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8.No1,2014BULLETIN OF THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES , vols. 8, no. 1, 2014

2014 Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci.

Definition and Concept of urban square in view of urbanspaces and buildings

Binqing ZhaiDepartment of Architecture, Xian Jiaotong University, No. 28, Xianning West Road, Xian, Shaanxi 710049, PR China

ABSTRACT. (Moughtin, 2003) suggests that one of the most important elements of city design isthe square or plaza. It is possibly the most important way of designing a good setting for public andcommercial buildings in the cities. Streets and squares are the major constituents and elements ofthe urban space. The major difference lies in the size and heights or in other words, in thedimensions of walls which boarder them and by the model of function and circulation whichdescribe them. Two of the fundamental components of urban places according to Krier (1979-1980)are squares and roads. Hence, the definition and rules related to this fundamental component willbe considered here. Based on the Canniffe (2011) research, urban space has been ordered andorganized in relative and comparative laws to internal space. Urban squares (also called civicspaces, town squares, piazzas or plazas, amongst other names) are spaces that form focal points inthe public space network, providing a forum for exchange, both social and economic, and a focusfor civic pride and community expression. 2014 Bull. Georg. Natl.Acad. Sci.

1. Definiton and Concept of URBAN SQUAREOne of the most important elements of city design is the square or plaza. It is possibly the most important way ofdesigning a good setting for public and commercial buildings in cities .Urban squares (also called civic spaces, town squares, piazzas or plazas, amongst other names) are spaces that formfocal points in the public space network, providing a forum for exchange, both social and economic, and a focus forcivic pride and community expression. In spite of the fact that urban squares may be considered focal areas, thedimensions of these area are investigated not in the expositive expression on centrality yet in that of open spaces.Urban squares have a tendency to be formal and urban in nature rather than parks and open space, which arenormally soft landscaped, bigger and less seriously utilized. (Australian Government, 2009).Urban Square additionally uphold the notoriety of activity centers providing a space for an extensive variety offormal and informal activities that upholds social and cultural life for users of the center. The function is to welcomeindividuals to wait and, interface and unite (Australian Government, 2009).Square is intended for all people. Subsequently the functional amenities ought to be the physical fascination for thepeople. Jan Gehl (1971) mentioned that outdoor activities in public open spaces might be isolated into three

Urban space has been organized in comparative laws to interior space. Square and street are the basic components ofthe urban space. The main distinction is the dimensions of walls which bound them and by the pattern of functionand circulation which characterize them. In short portrayals, square is produced by the grouping of houses around anopen space and the street is a product of the spread of a settlement once houses have been built along the availablespace (Canniffe 2011). Two of the key elements of urban places according to Krier (1979) are streets and squares.Therefore the definition and principles related to these basic elements will be discussed here.

Key words: buildings, spaces and buildings, Definition

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Bull. Georg. Natl. Acad. Sci., vols. 8, no. 1, 2014

