• One of the most important elements of

city design is the square or plaza.

• It is the most important way of

designing a good setting for public and

commercial buildings in cities.

A square or A Plaza

The Square

“Is an open space available for civic purposes which is

surrounded by important thoroughfares ”

The Plaza

An open space available for civic purposes and commercial

activities and usually attached to an important building.

Sometimes both the words square and Plaza

Are used to describe the same open space which is framed by buildings

and designed to provide successful setting for them.

A square or A plaza :

• Is an open area commonly found in the heart of a town used

for community gatherings.

• Other names for town square are civic center , city square,

urban square, market square , public square, plaza, piazza,

and “Maydan“ or “Saha”.

St Mark’s Square, Venice St Peter’s Square, Rome

Examples of squares

Are examples of unique squares in the relationship between space,

the surrounding buildings and the dome of the sky.

Most town squares are:

• Hardscapes suitable for open markets, music concerts, political rallies,

and other events that require firm ground.

• At the center of the square there is often a fountain, well monument, or

statue.

A square or A plaza :

FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE

There are two main methods of categorizing squares – by

function and by form.

FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE

Activity in a square is important for its vitality and,

therefore, also for its visual attraction.

FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE

Alberti tells us that ‘. . . there ought to be several squares laid out in

different parts of the city.

The types of spaces needed in a city are:

• The setting for a civic building.

• The principal meeting places

• Places for great ceremonial occasions

• Spaces for entertainment around buildings such as theatres,

cinemas, restaurants and cafes

• Spaces for shopping, shopping street, arcades and markets

• Spaces around which offices are grouped

• Spaces around which residential accommodation is arranged

and, finally

• The spaces associated with urban traffic junctions.

The setting for religious buildings

Spaces for ceremonial occasions

Spaces for shopping, shopping streets

Open markets

Open markets

Cafes and restaurants

Spaces in front of office buildings

Spaces surrounding residential buildings

The spaces associated with urban

traffic junctions

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

There are many ways to classify the form of square:

For example:

They can be classified according to regularity to:

Regular shape squares:

Which take the form of Circle – square- rectangle-

triangle…..

Regular shape squares:

• Represent clear urban image for the observer.

• Vendome square- Paris

Vendome square Paris Regular shape square

The form of the square

Free shape squares:

• Which take the form of irregular polygon…..

Free shape squares

The form of the square

For example:

They can be classified according to the axis of symmetry to:

Squares with one symmetric axis:

St Peter’s square Rome: where there is one longitudinal

symmetric axis emphasizes the existence of the church.

The form of the square

For example:

They can be classified according to the axis of symmetry to:

Squares with two symmetric axes:

Vendome square in Paris has two symmetric axes .

The existence of multiple axes weaken the focus on specific

direction.

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

• One of the most

important theories in

classifying the form of

the square was outlined

by Paul Zucker.

• He mentioned five types

of the square :

1. the closed square

2. the dominated square

3. the nuclear square

4. grouped squares

5. and the amorphous square

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

1. The closed square: where the

space is self-contained.

• In Closed squares there

are a complete enclosure

where the square is

surrounded by buildings

from all sides and

interrupted only by the

streets leading to it.

place des vosges, Paris, France

• Complete sense of enclosure

• Geometrical shape

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

2. the dominated square: where

the space is directed towards the

main element.

• The main element: can be

a building such as a

church- a palace – a town

hall – a theater…….

Notre Dame cathedral, Paris

• The main element: can be a fountain or statue…

fontana de trevi- Rome

• The main element: can be a void or natural element…

maria theresien strasse- innsbruck- Austria

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

2. the dominated square: where

the space is directed towards the

main building.

• The direction of a main street

which opens into the square

creates the axis to the main

element

Piazza del popolo square, Rome

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

3. the nuclear square: where

space is formed around a

center or nucleus

• The nucleus can be an

obelisk- a fountain or a

monument.

• The element is strong enough

to attract the attention.

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

3. the nuclear square: where

space is formed around a

center or nucleus

Nelson's column London

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

4. grouped squares: where spatial

units are combined together to

form larger compositions.

• Each unit “separated square”

represents a self sufficient unit

and a part of a larger

composition.

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

• Types of grouped squares:

• A. straight axis form:

• When a group of squares

different in size and form

arranged in one direction it

creates a straight axis form

Imperial fora, Rome

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

• Types of grouped squares:

• B. Non axial organization:

• When a smaller square opens

into a larger square with one of

each sides this forms non axial

organization

Piazza and piazetta , Venice

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

• Types of grouped squares:

• C. Multiple spaces surrounding

one building.

• A group of three or more

squares of different shapes

surround one dominant building

palazzo podesta square, Italy

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

• Types of grouped squares:

• D. Adjacent squares:

• Two individual squares located

beside each other and are

separated by buildings or streets

piazza d'erbe Italy

THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

5. The amorphous square: is

formless or having no

specific shape

• It doesn’t have the same

aesthetic values as the other

forms of squares.

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