URBAN MORPHOLOGY

some (very general) geometrical regularities[graphics from The Human Mosaic by Terry Jordan-Bychkov and Mona Domosh]

Why model urban morphology?

To explain urban processes To permit comparison between cities To help predict urban changes Not a good strategy for predicting small-

scale variations and peculiarities in the urban fabric

Zone Model

Zone Model

Ernest Burgess 1920s Sociologist at the

University of Chicago Invasion and succession

drove formation of concentric rings

An ecological model, with ethnic groups as the species

His model included “Little Sicily,” Chinatown, Deutschland, “underworld roomers,” “single-family dwellings,” and “bungalow section”

Pertained to early 20th c. Chicago in time of European immigration

Zone Model (additional factors)

Burgess’ model is obsolete now, partly because of changes in theoretical approach and partly because of changes in the city

Still, zones appear because accessibility drives land rent and land in the CBD remains more valuable than in the periphery

As we will see there are now multiple nuclei

different land uses benefit different amounts from accessibility

Different distance-decay slopes retail (steepest slope) factories warehouses housing (most shallow

slope)

The logic behind the model

Actual Land Values in San Francisco 1926-27

Note prominent shopping corridors complicating the zonal pattern and driving the formation of sectors

Types of housing reflect land rent

Montreal, Canada

the CBD

Core Frame

Zone of assimilation (residential gentrification and landuse transformation)

Zone of discard

The Transition Zone

Suburban strip-mall (middle income residential)

The ethnic theme (Vietnamese) does not disrupt the essential features of this place.

New neighborhoods (commuter residential)

Sector Model

Old industrial development axis

Canal de Lachine, Montreal

• Old linear feature dating from 19th c.

• Enduring area of working-class housing

Sector Model

Homer Hoyt 1930s wedges form along

transportation corridors railroads & canals

lined by industrial districts

main roads & some waterfronts lined by houses of the wealthy

Households of different income and ethnic groups filter towards outer edge in the pre-established direction Vacancy chain

Freeways do not follow this pattern why not?

Sectors and zones in a real city (Chicago)

What accounts for the high-income sector north of the CBD?

Multi-nucleated metropolis (Harris & Ullman)

Why are some industrial regions located in the transition zone and others are at the outskirts of the city? (hint: think of economic utility in conjunction with urban growth)

Low-rent residential (DC)

Decentralized city

What might be happening near to the pedestrian mall?

Festival marketplace (Quincy Market, Boston)

Decentralized city

Why is the newest housing separated from the rest of the city?

Leapfrog development

Office park locations in Atlanta, GA

Office park

Gated Community

What are 3 factors that determine where the richest families will live?

Factors affecting where the richest families will live1. lower cost of land2. newer infrastructure3. access to desired facilities and

geographical locations (what are these?)4. negative perception of certain social

groups (racism and classism)5. status-seeking behavior6. willingness and ability to commute

Factors affecting where the poorest families will live

1. scarcity of affordable housing2. inability to avoid inadequate or

decaying infrastructure3. inability to maximize access to desired

facilities4. spatial avoidance by those in more

favored groups5. ability/inability to commute (creates

two zones of low-income housing)