Arch 408 Landscape Design URBAN LANDSCAPE PREPARED BY: JOSHIMA V.M., UNIVERSITY OF NIZWA

Urbanization Urbanization is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change or the increasing proportion of the total population becomes concentrated in towns. Urbanization has transformed many landscapes throughout the world.

Impacts of Urbanization Temperature increases drastically due to factors such as paving over formerly vegetated land and increasing number of residences and high-rise apartments and industries. Due to harmful emissions of gases and smoke from factories and vehicles, air pollution occurs. These contributes to huge health hazard. Water cycle changes as cities have more rainfall than surrounding areas and due to dumping of sewage water pollution occurs. To make an area urbanized, a lot of forested areas are destroyed, thereby harming the natural habitat of many birds and animals.

Urbanism Urbanism is the study of how dwellers in towns and cities interact with their environment as well as the effects caused by the built environment. Landscape Urbanism is a theory arguing that landscape, rather than architecture, is more capable of organizing the city and enhancing the urban experience.

Urban open spaces Open spaces in a city are important for social, ecological and economic purposes. help to foster active life styles and improve the health of urban dwellers. provide venues for local festivals, civic cerebrations, children’s playgrounds etc. opportunities for education to urban dwellers. creates opportunities for all walks of people to interact. contribute to cleansing both air and water.

Typology of urban open spaces Urban open spaces are divided into: GREEN SPACE GREY SPACE BROWNFIELD SITES PRIVATE GARDENS & BALCONIES

GREEN SPACE Includes everything in cities that has vegetation or greenery. These green spaces serve the roles of improving air quality & presentation of the city, flood protection and pollution control. Common types of urban green spaces include: Public/ Central Parks Neighborhood Parks Mini/ Vest pocket Parks Private gardens River or Coastal zones

Public or Central Parks: Publicly developed and managed open spaces of city-wide importance. Often located near center of the city.

Neighborhood park: Publicly developed and maintained parks in residential areas. May include playgrounds, sport facilities etc.

Mini/Vest pocket park: Small urban parks near buildings. May include fountains or water features.

Private gardens: Small or big gardens that belong to a private owner. Restricted use by public.

River/ Coastal zones: Open space along waterways in cities. Increases the public access to waterfront areas.

GREY SPACE Grey spaces include the built environment with buildings, pavements and roads. These grey spaces might incorporate features like green roofs, green walls and green courtyards. Common grey spaces include: Squares and Plazas Memorials Farmer’s Market Streets/ Roads Atriums/ Indoor market places

Squares and Plazas: Often part of historic development of a city center. Planned as meeting places of streets or as part of market places.

Memorials: Public space that memorializes people or events of local or national importance.

Farmers Market Temporary open spaces used as market place. Occur only during certain times in existing spaces like parking lots, parks or streets.

Atrium/Indoor market places: Indoor lockable plaza privately developed as part of new office or commercial development.

BROWNFIELD SITE Brownfield site refers to land that was once occupied and which is now vacant and underused. These brownfield sites has the potential for redevelopment as playgrounds, communal parks etc.

PRIVATE GARDENS & BALCONIES Private gardens and balconies take up a large portion of the urban open spaces. If these spaces are large, people get encouraged to sit out and use the area more. If these spaces are small, they tend to see it. These type of open spaces contribute to the overall network of green space within a development.

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