chapter 6
DESCRIPTION
site planning on movementTRANSCRIPT
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how are we support or sustain these flow or movements in a city
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Flow typesChannel typeCritical utilitiesIntegration and dispersionConsistent characteristics of flow systemGrid patternsRadial patternsLinear patternsDisorderAlignment GrainSuperblocksHierarchies of channelsCapacity of channelsCost of circulation systemRelation to slopePaths and social contactMultiple use of rights-of-wayVisual sequencePath characterWhy hide utilities?Environmental impact of circulation Testing the system
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City = a communication net, roads, paths, rails, pipes, & wiresrelated to the pattern of localized activities or land use
Capacity of circulation system - economic & cultural level of a city
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Flow types
peoplegoodswastesinformation
_carried in vehicles, on foot, on rails, in the air, in pipes, wires, beltsabove, under, on and above the surface
_total system = substitute for anotherex. telephone calls - personal trips, the flow of gas, bus routes - car trips
_the layout of streets = the pattern of underground utilities, the location of telephone cables
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Channel types
_graded & surfaced for pedestrians or wheeled vehicles_rail systems_the wire conveying power and information_the gravity flow sewers drainage_waterborne wastesthe pressure pipes supplying water, gas, steam, bulk material
_the vehicular rights-of-way : the most critical_convey persons, objects_required quality of space
_Layout of roads and walks before the rest of the circulation system
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Critical Utilities
_community : water supply - quantity, portability, pressure of waterdisposal of sanitary sewage
_the local : the management of surface drainage
the flow of rain, meltwater, concentration in ditches an wales - flooding and erosion
subsurface structures - the hidden layout chaotic
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Integration and dispersion
_well in each house - sewage - disposal plant - nationwide system _electricity - a regional grid or generators
density, topography, function, custom, available facilities
_use integrated road systems, centralized sources of electricity for economy and reliability, central water supply for public health, storm drainage systems
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Consistent characteristics of flow systems
_physical circulation organized with terminals and interchanges - networksthe greater the flow, the more elaborate terminals and interchanges from origin to destination
_superhighways, railways transit
a circulation plan - balance without blind reliance on a single mode
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_Distribution lines : water, gas, electricity, and telephone lines_small, continuous, flexible, flowing full with valves : interconnected network or web
flows by gravity, storm, sanitary sewers - slopes ; rigid, jointed, large, partially full, branching pattern in plan
channels by self-propulsion : walks, roads, rails, air lanes
_system with source : a well, generator, an outfall, a giant factory - circulation pattern
_systems not interchangeable : pumping water, electric charge
an Origin to a Destinationjoints, moving experience, arrival
Circulation systems - assigned flow, influence on surrounding activities
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Gird Patterns
_the networks of channels_Grid : shifting, distributed, easy, clear - suitable for complex areas at large scales
_Criticism : visual monotony, disregard of topography, traffic, lack of differentiation
regularity of interconnectionthe variation of buildings & landscape patternone way : steady-flow systemdifferentiation of paths, occasional interruptionssimple and effective, convenient access, good orientation, suitability for complex distributed flow
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Radial Patterns
_channels spread out from a center
a common origin, interchange, destination : water source, sewage disposal, a central telephone exchange, a common workplace, a symbolic center
more direct line of travelhigh trafficrigid systemrings : a radioconcentric net : central flow but allows bypassing movements
problems in local flow and building sites
modification : branching out but difficulty for emergency or delivery vehicles
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Linear Patterns
_a single line or a parallel series_activities grouped along the line-direct lines of travel, frontage is used to its maximum.
_railroads, canals, trolley car lines, pioneer agricultural areas
_lack of focus, overloading of the channel
roadtown, a topographic edge
_modification : direct to specialized channels, local flows, minor loops, two continuous paths
_a loop distribution system : electricity, water, residential street
_allows alternate exits and continuous progressive movements for service circulation
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Disorder
discourage through movement, adjust to intricate topography, create interest in the street picture
a sense of intimacy, mystery, special character
can be confusing and exasperating
whatever system is chosen must fit into the general pattern of the region of which the development is a part.
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Alignment
channels are located along a continuous centerline in 3D, depending on the expected speed, volume, and nature of flow. Standards shifting from place to place, technology, climate, cultural change
conflicting with the fluidity and irregularity of the landscapeHarmonious joint between a tree and a telephone wiresmooth grade between a driveway and a sloping garden
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Grain_pattern and arrangement of street blocks and plots
_the degree of specialization of flow and the fitness_greater flow, efficiency sort out trucks, bicycles, children, idle strollersfast long-distance traffic & slow local flow, efficiency of homogeneous flow
_more specialization, less flexibilityIf trucks, cars, pedestrians are separated, then trips will be longer. : a serious obstacle to a readaptation of the environment
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Superblock
_a large piece of developable land surrounded by a continuous street
_increase the grain between the circulatory and noncircuculatory zones - improve the amenity of the living areas
_indirect street system, curved to fit the topography, culs-de-sac, minor loops
_50 acres, eliminating street intersections, minimizes expensive street frontage per unit, large and relatively inexpensive interior parks
_loops and culs-de-sac street implanted to separate pedestrian and motor access but attract the pedestrian flow as well, becomes a social focus - branch walks, giving access to the rear of the individual units
_separating car and pedestrian flow not necessarya number of pedestrians are desirable.streets follow the road, merge and divergeSidewalks - footpaths, places for meeting and play
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The Pruitt-Igoe Projects
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As completed in 1955, PruittIgoe consisted of 33 11-story apartment buildings on a 57-acre (23 ha) site, on St. Louis's lower north side. The complex totaled 2,870 apartments, one of the largest in the country. The apartments were deliberately small, with undersized kitchen appliances. "Skip-stop" elevators stopped only at the first, fourth, seventh, and tenth floors, forcing residents to use stairs in an attempt to lessen congestion. The same "anchor floors" were equipped with large communal corridors, laundry rooms, communal rooms and garbage chutes. The stairwells and corridors attracted muggers. Ventilation was poor, centralized air conditioning nonexistent
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March 16, 1972.
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The PruittIgoe housing project was one of the first demolitions of modernist architecture; postmodern architectural historian Charles Jencks called its destruction "the day Modern architecture died. Because it was designed by a leading architect and won a "building of the year" award (though no professional awards), its failure is often seen as a direct indictment of the society-changing aspirations of the International School. Jencks used PruittIgoe as an example of modernists' intentions running contrary to real-world social development, though others argue that location, population density, cost constraints, and even specific number of floors were imposed by the federal and state authorities and therefore cannot be attributed entirely to architectural factors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pruitt%E2%80%93Igoe
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Hierarchy of channels
_increase and decrease the grain of circulationcenters with intense flow grading to low specialization
_total system with hierarchy system
_cul-de-sac - minor streets - the collector street built for heavy flows - service road - freeway
Interchange
_flows are intense, channels are specialized, and trips are multimodal_delays & conflicts - the chief losses in the system - further specialization or force the distribution and reduction of termini
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Interchange
_how best to enter a building when arriving by car_deceleration_storage capacity_esthetic problems of a change of scale and a danger of isolating the entrance
_clear orientation and a visual transition between velocity and repose
Parking may be dispersed, placed in separate levels, or threaded with lines of activity or landscaping that afford an inviting pedestrian access.