classes, each of which places altogether different requests on the nature: Necessary activities, Optional activities andSocial activities.In his book A Pattern Language Alexander (1977) describe the Small Public Squares: as A town needs publicsquares; they are the largest, most public rooms, that a town has. But when they are too large, they look andfeel deserted.There are two main methods of categorizing squares by function and by form.2.1THE FORM OF THE SQUAREThere have been a number of attempts to classify the form that squares may take. Two of the most influentialtheories were outlined by Paul Zucker and Sitte .2.2TYPES OF THE SQUARECamillo Sitte (1989) determined a square as series of artistic principles;i) Enclosure - an enclosure is the primary feeling of urbanity, and his overarching principle was that 'public squaresshould be enclosed entities'.The key to enclosure in the square is the treatment of its corners. Generally speaking, themore open the corners of the square the less the sense of enclosure, the more built up or complete they are, thegreater the feeling of being enclosed (Moughtin, 2003).ii)Positive space - a buildings principals aesthetic was the manner in which its facade defined space and how thefacade was seen from within that space.iii) Shape - Deep and wide type depending on whether the main building was long and low or tall and narrow.The depth of a square was best related to the need to appreciate the main building (ratio 1-2depth:1height) while thecorresponding width depended on the perspective effect (ratio less than 3width:1height).iv) Monuments - The center should be kept free, and provide something as a focus, along the edge of the square oroff-center. The positioning of the monuments had a functional logic and aesthetically is pleasing (Sitte, 1989).On the other hand Zucker (1959) outlined five types of urban squares as:i) The Closed square Piazza San Marco, Venice;A closed square is a complete enclosure interrupted only by streets leading into it. The imperative component is thelayout plan and regularly displaying a normal geometric shape and in some cases a redundancy of architecturalcomponents (Place des Vosges, Paris) or building facade types. A set of grouped squares with a rhythmical rotationof two or more sorts focused on the corners or on the focal parts of every side. (Place Vendome, Paris), or framingthe streets running into the square (Place des Victoires, Paris) (Matthew Carmona, 2010).Close Square is a self-contained space used as a gathering place. Usually it has strong sense of enclosure andconvenient connections to streets. It is usually refers as an area that framed by buildings (Moughtin, 2003).ii)The Dominated square the space is directed towards the main buildingRecognizing some buildings create a sense-of-space in front them is characterized by a building or group ofbuildings towards which the space is directed and to which all other surrounding structures are related. Thedominant features may be a building, a view that provided a strong sense of space such as Piazza del Campidoglio,Rome (Zucker, 1959).iii) The Nuclear square space form around a centerIt has a central feature as a vertical nucleus that sufficiently powerful to create a sense-of-space around itself and tocharge the space with a force that keeps the whole nucleus together.iv) The Group squares spatial units combined to form larger compositionsThe squares may be linked by means of an axis or axial relationships such as the Place Royale, Place de la Carriereand the Hemicycle in Nancy or have non-axial relations being such as Piazza San Marco, Venice that groupedaround a dominant building.

The Amorphous square - unlimited space, lacking definite form; shapeless; or of no particular type; or lackingorganization; formless.Amorphous Square shared at least some of the necessary qualities with other types, and it sometimes appeared to beunorganized or formless. For example, Trafalgar Square in London is not successful in terms of creating sense ofspace that relates to the size of the square.Based on Sitte (1909) and the City Planning According to Artistic Principles, Out of his analyses of squares somerules are abstracted here : There are two categories of city squares: the deep type and the wide type. Whether a plaza is deep or wide usuallybecomes apparent when the observer stands opposite the major building that dominates the whole layout.

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The minimum dimension of a plaza equals roughly the height of the principle building. The maximum is thedouble of that size. The maximum length is 143; the maximum width is 58 meters. Square plazas do not look very good, and overly long plazas (1:3) begin to lose charm. Triangle plazas are alwaysunattractive. Public squares should be enclosed entities. When we transform an open space within a city into a plaza inessential it is closed off from the outside. If possible, only one street should open each point, and each street should enter the plaza at a different angle. Irregularities don't have an obnoxious impact whatsoever. It is peculiar that truly broadly irregular squares of oldtowns frequently don't turn awful toward all. The center of plazas should be kept free.2.3 SUSTAINABILITY OF URBAN SQUARE2.3.1 Accessibility of public spaceSquare is more a co space (community, communication, continuity) than a dis space (discontinuity,discrimination, disparity) (Racine, 1999). Open spaces have receptiveness imperatives which as per Lehrer (1998),inferred generally from social practices that actualize social exclusion. Fyfe and Bannister (1996) suggest unlimitedphysical receptiveness just additionally to accentuate the social approachability of open space. As respects the urbansquare, Korosec-Serfaty and Kauffmann, (1974) define it more precisely as a meeting place where recreationalactivities, commercial trading, religion and politics are practiced (Such as Dataran Merdeka).

