Urban Design and Livability Bruce Monighan AIA Urban Design Manager, City of Sacramento City of Sacramento Planning Academy March 16, 2016

How do we define cities in their characteristics of livability? Livability is the concept of a city where the physical environment supports a healthy, inclusive and productive lifestyle. The city as a place for people where quality of life is enhanced through diversity, engagement, opportunity, flexibility, and place. How well a city works for everyone includes many diverse qualities such as employment, housing, an absence of crime, quality schools and public services as well as transportation options, neighborhood services, open space, events, recreation and entertainment.

Urban Design considers the totality of the physical environment "First life, then spaces, then buildings – the other way around never works.” -Jan Gehl, Professor Urban Design, School of Architecture Copenhagen, Denmark around never works.” People Planning Urban Design Architectur e

How you interact with a city, and define livability is a matter of proximity, scale and touch Home – block – neighborhood – district - city Scale and appropriateness of scale Privacy vs engagement in the public realm Quiet - Active - Noise

Home – block – neighborhood – district - city

Scale and appropriateness of scale

Privacy vs engagement in the public realm

Quiet - active - Noise

Essential elements Diversity – buildings, places events and people Designed to support the needs of diverse groups including children, the elderly, the disabled, single adults, and families. Employment opportunities Housing availability Provisions for housing affordability

Essential elements Quality of schools Walkable streets Quality of public services, Community events Safety, absence of crime Support services; groceries, personal services, local shops Patterns and

The built environment Diversity; building ages, types, styles and scale Diversity in residential; ownership and rental, micro, small and family Continuity, connection, unity Quality and character of public spaces, as well as of its built form. Inviting streets; walkable, shade, places of rest, sidewalk width, trees, landscaping

Diversity; building ages, types, styles and scale Diversity in residential; ownership and rental, micro, small and family

Continuity, connection, unity How do we think about compatibility within existing neighborhoods? Continuity, connection, unity is not emulation of a historic style in a neighborhood. We need to think wider than “pattern book” design solutions. People pick places to live for all the reasons we are talking about tonight and location, safety, schools or activities often win out over design. It is for this reason we see a constant change of styles for changing times and taste and family needs. Continuity, connection, unity can be felt many ways; lot size, consistent setbacks, landscaping, sidewalks, bulk control, rhythm, roofs, pattern and materials. We tend to feel more comfortable in consistency. The balance then is between emulation and continuity of a neighborhoods’ life.

Quality and character of public spaces, as well as of its built form. Inviting streets; walkable, shade, places of rest, sidewalk width, trees, landscaping

The built environment Block size, scale of buildings Building engagement to pedestrians and the street Widths of sidewalks, sidewalk amenities; bicycle parking, benches, landscaping, lighting, paving signage Accessible open space Preservation of the past; historic buildings, places and events Infill development in the urban core

Building engagement to pedestrians and the street Widths of sidewalks, sidewalk amenities; bicycle parking, benches, landscaping, lighting, paving signage Widths of streets, traffic speed

Preservation of the past; historic buildings, places and events

Infill development in the urban core

Movement in a city Barriers to movement – traffic, lack of walks or wide walks and bike paths, areas of crime Connectivity – walkable, bikeable, transportation options Convenient access to systems – transit, pedestrian and bicycle access;

Amenities that make life complete Recreation, active and passive Parks, plazas, social spaces Libraries Local shops and services Entertainment Night life/24 hour activity

Recreation, active and passive Parks, plazas, social spaces

Libraries Local shops and services

Entertainment Night life/24 hour activity

All the other stuff that has to happen and you don’t notice it unless it is not working Waste – trash, recycle and yard waste Electricity, water, sewer and drainage Protection from natural disasters Minimal pollution