Cities/Urban Land Use…

1. Cities/UrbanLand Use… • In 1950 1/3 of the world lived in cities. • Today :1/2 live in cities; number is increasing.

2. Historic City Functions • Commercial Centers – Miami (?), Aventura (?) • Industrial Cities - Chicago, Detroit • Resort Cities – Rio de Janeiro, St Tropez, Marbella • Government / Religious Centers - D.C., Brasilia, Vatican City • Education Centers – Berkeley, Massachusetts

3. Ancient World Cities Ancient Athens Oldest cities are found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. Mediterranean (Culture) • Athens 2,500 B.C. • 1st city to exceed 100,000

4. Feudalism During MEDIEVAL TIMES (14th - 15th cents), in a broad sense, refers to the relationship among European nobles. Ex: granting of fiefs (lands) (for labor) (towns? Cities?), in return for political and military favors. Seignorialism: relation(s) between European lords and their peasants.

5. Medieval World Cities After collapse of Roman Empire in 5th cent, European cities were diminished/abandoned. European Feudal Cities • Began in 11th Century • Independent cities formed in exchange for military service to/among feudal lord. • Improved roads encouraged trade • Dense and compact within defensive walls Paris, France Cittadella, Italy

6. Modern World Cities A high percentage of world’s business is transacted and political power is concentrated in cities. • Headquarters of large businesses • Media control centers • Access to political power Ex.: London, New York, Tokyo… • Chicago , Los Angeles • Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Zurich, & Sao Paulo

7. Urban Planning Urban planning (UP): branch of architecture dealing with the design and organization of urban space(s) and activities. UP is composed of: • land use planning: orders and regulates the use of land in an efficient and ethical way, preventing land use conflicts. • transport planning: the evaluation, assessment, and design of transportation facilities (streets, highways, and public transportation).

8. Sprawl (1/3) The spreading outwards of a city to its outskirts.

9. Sprawl: disadvantages (2/3) • High car dependence • Inadequate facilities (cultural, emergency, health) • Inefficient street layouts • Lost time and productivity for commuting • High rates of obesity due to less walking and biking • Less space for parks • High use of energy, land, and water

10. Ex of “sprawl” (3/3): San José, CA

11. Smart Growth Growth in compact, walkable, there are urban centers, to avoid sprawl and advocates for compact, bicycle-friendly, & land use. Ex: neighborhood schools, and complete streets.

12. Urban Planning Building Better Cities How to Make a Great City • Famous Planned Cities • Brasilia, Brazil • Havana, Cuba • Washington, D.C. • Smart Growth • Pedestrian Friendly • Increase Density • Mixed Ethnic and Income Groups

13. Largest World Cities Ten Most Populous Today ???

14. Megalopolis (1/2) Megalopolis (Μεγαλόπολις, 371 BC; 1825–35: megalo- + polis): Greek for “great city”. An urban region consisting of several large cities and suburbs that adjoin each other. Ex: the East Coast of the US, from Boston to Washington, D.C.

15. Megalopolis: another example (2/2)

16. Cities in Crisis: urban problems U.S. City Problems • Sprawl • commutes • environmental problems • tax flight • Racial and Economic Segregation • schools • taxes

17. European Cities: result of very long histories • Complex street patterns - prior to automobile, weird angles • Plazas and Squares - from Greek, Roman, Medieval • Low skylines - many built before elevators, others required cathedral or monument to be highest structure • Lively downtowns - center of social life, not just office work • Neighborhood stability - Europeans moved less frequently than we do. • Scars of War - many wars , many cities originally defensive • Symbolism - gothic cathedrals, palaces, and castles