Module 5

The material covered in module 5 discussed the way codes and regulations are responsible for the creation of cities, and the most popular ways that design interacts with codes and regulations to create urban space. The regulatory hierarchies created by a society greatly affect the built environment. The act of building is influenced by the government all the way down to the end user. Designers have developed common ways of creating the spaces they design in accordance with the abundance of rules and regulations of a given location. The existence of codes and regulations is inherent in a society and has been for centuries. The crucial take-away is how to create space that does not just exist. The key is to create space that creates community and connection even though the administrative regulations tend to fracture development.

            Designing an entire city is one ideology that emerged in response to regulation. More commonly called total urban design, the goal is to design an entire city avoiding the fragmentation caused by zoning, and codes. Designers could create a cohesive zoning and code that functioned in accordance with the master city plan. Unfortunately the ability to design and create an entire city from nothing is very difficult to achieve. Cities grow over decades and even centuries. To build a new city entirely in the current built environment would require the plan to begin with a location that has all the requirements to begin expansion. The master plan would be the doctrine that guided the city in its growth. This avenue is not impossible, but it is very rare. Progressing forward in building future cities the total urban design approach would help create cohesive urban space.

            The total urban design ideology does not address current cities. The resources and approval required to implement a master plan over an existing city is not feasible or, arguably, possible. Instead, other approaches must be adopted for creating effectual urban space in existing cities.

            This is where I noticed a correlation in all the smaller urban design approaches, connections. A great majority of successful urban designs enhanced connections. At the beginning of the semester I stated that the inherent intent of urban design should be to create and enhance community. Connection, both geographically and socially fosters community.

            The United States began extensive expansion in the 1950’s with the creation of the freeway system. With that rapid expansion apparent in almost all American infrastructure it is now the urban designer’s responsibility to fill in the voids left in the social fabric. The Chicago Riverwalk is an example of creating density and community space around the river that served industrial functions but now serves as a connection.

          Urban design has successfully pulled sprawling city-scapes together via transportation. The use of rail lines connecting the city reduces dependence on vehicular traffic. This reduction then allows for the adaptation of once-busy streets to human scale areas. An example of this connection is Boston’s Big Dig. Re-purposing old infrastructure that once served as transportation on the machine scale to be used on the human scale. This pulls the surrounding areas together through a common spine of connection and fosters community.

            Even though the existing regulations and codes seem like obstructions, urban designers have been able to work through and with these channels to create community space. The key in current urban design in large cities is to create connections. Creating connections creates community.