City image, urban form & functions
ConstantinosDoxiadis’ Ekistics
• Developed byConstantinosDoxiadisin his book“Ekistics: An Introduction to the
Science of Human Settlements” (1968) & “Ecumenopolis” (1975)
• Is derived from the ancient Greek term “oikizo” meaning “creating a settlement”
– Human settlement – settlement inhabited by Man
– Goal of human settlement – it should satisfy Man, i.e., guarantee happiness and
safety of Man
Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants
• Cities as urban nightmares
– Pollution and environmental degradation
– Clogged arteries and congested streets
Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants
• Lack of sufficient housing, facilities
and services
• Irrational structure
Human settlements are no longer satisfactory for their
inhabitants
• Man has alienated himself
from his surroundings –
social, cultural, and natural
surroundings.
Rationale
• The elements of contemporary cities, such as transportation, zoning, and
communication, were no longer in balance.
Rationale
• Emergence of increasingly large and complex settlements, tending to
regional conurbations and even to world-wide city (“ecumenopolis”).
– Unprecedented urban growthdue to improved living conditions, accompanied by
urban migration
Rationale
• Greatest problem facing cities is that of managing growth.
World’s Largest Cities, 2003
Urban Slum Incidence, 2001
Control of Corruption, 2001
Ekistics and the sciences directly contributing to it.
An interdisciplinary effort “to arrive at a
Economics
proper conception and implementation
of the facts, concepts, and ideas
related to human settlement Cultural Disciplines Social Sciences
Ekistics
Technical Political Science &
Disciplines Administration
5EkisticElements
Anthropos
Networks Society
Shells Nature
5 Ekistics Elements
1. Man– In the center is the individual human being
2. Society– deals with people and their interaction with population trends, group
behavior, social customs, occupation, income, and government
– Preservation of values
5 Ekistics Elements
3. Nature– represents the ecosystem
within which man and society operate
and cities and settlements are placed
• “Carrying capacity”
4. Shells– used as the generic term for all
buildings and structures
5 Ekistics Elements
5. Networks– for transportation, communication and utilities that support
the settlements and tie them together with their organization and
structure
EkisticUnits
EkisticLogarithmic Scale
Ecumenopolis
Concept of theDynapolis
• In all settlements, we can draw a distinction bet. Thecentral part, thehomogeneous partsw/c
are mostly residential, thecirculatory part, and the parts accommodatingspecial functions.
Concept of theDynapolis
• Ideal growth should allow for the stability of the homogenous parts (residential) while
letting the center grow with the least disruption of existing form, structure and
function.
Conclusion
Analysis, planning and design must take place within thelarger vision of the
concept ofecumenopolis.
The city must be treated as a dynamic settlement. The use of theconcept
ofdynapolisallows for growth and change.
To deal with the overwhelming forces of growth and change, humancommunities
must be created and preserved as stable building blocks, which can be replicated
within the dynamically growing and changing city.
Definition – urban design
Planner’s View
People’s View
Kevin Lynch’s The Image of the City (1960)
5 Elements of Urban Images:
1. Paths
2. Edges
3. Districts
4. Nodes
5. Landmarks
5 Elements of Urban Images
1. Paths– are movement channels and form the predominant elements in
people’s image of the city.
Examples - Streets, walkways, canals, railways, etc.
5 Elements of Urban Images
2. Edges– are boundaries that break or run parallel to the urban textures,
which is composed of a texture of individual buildings and open spaces,
Examples – shores, edges of development, walls, port, gate
5 Elements of Urban Images
3. Districts– are the sections of the city and are mentally recognized as
having some identifiable character (i.e., visually homogenous in texture
and may also be homogenous in land use).
Chinatown, San Francisco Financial District, Battery Park NYC
5 Elements of Urban Images
4. Nodes– are places of intensive activity, usually at the intersections of
paths.
Examples - junctions, squares and street corners
LightrailTransit Stop Bryant Park, NYC
5 Elements of Urban Images
5. Landmarks– points of reference
based on their visual distinctiveness
from their surroundings.
Examples - buildings, signs,
mountains, etc.
Landmark Bank of China building, whose triangular shapes were
designed by Pei. Hong-Kong, China
Ian Bentley’s Responsive Environments
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
permeability:designing the overall layout of routes
and developmentblocks to make it accessible
variety:locatingmixed uses/range of activitieson thesite
legibility:designing the massing of the buildings and the enclosure of
publicspace/ easy to orient yourself from a place
robustness:designing the spatial and constructionalarrangementof individual
buildings and outdoorspaces to make it flexible/adaptible
Ian Bentley’s Responsive Environments
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
visual appropriateness:designing the externalimage/ focuses on details to
support legibility, variety, and robustness
richness:developing the design for sensory choice
personalization:making the design encourage people to put their own mark on the
places where they live and work
PLACE DIAGRAM