2.3.2 The economic dimensionThe economic issues of substantial towns have accelerated a modification of the functions of squares. The wish fromurban communities to pull in outer capital and visitors has expedited a developing homogenization andcommodification of these open spaces, which builds social exclusion (Mordue, 2007). The management of openspaces or squares is imperative to minimize lacking upkeep and absence of outline and social controlto avoid anti-social behavior and deterioration as per Carmona and de Magalhaes (2006). Provided that we think about a square asa focal and central area (i.e. a position of face to face time and fascination and a center for transport, job,administrations) the economic theory expects that the vicinity of these characteristics increments property valuesand the vicinity of public buildings and tourism for sure has a positive effects (Benoit Faye, 2012) towards theencompassing qualities.2.3.3 Fundamental urbanistic and architectural characteristics.The square is may be a zone interfacing base systems serving a city for group infrastructures or as a touristattraction. These sizes are develops, of which it is watched just their qualities of changing force. A square is henceconsidered a set of attributes dependent upon an arrangement of perceptions over periods. (Benoit Faye, November2012)2. DEFINTION AND CONCEPT OF THE STREETThe street is a result of the spread of settlement once houses have been based all accessible space around its focalsquare. It gives a framework for the appropriation of area and offers access to distinct plots. It has a moresignificantly functional character than the square, which by excellence of its size is a more engaging place to hangloose than the street, in whose limits one is automatically gotten up to speed in the clamor of traffic. Its buildingbackground is just observed in passing. The street layouts which we have inherited in our towns were contrived forvery distinctive functional purposes. They were to the scale of the human, the horse and carriage. The street isinadmissible for the stream of mechanized movement, whilst remaining proper to human activity. It seldom worksas a self-sufficient segregated space, concerning illustration on account of villages built along a single road. It isprimarily to be recognized as a component of a network. Our memorable towns have made us acquainted with theendless assorted qualities of spatial relationships processed by such an unpredictable layout (Krier, 1979).Taking into account Krier (1979) the functions which are suitable to the square are: commercial activities, forexample the market, yet most importantly activities of a social and cultural nature. The station of publicadministrative offices, community halls, youth centers, libraries, theatres and concert halls, cafes, bars and so on.where conceivable on account of central squares, these ought to be functions which create action twenty four hoursa day. Residential use ought not be rejected in any of these cases.

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Road, it holds no association with the original significance of the term. Surely the mechanized transportation ofindividuals and merchandise is one of the essential functions of the town, yet it requires no scenery in the spacearound it (Krier, 1979).Based on Moughtin (2003), several terms such as, street, path, avenue, highway, way, route, have been used almostinterchangeably. It would be possible to extend this list to include other words such as, road, boulevard, mall andpromenade, which have similar meanings.Street is pronto a demonstration of riding on horseback and a normal line of communication between places, used byhorses, travellers by walking or vehicles. Alternately it is any path, way or course to some end or journey. Theattention is on movement between places, the rule lines of communication between places a two-dimensionalribbon, running on the surface of the landscape, extended it by bridge or underneath by tunnel. A Street might havethese characteristic, however its more regular significance is a road in a town or village, nearly wide instead of alane or alley. All the more significantly it is a road, that is the straight surface along which movement happensbetween the adjacent houses 'it runs between two lines of houses or shops,' says a glossary definition (Moughtin,2003).One specific characteristic of the road or the lane which is contradictory with the street is the movement of quickmoving or heavy traffic with all its designing necessities. It was most likely the rise of the utilitarian needs ofvehicular movement to a configuration authoritative opinion by vanguard parts of the Modern Movements inarchitecture and city planning which helped the disregard of the road and its architecture. Le Corbusier (1976) is oneof the main offenders: Our streets no longer work. Streets are an obsolete notion. There ought not to be such a thingas streets; we have to create something that will replace them. Later he said: No pedestrian will ever again meet ahigh-speed vehicle.From another point of view five principal functions of the street based on Moughtin (2003) are as below:Place, Movement, Access, Parking, Drainage, utilities and street lighting3.1 PRINCIPLES OF STREET3.1.1 STREET LENGTHSitte suggests that the arrangement of a public square ought not to have dimensions where the length of its enclosingwalls is more than the ratio 3:1. Beyond this limit insistent, converging rooflines vanishing towards the horizonsuggest movement, the dynamic urban space most suitable to the path (Moughtin, 2003).The wide street so favored by the way specialist is most unsatisfactory for shopping. The narrow pedestrianized citystreet with enduring enclosing walls somewhat higher than street width are best for their reason and additionallybeing an engaging place. They are still to be discovered, notwithstanding movement specialists' best considerations,in urban areas like Nottingham and additionally smaller towns, for example Stamford or King's Lynn. The pointwhen street are narrow, 69 m and flanking structures three or four stories it gives 'the feeling of he sense ofcompleteness and enclosure to the pictures in the streets' (Moughtin, 2003).The Essex outline guide proposes that a ratio, height to width, of 1:1 is not excessively tight for solace however that1:2.5 is as open as might be endured. Narrow streets likewise expedite shopping: movement from side to side forwindow looking has no obstacle and undoubtedly is welcomed by the physical form of the development. Aestheticcomponents, for example scale and proportion are in no way, shape or form the main contemplations in streetdesign; different elements may of necessity be of more importance. One such functional thought molding street formis climate (Moughtin, 2003).3.1.2 UNITY IN STREET DESIGNThere are various components which contribute to a unified street design, perhaps the most significant being that theform of the buildings might as well show up as surfaces instead of as mass. The point when buildings undertakestrong three-dimensional form the mass of the buildings overwhelms the scene and the space loses its essentialness.The point is when the buildings went along a street they have different forms, styles and treatment the space losesdefinition. The consequence is improvement like Maid Marion Way in Nottingham (Moughtin, 2003).There are situations where buildings having lands of mass, that is, those seen in three dimensions, are successfullyintegrated into a urban scene commanded at ground level by enclosed streets and squares; the prime case being SanGimignano (Moughtin, 2003).In conclusion dependent upon Moughtin (2003) there are two primary forms for the European city street. In the firstand foremost, streets appear to be carved out of an original block of solid material. The other idea lays street on thebuildings as three-dimensional articles. This last idea in its purer appearances, for example Frank Lloyd Wright's



