1.2.1 Urban form

Question 1

Urban form

Answer 1

Urban form is the physical characteristics that make up a city, including its size and shape, population density and how the city is arranged.

Question 2

What are the physical factors affecting urban form?

Answer 2

• Topography
• Water
• Natural resources
• Land type

Question 3

What are the human factors affecting urban form?

Answer 3

• Planning
• Infrastructure
• Land value

Question 4

How does topography affect urban form?

Answer 4

The physical features often influence the growth of cities. For example, steep slopes are harder to build on and less accessible, so poorer housing (e.g. slums) may be built on them. Large flat areas encourage low density developments because there’s lots of space to build.

Question 5

How does water affect urban form?

Answer 5

The presence of lakes and sea limits urban growth in those areas, while cities may grow along the course of a river. City centre shops and businesses are usually located close to the waterfront, rather than at the geographical centre of the city.

Question 6

How does natural resources affect urban form?

Answer 6

Rich resources (e.g. coal, metal) encourage growth in size and population of cities.

Question 7

How does land type affect urban form?

Answer 7

Some ground surfaces are more difficult or expensive to build on than others, e.g. swamps and wetlands can limit urban growth.

Question 8

How does planning affect urban form?

Answer 8

Urban expansion can be planned or unplanned. For example, a lot of urban growth in developing countries is caused by the unplanned expansion of slums. In contrast, planned developments often include open space, leisure facilities, etc.

Question 9

How does infrastructure affect urban form?

Answer 9

New developments are often built along transport links (e.g. motorways), leading to linear growth.

Question 10

How does land use affect urban form?

Answer 10

The highest value land is often found in the city centre, so profitable business (e.g. chain stores) normally locate there, while less profitable businesses (e.g. independent shops) may be found further from the centre.

Question 11

Land-use patterns

Answer 11

Cities in developed countries tend to have a Central Business District (CBD) – a central zone of shops and businesses.
The CBD is surrounded by housing. Although land value tends to be highest in the city centre, houses generally increase in value with distance away from the centre.

Because if the availability of cheap land in semi-rural areas close to urban centres, many science parks and large shopping centres are constructed there, e.g. Bristol and Bath Science Park, the Trafford Centre in Manchester.

Question 12

Town Centre mixed-use development

Answer 12

These are areas where land use is mixed – luxury flats, offices, shops and entertainment facilities (e.g. bars, cinemas, gyms) are all located there, so residential commercial and leisure uses are combined.

Mix-use developments are planned by local councils, often with private investment. The aim is to attract people back to city centres by giving them the opportunities to live, work and relax there.

They can be easily accessed by pedestrians and include multiple functions within a short walk.

Question 13

What is an example of a town centre mixed-use development?

Answer 13

BedZed

Question 14

Cultural and heritage quarters

Answer 14

These areas focus on the history or character of a city. They are often home to theatres, art galleries and historical buildings.

They are often developed by local councils to regenerate former industrial areas. They attract visitors, encouraging economic development and creating jobs.

Question 15

Example of a cultural and heritage quarter

Answer 15

Cardiff | Cardiff’s cultural and heritage quarter is home to The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) and Dr Who experience.

Question 16

Edge cities

Answer 16

Edge cities are new areas of offices, shops and leisure facilities that develop close to major transport links, e.g. motorway intersections outside city centres, where land is cheaper. They often contain some housing, but most people travel to them for work or to use the services available.

Question 17

Where are edge cities most commonly found?

Answer 17

North America

Question 18

Causes of edge cities

Answer 18

• Increase in car ownership
• Greater willingness to travel further distances
• Limited planning restrictions in the suburbs.
• Social Segregation: “White flight” – Where wealthy, middle-class, white professionals move further away from poorer areas.

Question 19

Example of an edge city

Answer 19

Los Angeles | The core city is 30km wide with a population of 3 million. However, it is bordered by 20 edge cities with a population of 18 million and is 100km wide.

Question 20

When did edge cities start to develop?

Answer 20

The majority of edge cities have developed since the 1950s and 1960s as car ownership has increased.

Question 21

Fortress landscapes

Answer 21

Fortress landscapes are landscapes which are designed around security, protection, surveillance and exclusion.

Question 22

What are examples of small scale fortress developments?

Answer 22

• CCTV
• Street lamps
• Speed cameras
• Speed bumps
• Anti-climb fences
• Barbed wire
• Mosquito sound
• Anti-homeless spikes

Question 23

What are two case studies for fortress landscapes?

Answer 23

For example: Gated Communities. – These are often located in suburban areas of large cities, and only those with permission can enter.

For example: US embassy in London. – The US embassy in London is a fortress development. Some of the defences include:
o Differences in elevation
o Anti-homeless spikes
o A moat
o High perimeter walls and fences
o Set back from the road

Question 24

Gentrification

Answer 24

Gentrification is when wealthier people move into rundown inner city areas and regenerate them by improving housing.

Question 25

What do gentrified areas often lead to?

Answer 25

Gentrified areas often have a large range of services, e.g. shops and restaurants, and contain high-quality housing. However, poorer residents may be displaced as the cost of living increases, leading to social and ethnic segregation.

Question 26

Case study for gentrification

Answer 26

Portland Road, London.

Question 27

Post-Modern Western City

Answer 27

An urban form associated with changes in urban structure and architectural design, reflecting the changed social and economic conditions of the late 20th century in some western cities.

Question 28

What are the nine characteristics of a PMWC?

Answer 28

- Fragmentation - Globalisation - Simulation - Fortification - Beautification - Information - Gentrification - Decentralisation - Privatisation

Question 29

What is the only true example of a PMWC?

Answer 29

Las Vegas

Question 30

Although there is only one true PMWC, there are elements of postmodernism in cities all over the world. What example do we have of this?

Answer 30

**London** | London has some elements of a PMWC. Buildings such as the Gherkin and Cheesegrater are examples of post-modern architecture, and social and economic inequalities are growing

Question 31

What are inner city areas?

Answer 31

Inner city areas have high land value, so housing is typically high density (e.g. terraced housing). Wages are often low, and many residents live in relative poverty. The proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be high.

Question 32

What are rural and semi-rural areas?

Answer 32

Rural and semi-rural areas have lower land value, so residential areas are less dense and have more open space. Houses are usually larger and newer than those in inner city areas. Residents are generally quite wealthy and earn relatively high wages. The proportion of people from ethnic minorities tends to be low.