4.4.2.3.3.

Detail Resolution

4.4.3.

Building Frontages and Entrances

4.4.3.1.

4.4.3.1.1.

Window-to-Wall Ratio

4.4.3.1.2.

Visual Connection

4.4.3.1.3.

Display Windows

4.4.3.2.

4.4.3.2.1.

Universal Design

4.4.3.2.2.

Entrance Design

4.4.3.2.3.

Barrier-Free Access

4.4.3.3.

Active Frontages

4.4.3.3.1.

Ground Floor Uses

4.4.3.3.2.

Frequent Entrances

4.4.3.3.3.

Street Engagement

4.4.4.

Relationship of Buildings to the Street

4.4.4.1.

4.4.4.1.1.

Building Placement

4.4.4.1.2.

Front Yard Spaces

4.4.4.1.3.

Sidewalk Widening

4.4.4.2.

4.4.4.2.1.

Street-Level Activity

4.4.4.2.2.

Building Orientation

4.4.4.2.3.

Entrance Frequency

4.4.4.3.

Building Heights

4.4.4.3.1.

Street Wall Height

4.4.4.3.2.

Transition Zones

4.4.4.3.3.

4.4.5.

Skyline and Roofscape

4.4.5.1.

4.4.5.1.1.

Landmark Buildings

4.4.5.1.2.

Height Transitions

4.4.5.1.3.

Silhouette Quality

4.4.5.2.

Roof Gardens and Terraces

4.4.5.2.1.

4.4.5.2.2.

Accessible Rooftops

4.4.5.2.3.

Urban Agriculture

4.5.

Landscape and Natural Systems

4.5.1.

Integration of Nature in the City

4.5.1.1.

4.5.1.1.1.

4.5.1.1.2.

Neighborhood Parks

4.5.1.1.3.

4.5.1.2.

Green Corridors

4.5.1.2.1.

Wildlife Corridors

4.5.1.2.2.

Pedestrian Greenways

4.5.1.2.3.

4.5.1.3.

4.5.1.3.1.

4.5.1.3.2.

Species Selection

4.5.1.3.3.

Maintenance Programs

4.5.2.

Green Infrastructure

4.5.2.1.

Green Roofs and Walls

4.5.2.1.1.

Extensive Green Roofs

4.5.2.1.2.

Intensive Green Roofs

4.5.2.1.3.

4.5.2.2.

Bioswales and Rain Gardens

4.5.2.2.1.

Stormwater Management

4.5.2.2.2.

Native Plant Communities

4.5.2.2.3.

Maintenance Requirements

4.5.2.3.

Urban Tree Canopy

4.5.2.3.1.

Canopy Coverage Goals

4.5.2.3.2.

Species Diversity

4.5.2.3.3.

Climate Benefits

4.5.2.4.

Permeable Surfaces

4.5.2.4.1.

Porous Pavement

4.5.2.4.2.

Permeable Pavers

4.5.2.4.3.

4.5.3.

Waterfronts and Blue Spaces

4.5.3.1.

4.5.3.1.1.

Waterfront Access

4.5.3.1.2.

Flood Management

4.5.3.1.3.

Ecological Restoration

4.5.3.2.

Lakes and Ponds

4.5.3.2.1.

4.5.3.2.2.

Recreation Opportunities

4.5.3.2.3.

Wildlife Habitat

4.5.3.3.

4.5.3.3.1.

4.5.3.3.2.

4.5.3.3.3.

Waterfront Promenades

4.5.4.

Preserving Natural Topography

4.5.4.1.

Working with Slopes

4.5.4.1.1.

Terraced Development

4.5.4.1.2.

Retaining Walls

4.5.4.1.3.

Erosion Control

4.5.4.2.

Minimizing Earthworks

4.5.4.2.1.

Cut and Fill Balance

4.5.4.2.2.

Natural Drainage

4.5.4.2.3.

Soil Conservation

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5. The Urban Design Process