Broadacre requires for its implementation substantial areas of low-density development, decentralization offunctions, finish and unlimited flexibility of movement for the cars.3.1.3 THE FORM OF THE STREETThe arrangement, shape or form of the street has not appropriated the point by point attention given to the design ofthe public square. The form of the street might be examined regarding various polar qualities, for example straightor curved, long or short, wide or narrow, enclosed or open, formal or informal. Street form can additionally be brokedown regarding scale,proportion, contrast, rhythm or connections with different streets and squares (Moughtin,2003).Characterizing a street as a way for vehicles is not the same as outlining it as a 'path'. The traffic route composed bythe architect to serve such a variety of travelers auto units for every hour assigns the street to the level of a sewer, acourse which facilitates the efficient movement of effluent (Moughtin, 2003).A sense of place in street design is best realized whether the spatial volume characterized by the frontages isrecognized as the positive form. As per Gibberd: 'The street is not building frontage however a space about whichhomes are assembled to form an arrangement of street pictures; or on the other hand the street is a space that may beexpanded into more extensive spaces, for example closes or squares.' (Gibberd, 1955)For a street to function as a place or exterior room in the city it should own comparative characteristics of enclosureas people in public square: 'The perfect street must form a totally enclosed unit (Moughtin, 2003).In light of Crawford (2005), he accepts that the informal, irregular street plans frequently went out when waystransformed into streets as individuals started to erect buildings along them. In hilly country, paths that have beendefeated by people and animals normally expect the most extreme review to remember close its most reduced usefulquality. In so doing, they take after the forms of the site. In even landscape, seepage characteristics and delicate soilscorrespondingly compel the area of ways and normally support firmer soils and drier sites.Both grids and irregular forms could be seen in San Francisco. Grid was infringed upon the majority of the city,however in the steepest areas; irregular arrangements were created that permitted the slopes to be mounted atadditional reasonable evaluations. Where the grid plan was imposed on steep landscape, it could be seen amazinglysteep, risky streets, with gradients approaching 20%. It is basically crazy to manufacture vehicular streets this steep(Crawford, 2005).Contemporary US sprawl development is infrequently gridded. The streets are typically curvedand off and on again regard geography. They assume that all travel is via auto and regularly preclude walkwaystotally, in spite of the fact that there is dependably plentiful space for them. People walking or cycling must makelong bypasses to achieve nearby destinations, as the web of connections is weak, and no privileges of-way were leftfor an interfacing system of paths (Crawford, 2005).While during the Industrial Era Streets became so broad that a square could only be defined if its dimensions werehuge, hence this shift of emphasis from the design of squares to the design of streets: it had become nearlyimpossible to make squares.Sitte (1989) continues to explain, using the example of an arcade, why the creation of enclosure had becomeimpossible. (For example, Pariss Rue de Rivoli, given by Raymond Unwin.) The repeating arches of the arcadecannot create enclosure because they are separated by such wide streets. There is no doubt; the situation becameworse and worse when the need of cars came to dominate city design.Modernism took up the automobile as an icon for the era. This led directly to Corbusiers towers-in-a-park scheme,with broad highways connecting different parts of the city.While the New Urbanists comprehend the need to prevent autos from dominating the urban scene, they have yet toacknowledge that with the expectation that autos remain the default transport mode and must be suited in planningand design, no extensive change is conceivable. Indeed, the best community will find itself surrounded by occupiedhighways (Crawford, 2005).3. FUNCTIONS OF THE SQUARE AND STREETMoughtin (2003) In his book, mentioned there ought to be several squares laid out in different parts of the city, somefor the exposing of merchandises to sale in time of peace; and others for the exercises proper for youth; and othersfor laying up stores in time of war, . . ..Activity in a square is important for its vitality and, therefore, also for its visual attraction. Vitruvius when writingabout the design of the forum said it should be proportionate to the number of inhabitants, so that it may not be toosmall a space to be useful, nor look like a desert waste for lack of population (Vitruvius, 1960).He goes on further to detail the various types of market square and associates these with zones in the city:Nevertheless, even in countries like Britain the square and the street still have an important function in the context of

