URBAN CHARACTER ANALYSISURBAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Identifies Identifies key things that make up the key things that make up the qualitiesqualities of an urban area of an urban area

Sets out the things that will improve the Sets out the things that will improve the quality of such areas: quality of such areas: trees & landscapes; protection trees & landscapes; protection of views and landmarks; character of local streets; building shape of views and landmarks; character of local streets; building shape and form; diversity of housing e.t.cand form; diversity of housing e.t.c

The outcome is The outcome is evolution of design evolution of design guidelinesguidelines for safeguarding and improving for safeguarding and improving character that could culminate in adoption character that could culminate in adoption of policy.of policy.

Urban Design IssuesUrban Design Issues Identity of townsIdentity of towns often associated with high often associated with high

degree of authenticity of form and characterdegree of authenticity of form and character

Identification of such character and assessment of Identification of such character and assessment of its significance to determine the need for its significance to determine the need for character management techniquescharacter management techniques and when to and when to apply theseapply these

Effective techniques for Effective techniques for character evaluationcharacter evaluation

Illustration of ways of Illustration of ways of measuring the value and measuring the value and relative significancerelative significance of urban areas of urban areas

Recommendations/ on appropriate types of Recommendations/ on appropriate types of development control guidelinesdevelopment control guidelines

MethodologyMethodology Identification of typical development patterns, in space and time, Identification of typical development patterns, in space and time,

relating to various aspects: relating to various aspects: building age, type, scale, height, site building age, type, scale, height, site coverage, lot size & morphology, frontage, setbacks e.t.ccoverage, lot size & morphology, frontage, setbacks e.t.c

Summary of Summary of systematic urban design evaluationsystematic urban design evaluation of the study area. of the study area.

Evaluation is broadly based on, but not limited to, the following areas:Evaluation is broadly based on, but not limited to, the following areas:

1.1. Townscape/Street scape analysis:Townscape/Street scape analysis: - - identification of important visual characteristics of streets and adjacent identification of important visual characteristics of streets and adjacent

buildingsbuildings - verification of location and character of development- verification of location and character of development - overview of specific features and patterns of various parts- overview of specific features and patterns of various parts - recording of key characteristics using the designed checklists- recording of key characteristics using the designed checklists - photographic recording of all defining patterns of streets- photographic recording of all defining patterns of streets

22. Use of property records:. Use of property records: - various data based on land information system available at various - various data based on land information system available at various

authorities and repositories; may be in form of thematic maps: authorities and repositories; may be in form of thematic maps: building building age; building site coverage; building height, location of multi-unit age; building site coverage; building height, location of multi-unit dwellingsdwellings

3. Measurements:3. Measurements: - these could be - these could be direct physical measurements from the direct physical measurements from the

ground or from cadastral maps and aerial photographs;ground or from cadastral maps and aerial photographs; 1:500 1:500 or larger is an appropriate scaleor larger is an appropriate scale

- results are then tabulated to indicate typical patterns which - results are then tabulated to indicate typical patterns which could graphically illustrate typical patterns of building size, could graphically illustrate typical patterns of building size, intensity of development, and urban grain in selected areas intensity of development, and urban grain in selected areas using techniques such as GIS.using techniques such as GIS.

4. Synthesis and Assignment of character significance:4. Synthesis and Assignment of character significance:This entails determination of:This entails determination of:- The importance of the study areaThe importance of the study area to the character of the city to the character of the city

as a wholeas a whole

- Any elements within the study area (precincts or groups of Any elements within the study area (precincts or groups of houses) of houses) of special character or amenity valuespecial character or amenity value

- Relative significance of the identified elementsRelative significance of the identified elements

The output will help to develop The output will help to develop appropriate levels of appropriate levels of development control.development control.

The The criteriacriteria applied in Character Significance: applied in Character Significance:

1.1. Primary criteria (in descending order of Primary criteria (in descending order of importance):importance):

- Rarity of type, design or configurationRarity of type, design or configuration- Visual prominenceVisual prominence- Ability to demonstrate historical or otherwise valued Ability to demonstrate historical or otherwise valued

development patterndevelopment pattern

2.2. Secondary criteria: Secondary criteria: - Intactness of original building fabricIntactness of original building fabric- Visual unity or consistencyVisual unity or consistency- Aesthetic coherenceAesthetic coherence- Expression of identityt or contribution to sense of placeExpression of identityt or contribution to sense of place

Key Data AreasKey Data Areas

Spatial:Spatial: district boundaries; topography; development type district boundaries; topography; development type e.t.ce.t.c

Morphological:Morphological: street patterns; blocks; edges; nodes; street patterns; blocks; edges; nodes; building lines e.t.cbuilding lines e.t.c

Contextual:Contextual: setting; building groups; unity; diversitysetting; building groups; unity; diversity

Visual:Visual: townscape qualities; materials & their distribution; townscape qualities; materials & their distribution;

colours; local styles; roofs e.t.ccolours; local styles; roofs e.t.c Perceptual:Perceptual: sense of place; image; legibility; scale e.t.c sense of place; image; legibility; scale e.t.c Social:Social: community spirit and cohesion; assembly areas; e.t.ccommunity spirit and cohesion; assembly areas; e.t.c Functional:Functional: infrastructural linkages; use of house infrastructural linkages; use of house

typologies; community integration; e.t.ctypologies; community integration; e.t.c Sustainable:Sustainable: energy efficiency; ecological value; energy efficiency; ecological value;

indigenous vegetation; features for preservationindigenous vegetation; features for preservation

Achieving Urban Form Character:Achieving Urban Form Character: Concepts & Practical ToolsConcepts & Practical Tools

Urban character could be physical (products) or functional (processes)

Sense of Place: - shows most clearly in the way a community feels

about and uses landscape.

- A sense of place is basic to civilization: “All the great cities of the world have been places

that were intensely and minutely loved.”

- Describes places where townscapes are full of “incident and variety” but working as a community is palpable.

Authentic places:- Good urban design addresses diverse social

needs, as well as the natural environment.

Eco character:- Built form responses that minimize impact and are in harmony with the natural setting.

Eclectic character:- Built form that takes its character from the

local setting with elements defined by that place.