Solar access:
Today because of the large number of population, high rise buildings is going to increase. High rise and dense buildings could decrease the accessibility to sun light. According to King (2011 p2) lack of exposure to sunlight which has vitamin D ,for worker housing in19th century in Europe caused bone disease. Today sunlight should be provided to improve both human health and reduce the usage of non-renewable sources. Photovoltaic tiles, solar heat water and other solar power systems need enough sunlight to produce energy. Furthermore private and public open spaces and areas for drying cloths should have access to sun light (Waverley Development Control Plan 2010). For this reason urban design play important role to increase solar accessibility. Designing urban areas should be according to sun path of that area. In winters buildings should absorb sunlight by windows, but in summer shadow is more demanded for a building (King 2011 p1). Therefor sun path can determine the direction of buildings, blocks and streets. Before the construction of a building the shadow of it should be assess. In Sydney pavement needs at least 2 hour sunlight in winters (King 2011 p7) Trees height and location in the street should be considered as well.
sources:
-http://www.academia.edu/4326214/Our_place_in_the_sun_urban_design_implications_of_solar_access_controls
-http://www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/3470/Part_G2.pdf
Monday, 19 May 2014
Rain gardens:
Storm waters usually caries pollution that mostly caused by motor vehicles and industrial activities. According to Water Resource Education (2009) Storm water carries metal, phosphorus, nitrogen, bacteria, pesticides and other kind of toxic. These materials that are harmful for nature reach to water sources with drains and make them polluted. One of the solutions to this issue is to use rain garden in urban green areas. Because storm water could not be absorbed from surfaces like parking, walk ways , drive ways roofs and other impervious surfaces it flows in drain system. But instead it could be easily absorb by depression gardens. Soil filters the water which plants in the garden absorb and flows to ground water and recharge it with less pollution (City of Des Monies 2009). These gardens could provide other advantages such as making the appearance of the city better and reducing the air and noise pollution. According to City of Desmond it is better to use native plants, because they have adjusted to that area and they need water in driest time of the year.
Source:
-City of Des Monies Park and Recreation 2009,Rain Gardens, United State,accessed 18 May 2014,<http://clean-water.uwex.edu>
-University of Wisconsin Extension 2009,Polluted urban runoff, United State,accessed 18 May 2014 <http://www.dmgov.org>
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| http://dcplanning.org |
Source:
-City of Des Monies Park and Recreation 2009,Rain Gardens, United State,accessed 18 May 2014,<http://clean-water.uwex.edu>
-University of Wisconsin Extension 2009,Polluted urban runoff, United State,accessed 18 May 2014 <http://www.dmgov.org>
Sunday, 18 May 2014
Reducing noise pollution in urban areas:
Today the population of urban areas are going to increase which make roads more crowded. Noise pollution is one cause of the crowded that could affect human mentally and physically.According to National Centre for
Biotechnology Information (1989) in order to reduce urban noise pollution there are several solutions from urban design point of view.
1. Decreasing the source of noise by controlling traffic volume and using different kind of asphalt that produces lower noise (Bin,Y 2009)
2. Putting barriers to reduce the noise Such as shelters,walls and plants. Trees an lawn can mitigate noise pollution, however they should cover large width which is not usually available in city centres
3.Streets with high rise building in both side in city centres are usually noisy because the sound of activities and traffic in the street are echoed. Therefore is better to make the width of the street bigger and to combine different height of the buildings in both side of the street ( Xiang,Z et al,2009 p.3).
For buildings, elements such as balcony, green roofs and small size of openings and using materials like brick and concrete in walls could help to alleviate the noise pollution (Xiang,Z et al,2009 p.4).
sources:
- Xiang,Z Bin,C Shuang,L 2009,Design for Human Aural Health:Noise Pollution Prevention and Control in Urban Dwellings Design of China,Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering,pp1-4.
- Bin,Y 2009,Impact Analysis of Low-Noise Asphalt Pavement to Improve the Urban Environment,Management and Service Science,pp 1-3.