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urban design. The types of space needed in a city are: the setting for a civic building; the principal meeting places;places for great ceremonial occasions; spaces for entertainment around buildings such as theatres, cinemas,restaurants and cafes; spaces for shopping, shopping street, arcades and markets; spaces around which offices aregrouped; spaces of a semi-public nature around which residential accommodation is arranged; and, finally, thespaces associated with urban traffic junctions (Moughtin, 2003).In his book, Moughtin (2003) discuss about St Peters Square in Rome as one of the best examples of square.However, something more than an important node in Romes urban fabric; it is the center of the Catholic universe.St Peters Cathedral and piazza is the center of a world community. It is therefore on a grand scale. However everycommunity, every physically distinct area, keeping in mind the end goal to be given fitting definition requires itscenter. Centers of small communities won't be on the scale of St Peter's and its piazza however by establishing theidentity of the district, neighborhood or area they will have essential aesthetic and symbolic meaning. Every centermight as well have the unified form of a place, an enclosure (Moughtin, 2003).In view of Moughtin (2003), there is doubtlessly that the small cozy medieval square discovered in urban areas likeNew York or towns like Stamford are a safe place where people can stop, relax and get away from the mad bustle ofmodern urban life. On the other hand street as a link it facilitates the movement of people as pedestrians or withinvehicles and also the movement of goods to sustain the wider market and some particular uses within the street. Itsexpressive function additionally incorporates recreation, conservation and entertainment and also use as a site forritual observations (Moughtin, 2003).Applying the principles of good urban design at the scales of the quarter, city and region, Street and squares supportsthe notion of sustainable development.Urban form can be affected by the design of street and square as elements of the city quarter. A city not dominatedby the motorcar but one where movement is largely by public transport, or on foot, or by bicycle, opens up a wholenew prospect for the design of public space (Moughtin, 2003).According to Jabareen (2006) based on a thematic analysis, he identifies seven design concepts repeated andsignificant themes of sustainable urban forms: compactness, sustainable transport, density, mixed land uses,diversity, passive solar design, and greening.On the other hand the form of cities is influenced more by the arrangement of their streets and squares than by anyother consideration. City form has changed dramatically through the ages. Changes are driven by a multitude ofinfluences of street and square of which the most important are: values, size, artistic sensibility, design techniques,building methods, paving techniques, and transport technology (Crawford, 2005).Piazza Navona in Rome is a square whose sides are in the ratio of approximately 1:5. The walls of the presentsquare closely follow the shape of the original structure. There is an emphasis on the length of the space which isreflected in the bold, horizontal treatment of the facade of Sant Agnese. The forward position of the cupola, betweenthe twin towers of the facade, also encourages indirect views of this imposing feature in the square as opposed to themore usual frontal perspective. The Piazza Navona is a square dominated by the fountains of a great civic artist whogave to it its essential character. He changed the direction of movement of those using the piazza by directingattention away from the long axis and towards the facade of the church. A public square can be dominated by a vistaor void rather than a building or piece of great sculpture. Many of the lovely hill towns of southern Italy haveexamples of public squares where the surrounding buildings on three sides form the space. The fourth side of thesquare is a belvedere giving magnificent views of the countryside (Moughtin, 2003).It is approached by narrow streets which widen out into a space surrounded by two- and three-story buildings. It ishere that the main market takes place once a week around a lovely ornamental fountain. The square has a rhythmicarcade on three sides, enclosed corners and a main central arch and from the port straight through the heart of thecity there is a large street (Moughtin, 2003). The street is reachable through walking and therefore it is following thesustainable transportation and since the buildings on 3 sides are mixed use it affect the form of the city from thatpoint of view. Based on Kasioumi (2011) Sustainable urbanism calls for limitations to urban growth, high utilizationof built-up areas, and re-use of existing sites within city limits, therefore in Piazza Navona Mixed-use orheterogeneous zoning allows compatible land uses to locate in close proximity to one another and thereby decreasethe travel distances between activities and urban forms is the relationship between urban forms and energyconsumption which will affect it along the times. On the other hand diversity of activity is seen in Piazza Navona,which according to Jane Jacobs (1961) in dense, diversified city areas, people still walk and due to differentactivities it is diverse.



