Urban Patterns

Central Business Districts (CBD) Highly accessible Especially before cars

CBD is highly accessible! What kind of retailers (per Central Place Theory) need the most accessibility? Retailers with a high range/threshold Department stores Shift in the 1960s/1970s → stores “re-agglomerate” to suburban malls , why? cars/parking lots make malls more convenient Now attract tourist shoppers (Michigan Ave.) specialty stores (jewelers, Apple store, live theatre) must be in center to attract as many people as possible

CBD is highly accessible! Services pertaining to downtown workers Why are professional services clustered in the CBD? want proximity to govt. offices, other professionals business that support professional services also cluster there office supply, copy services, temp. agencies, accessible to all types of workers (the secretary and the CEO!) How is the janitor going to get to Kenilworth if the CEO conducts business close to his mansion? a key characteristic of “global” cities is social stratification Retail also caters to the tastes of downtown workers Shoe repair, lunch places, business attire, etc. this sector is expanding

High competition for land in the CBD Bid-rent theory land is more expensive in the city center because certain economic activities are wiling to pay more to locate there. High land costs, which results in? Intensive land use Skyscrapers Chicago (Home Insurance Building) 1880s Iron frame and elevators Give CBDs distinctive character but can lead to placelessness Glass and iron skyscrapers are ubiquitous (“common”). Underground areas are also used

Culture and Urban Form Chicago School(s) of Architecture = skyscrapers 1st school (late 1800s): walls hang on iron frame 2nd (mid 20th century): glass and iron skyscraper, form follows function = aka “the International School”

High competition for land in the CBD Bid-rent theory land is more expensive in the city center because certain economic activities are wiling to pay more to locate there. High land costs, which results in? Intensive land use Skyscrapers Chicago (Home Insurance Building) 1880s Iron frame and elevators Give CBDs distinctive character but can lead to placelessness Glass and iron skyscrapers are ubiquitous (“common”). “Vertical geography” = use changes as you go up Retailers → professionals → residential Underground areas are also used Subways, loading docks, utility lines

Competition for land in the CBD Activities excluded from the CBD Traditional lack of industry locate outside of CBD but still close to transport along Chicago River, River North, West Loop, South Loop “zone of transition” as industry relocates to suburbs, Sun Belt, LDCs CBD expands waterfronts transitioned to recreation, tourism, retail “zone of transition” gentrifying, mixed use

Competition for land in the CBD Lack of residents in the CBD 1800s = CBD had residents centers Wealthy move outward as city expands, abandon mansions Replaced by new immigrants, factory workers in zone of transition 20th century = retail wins bid-rent few downtown residents Now: population returning empty-nesters, yuppies, proximity to nightlife culture, don’t care about schools, etc.

Empty Nesters and Young Professionals

CBDs outside North America Less dominated by commercial considerations. More public use and higher population Bldg/zoning restrictions to maintain character and attract tourists Height restrictions Older buildings renovated not demolished

Culture and Urban Form Chicago School(s) of Architecture City Beautiful movement Parks, monuments, orderly street plan (Daniel Burnham) Nice to look at AND believed to create civic pride and moral virtues The National Mall in Washington, DC

Culture and Urban Form Chicago School(s) of Architecture City Beautiful movement Parks, monuments, orderly street plan (Daniel Burnham) Nice to look at AND believed to create civic pride and moral virtues Beaux Arts style (you don’t need to know all the details but should recognize it) "noble spaces"—grand entrances/staircases—not utilitarian ones Arched windows and pedimented doors Statuary, sculpture, murals, mosaics, and other artwork, all coordinated in theme to assert the identity of the building Classical details: balustrades, pilasters, garlands

Culture and Urban Form Chicago School(s) of Architecture City Beautiful movement Postmodern architecture Wide range of styles, challenges what’s “accepted” Diverse aesthetics, anything goes, unique forms More people-friendly = “cloud gate” aka “the bean”

Post-modernism is booming