-National Center for Biotechnology Information 1989,An intervention policy for reducing noise pollution in urban areas, United State, accessed 18 May 2014,<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2483630
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| http://www.norcalblogs.com |
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| http://www.norcalblogs.com |
1. Decreasing the source of noise by controlling traffic volume and using different kind of asphalt that produces lower noise (Bin,Y 2009)
2. Putting barriers to reduce the noise Such as shelters,walls and plants. Trees an lawn can mitigate noise pollution, however they should cover large width which is not usually available in city centres
3.Streets with high rise building in both side in city centres are usually noisy because the sound of activities and traffic in the street are echoed. Therefore is better to make the width of the street bigger and to combine different height of the buildings in both side of the street ( Xiang,Z et al,2009 p.3).
For buildings, elements such as balcony, green roofs and small size of openings and using materials like brick and concrete in walls could help to alleviate the noise pollution (Xiang,Z et al,2009 p.4).
sources:
- Xiang,Z Bin,C Shuang,L 2009,Design for Human Aural Health:Noise Pollution Prevention and Control in Urban Dwellings Design of China,Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering,pp1-4.
- Bin,Y 2009,Impact Analysis of Low-Noise Asphalt Pavement to Improve the Urban Environment,Management and Service Science,pp 1-3.
-National Center for Biotechnology Information 1989,An intervention policy for reducing noise pollution in urban areas, United State, accessed 18 May 2014,<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov>
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2483630
Saturday, 17 May 2014
Spain grid pattern:
The existing grid pattern in Spain goes back to 19th century by Lldefon Cerda ( Harvard University 2014). As a designer he consider criteria that make these grid pattern the most sustainable one. Blocks in this grid pattern are similar together. Each of them is rectangular with chamfer in four corners and court yard with garden inside them. Chamfers make intersections vaster, that increase visibility and help to reduce the amount of traffic. Because of court yards each house has two free sides that could increase the amount of sunlight and it let the air to move inside the house as a natural ventilation. Some of these ideas never had come true. For example the hight of blocks are higher now and there are not garden in all of the court yards. Instead of garden some of them have car parking or shopping center. In recent years when a block becomes empty, government occupise that to recreate the garden in court yard.
The existing grid pattern in Spain goes back to 19th century by Lldefon Cerda ( Harvard University 2014). As a designer he consider criteria that make these grid pattern the most sustainable one. Blocks in this grid pattern are similar together. Each of them is rectangular with chamfer in four corners and court yard with garden inside them. Chamfers make intersections vaster, that increase visibility and help to reduce the amount of traffic. Because of court yards each house has two free sides that could increase the amount of sunlight and it let the air to move inside the house as a natural ventilation. Some of these ideas never had come true. For example the hight of blocks are higher now and there are not garden in all of the court yards. Instead of garden some of them have car parking or shopping center. In recent years when a block becomes empty, government occupise that to recreate the garden in court yard.
Elevated walkways in Hong Kong:
I
watched a video from Hong Kong city center that was about elevated
walkways in that area. I noticed that this kind of structure has
considerably helped to the traffic flow, make it safe and quick for
pedestrian to cross the streets and has provided good view for them.This
is a suitable structure for dense areas like Hong Kong. On the other
hand I noticed that this structure could block the motor vehicles view
to buildings and street.According to Rotmeyer (2006) elevated walkways
could affect the vitality of streets when pedestrian became seperated
from it.Furthermore in dense areas like Hong Kong city center with high
rise bulidings the air movement is low especially at the street level
and elevated walkways could perform as a barrier to make it worst
(Department of Architecture Chinese university of Hong Kong 2005).
Therefore these problems should be considered to adjust this effective
structure to dense areas like Hong Kong.
Sources:
- Rotmeyer,J 2006,The sustainable city,WTI press publishing, United Kingdom.
- Department
of Architecture Chinese university of Hong Kong 2005, Establishment of
Air ventilation Assessment System, china, accessed 11 May,
<www.pland.gov.hk>
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Garden city movement:
In 19th century Ebenezer Howard innovated the idea of Garden City Movement in England. He came up with that idea because at that time people started to move from countries to cities. Therefore cities become crowded and polluted. In his idea both urban and rural areas has their own quality.Urban area has social life and rural area has nature.His garden city idea was the combination of both of these in order to improve the economic situation and health (ACT Planning and land Authority 2008). In his idea garden city is a circular town fill with residential area,school,stores,hospital and all things to be independent, surrounded by green area as a place for agriculture . Population could reach to 32000 in a 2400Ha field.When one town is fill whit that population another town will be created. His innovation first used in Letchworth (1903) and after that in Welwyn both in England. After that some areas in Unite States and Australia inspired by that idea.Canberra and Suburb of Adelaide are the examples of garden city in Australia (Department of City and Regional Planning 2005).