Many writers on urban form seem predisposed towards the rigid grid form and often find grids where they exist onlyin an approximate form. Based on Crawford (2005) it is argued that the grid is less well suited to application in carfree cities than medieval patterns, which provide efficient radial routes to goods, services, and transport located atthe center of the district. This can be relating to sustainable transport that to a large extent, the transport technologiesaffect the form of the cities. (Jabareen, 2006)The sustainable city, or more correctly, a city that approximates to a sustainable form, is a compact and flexiblestructure in which the parts are connected to each other and to the whole, with a clearly articulated public space. Thepublic realm connects the different quarters to each other across the city, while also linking individual homes toworkplaces, schools, social institutions and places of recreation (Moughtin, 2003).Lord Rogers Task Force describes the compact city in this way: Urban areas are organized in concentric bands ofdensity, with higher densities around public transport nodes (rail, bus and underground stations) and lower densitiesin less connected areas. The effect of this compact layout is to establish a clear urban boundary, contain urbansprawl and reduce car use (Moughtin, 2003).Sustainable urban forms require densities much higher than the 2030 dwellings per hectare currently widely used insuburban developments like in UK (Moughtin, 2003).There is no reason why densities should be uniform throughout the city. For example, there is a sound argument forincreasing densities in areas close to important transport interchanges. Such nodes of activity could support higherpopulation densities, and a mix of diverse land uses becoming pyramids of intensity within the urban scene(Moughtin, 2003).One of the main attractions of city living is proximity to work, shops and basic social, educational and leisure uses.Whether we are talking about mixing uses in the same neighborhood, a mix within a street or urban block, or themixing of uses vertically within a building, good urban design should encourage more people to live near to thoseservices which they require on a regular basis. Many activities can exist in close proximity: most businesses andurban services can live harmoniously in a residential area (Moughtin, 2003).In a more general perspective, there are many influential theorists that have studied how urban life is influenced byurban form by observing peoples behavior in public space (Jacobs 1961; Whyte and York 1980; Gehl 1987). JaneJacobs, in her essential book The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), came to a number ofconclusions about how urban life and movement patterns of people in cities is effected by urban form. One of herobservations that have got a great impact on later urban design discourse is the notion that small blocks and a streetnetwork give more potential choices for pedestrians and results in a lively and diverse urban life. The pedestrianflows result in a higher degree of interaction between residents and others, as well as more locations with asufficient flow for businesses to survive. The results of William H. Whytes (1980) observation studies also showthe significance of the street structure for human movement patterns. He concludes among other things that relationsbetween squares and streets are the single most important variable for the extent to which the square will be usedand generate interaction between people (Hernbck, 2012).People tend to prefer the seemingly shortest available route and use to a lesser extent roads whose direction or goalis not clearly visible. Observations of public space is the common denominator And the notion that it is the spacescreated between buildings, the street network, that have influence over urban life more than the built environmentitself (Hernbck, 2012).Based on Jacobs (1961) Streets and their sidewalks, the main public places of a city, are its most vital organs. Thinkof a city and what comes to mind? Its streets. If a citys streets look interesting, the city looks interesting; if theylook dull, the city looks dull (Jacobs, 1965).There may, indeed, be a relationship between the pattern of crime and environmental form. it seems to strike a noteof common sense when Jacobs asserts: The first thing to understand is that public peace the sidewalk and streetpeace of cities is not kept primarily by the police, necessary as police are (Jacobs, 1965).It is, therefore, necessary to examine the function and role of the street within the urban fabric so that the designer isbetter able to understand and give form to this important element of city design. The street in addition to being aphysical element in the city is also a social fact. The street provides a link between buildings, both within the street,and in the city at large. As a link it facilitates the movement of people as pedestrians or within vehicles and also themovement of goods to sustain the wider market and some particular uses within the street. It has the less tangiblefunction in facilitating communication and interaction between people and groups (Moughtin, 2003).Moughtin (2003) discussed the changes that have taken place recently in the social patterns of life in large westerncities. Thirty years ago, for example, many housewives would walk to the shop; they would also walk the children to

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school. More trips are now made by car to the supermarket, the school and leisure outings. Whether male or female,young or old, a greater number of social interactions occur at the destination rather than during the trip. In the designof cities it would be unwise to ignore these changes which have occurred. In total these kinds of streets and squaresare not completely reflecting the sustainable transport and even mixed use, therefore as a result it will affect theform of the city.The street and the square are both important elements of the public realm: each street and each square has its ownindividual identity and design requirements. Nevertheless, as features of a linked public realm they take on addedsignificance, as indeed Sitte (1989) noted in his studies.From another point of view busy metropolitan traffic junctions such as New Yorks Times Square are squares inname only and should be designed bearing in mind their primary function, the efficient movement of city traffic. Alarge square such as New Yorks Washington Square is framed by buildings on all sides yet being too large for thesurrounding heterogeneous structures it lacks enclosure. Its enlarged proportions are such that it has becomesomething other than a city square (Moughtin, 2003).A city served by an integrated transport system, where the tram, light rail, metro or bus serves the bulk of thepopulation, is able to develop within the interstices of the transport system; a parallel network of public spacesdesigned for pedestrian use, which link the home to the center and to the countryside through a series of streets,squares and green corridors such as the one in Liverpool (Moughtin, 2003).There is little doubt that the introduction of new forms of transport running on the streets in the city center willtransform the Form of the city like Nottingham. This is not a minor adjustment in the urban scene. The presence ofsuch a vehicle in Market Square, for example, will bring life right into the heart of the city. If it mirrors similardevelopments in France, it can only improve the image of the city (Moughtin, 2003).The tram is an urbane solution to transport problems in the city: its size and scale is compatible with the street scene.The tram will replace a litter of untidy parked cars that degrade the townscape in many city squares and streets. Theresulting pedestrian-friendly and pollution-free environment is ideal for better appreciation of the streets and squaresthat adorn our cities (Moughtin, 2003).4. DISCUSSIONSustainability concept concerns quality of urban life and an emphasis on equity for the least advantaged sections ofpresent and future generations. The term has been mostly used for social, environmental and economic concerns.The design of a sustainable space necessitates a balance within three major elements that define especially thewalking space- as a node (Erem, 2007) : The economics of space consumption of users as defined by pedestrian needs. The spatial environment as dictated by the relationship of movement and non-movement within a given pedestrianspace The socio-cultural history of the streets as a potential window to discover the pedestrian street culture of the past.A sustainable city with streets and squares oriented for pedestrians and ornamented with a greenery streetscape canbe enough for anyone wandering around the streets of a city. Yet a city with a clear and readable identity with inminor and macro scale will achieve a higher standard of the urban living. There are clear links between the attractionof the city and its quality of life(Rogerson, 1999).This interaction is related to the spatiality of contemporary society. The competitiveness of a city like Istanbulhaving a clear identity and being easily legible despite its complexity becomes important for global competitiveness.The competitiveness of cities reflects not only their current capacity to engage with global capital, but also is afunction of their heritage, resulting in a spatially differentiated pattern of uniqueness (Erem, 2007).Sustainability oriented street design takes an active role in satisfying inhabitants. In planning debates ofsustainability and urban rehabilitation, pedestrian needs take significance in planning agendas (Desyllas, 2006) .A legible design has positive and powerful influence on behavior of people and can establish urban sustainability inarchitectural manner. An environment with easier legibility gives people sense of belonging calling on integration oflocal culture, sense of place, source of pride, historical significance and contextual sensitivity (Mumford, 200).Especially pedestrians convert natural or man-made space into a social phenomenon , in the process dictatingboundaries and attaching meaning to it (Gans, 2002).Sustainable urban spaces should have two interacting elements. First legible environment that supportspsychological or physiological human needs within movement or non-movement spaces to wander and the second is