Sources:ACT Planning and land Authority 2008,Garden city value and principles,accessed 6May 2014,<http://www.actpla.act.gov.au>
Department of City and Regional Planning,GARDEN CITIES OF TO-MORROW,accessed by 6May 2014,<http://urbanplanning.library.cornell.edu>
In 19th century Ebenezer Howard innovated the idea of Garden City Movement in England. He came up with that idea because at that time people started to move from countries to cities. Therefore cities become crowded and polluted. In his idea both urban and rural areas has their own quality.Urban area has social life and rural area has nature.His garden city idea was the combination of both of these in order to improve the economic situation and health (ACT Planning and land Authority 2008). In his idea garden city is a circular town fill with residential area,school,stores,hospital and all things to be independent, surrounded by green area as a place for agriculture . Population could reach to 32000 in a 2400Ha field.When one town is fill whit that population another town will be created. His innovation first used in Letchworth (1903) and after that in Welwyn both in England. After that some areas in Unite States and Australia inspired by that idea.Canberra and Suburb of Adelaide are the examples of garden city in Australia (Department of City and Regional Planning 2005).
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| source:http://urbanplanning.library.cornell.edu |
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| sourse:http://urbanplanning.library.cornell.edu |
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| Canberra |
Sources:ACT Planning and land Authority 2008,Garden city value and principles,accessed 6May 2014,<http://www.actpla.act.gov.au>
Department of City and Regional Planning,GARDEN CITIES OF TO-MORROW,accessed by 6May 2014,<http://urbanplanning.library.cornell.edu>
Monday, 5 May 2014
Lost spaces in urban area:
A few days ago when I was studying about a highway in Cape town, I noticed that spaces around these constructions are mostly empty and remained unused. I found some book and article to know about the causes of this issue.According to Moghaddam and Yazdipour ( 2014) in cities there are some areas that have been vacant or have not been used for along time. They do not attract people and they are not connected to other areas around them. Areas around and under high ways, areas around rail road lines, water fronts ,spaces between buildings and industrial complexes are examples of these spaces. To fill these areas and give them vitality, first it is important to recognize them.After that by providing suitable lighting and furniture and green spaces they could be fill by people.There are criteria like security and accessibility that should be improved.Communication by people in these areas could bring sense of belonging after a while that is an important criteria to make it alive.
Source:
Moghaddam M, Yazdipour M, Yazdiha E and Azimi S (2014), Evaluating the Succeeded Rate of Reviving Identity Plans of Lost Spaces Using the Analytical Hierarchical Process,Journal of Engineering Science,pp 62-68.
Trancik R (1943) ,Finding lost space, United State of America.
A few days ago when I was studying about a highway in Cape town, I noticed that spaces around these constructions are mostly empty and remained unused. I found some book and article to know about the causes of this issue.According to Moghaddam and Yazdipour ( 2014) in cities there are some areas that have been vacant or have not been used for along time. They do not attract people and they are not connected to other areas around them. Areas around and under high ways, areas around rail road lines, water fronts ,spaces between buildings and industrial complexes are examples of these spaces. To fill these areas and give them vitality, first it is important to recognize them.After that by providing suitable lighting and furniture and green spaces they could be fill by people.There are criteria like security and accessibility that should be improved.Communication by people in these areas could bring sense of belonging after a while that is an important criteria to make it alive.
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| source:Finding lost space by Trancik |
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| source:http://www.ilnuovoberlinese.com |
Moghaddam M, Yazdipour M, Yazdiha E and Azimi S (2014), Evaluating the Succeeded Rate of Reviving Identity Plans of Lost Spaces Using the Analytical Hierarchical Process,Journal of Engineering Science,pp 62-68.
Trancik R (1943) ,Finding lost space, United State of America.
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