that the reader such as pedestrians who need hierarchy, mobility, protection, ease, enjoyment and identity (Erem,2007). The noticeable parts of the city in an order and in an ease to organize them (Lynch, 1960).urban form is the spatial pattern of human activities at a certain point in time (Erem, 2007). In general sense, urbanform can be classified into three categories: density, diversity and spatial- structure pattern. Density measures thedegree of activity intensity. Diversity refers to spatial scale or grain at which different spatial uses interact. Theincrease in density makes a street or square hard to recognize. Diversity reinforced with density carries theenvironment to chaos. Spatial-structure pattern is an overall shape of a city. It is the sum of all the density anddiversity level. The legibility of the environment is affected by the geometrical configuration of the physicalcomponents. These components either mental or touchable configure the city. This configuration may be simple orcomplex. So the level of reading is absolutely influenced by the complexity of the environment. The degree ofcomplexity is an important variable for sustainable city design in cognitive manner (Erem, 2007).

5. CONCLUSIONThe Urban Square and street are still the most important elements in city design. They are the settings for the mostimportant civic and religious buildings, a place for fine sculpture, fountains and lighting and, above all else, a placewhere people meet and socialize.When such public places are designed according to principles they create a sense of place. The most importantphysical quality of such spaces is enclosure. The methods of enclosure are many though the principles are few.

The Street and Square play a major role in establishing community image and Affect the health, vitality, quality oflife and economic welfare of a city. Streets have to fulfill a complex variety of functions in order to meet peopleneeds as places for living, working, learning & moving around.In summarize Urban form can be affected by the design of street and square as elements of the city quarter.

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Planning & Management, 49(1), 75-99Che-Yu Liu, 2013, review of Rob Krier Urban Space, Manchester School Of Architecture Year Book 2012Collins G.R. & Crasmann Collins C., 2006, Camillo Sitte: the birth of modern city planning, Dover Publications, Inc.

New YorkCrawford. J.H. 2005, A Brief History of Urban Form, Street Layout through the Ages, First published on

Carfree.com, December 2005Faye. B., 2012, Square, Plaza, Piazza, Place: What Do We Know about these Targets of Urban Regeneration

Programs?Gehl. J., 1971, Life Between BuildingGibberd F., 1955, Town Design, Architectural Press. London, 2nd edn, p.230Hernbck. Joel, 2012, Influence of Urban Form on Co-presence in Public Space , A Space Syntax Analysis of

Informal Settlements in Pune, IndiaJacobs. J., 1965, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Random House, New York, and Penguin Books,

Harmondsworth, 1965, p.39Krier. R., 1979, Urban Space, Academy editionMoughtin c., Shirley p., 2005, Urban design: green dimensions, second edition, Elseviers science and technology

rights department, Oxford, UkMoughtin C., 2003, Urban Design: Street and SquarePoole. Ian, 2008, Pedestrian Streets and Squares in Historic Towns and Cities: Design and Maintenance Issues in

Europe, St Edmundsbury Borough CouncilSitte C, 1909, Der Stdtebau nach seinen knstlerische Grundstze , Brikhuser BaselVitruvius, 1960, The Ten Books of Architecture, Dover Publications, New York, 1960, Book V, Chapter 1, p.132Zucker. P., 1959, Town and Square, from the Agora to the Village Green, Columbia University PressAustralian Government, D. o. H. a. A. (2009). Development Type Urban Squares. www.healthyplaces.org.au.Benoit Faye, E. r. L. F. (November 2012). Square, Plaza, Piazza, Place: What Do We Know about these Targets of

Urban Regeneration Programmes? SAGE journals.Desyllas. (2006). Sustainability Aims and Transport needs.Erem, O. (2007). Complexity versus sustainability in urban space: The case of Taksim square, Istanbul. Istanbul

Technical University Faculty of Architecture Istanbul Turkry.Gans, H. (2002). The sociology of space : a user-centered view. city and community.Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. the MIT Press.Matthew Carmona, T. H., Taner Oc, Steve Tiesdell. (2010). Public Places - Urban Spaces Oxford UK: Architectural

Press.Mumford, L. (200). what is a city? In the city Reader. London.Rogerson. (1999). Quality of life and city competetiveness. Urban Studies.

REFERENCEAlexander C., 1977, A Pattern Language, Towns Buildings Construction, Oxford University Press New York.Canniffe E, 2011, review of Urban Space by Rob Krier, Manchester School of ArchitectureCarmona. M., 2010, Public Places Urban SpacesCarmona. M. & de Magalhaes. C., 2006, Public space management Present and Potential, Journal of Environmental

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