3.2 COMBATTING URBAN SPRAWL
Solomon (1992, p. 46) emphasizes this point as the biggest and most important, most thoroughly lost and forgotten lesson about town building in that “buildings alone don’t matter; it is only the ensemble of streets, lots, and buildings, and the way they fit together that comprise the basis of town making”.
Figures 13 and 14 show how urban forms can contrast and the affect they can have on the public that access them. Figure 13 promotes no opportunities for social interaction and isolates the inhabitants. People making use of such a facility come there for one reason only and that is to shop. Figure 14 is a contrast as the main street forms a shopping strip that encourages the public to walk and shop along the street and this enhancing the opportunities for people to socially interact with one another. The experience is more meaningful and enjoyable as opposed to the experience one would gain in figure 13.The key element to be learned here is that architectural environments significantly affect the experience of space. It is important that buildings and the environments that they surround contribute to an enjoyable experience.
Figure 13 (left): The image depicts a car orientated shopping centre in Shelly Beach, Kwa-Zulu- Natal. Access is achieved by driving as there are no residential links. The shopping centre is surrounded by a sea of parking with poor public transport (http://www.iolproperty.co.za).
Figure 14 (right): The image depicts a pedestrian based shopping strip in Boulder, Colorado, USA.
Access is made possible by walking and driving. Public transport is well organised and accessible.
There is an active main street shopping strip with the big box supermarkets allocated behind the active street (http://hococonnect.blogspot.com).
3.2.2 New Urbanism Principles:
1. Walk ability: Creating environments where walking is encouraged and mixed use facilities are close by to avoid the use of cars and to encourage physical activity which is important for the health of the users. Creating environments that are pedestrian friendly rather than vehicle dominated contexts that cause un-necessary stress in the urban environment.
This further allows the users to interact and form social bonds.
"Streets are not the dividing lines within the city. They are to be the communal rooms and passages" (Katz 1994, p. xxii).
2. Connectivity: High quality pedestrian network and public realm that encourages walking and makes it a pleasurable experience. A simple interconnected grid system which disperses traffic by providing a variety of pedestrian and vehicular routes to any destination.
3. Mixed-Use & Diversity: Creating architecture that encourages a mixed use of functions such as shops, offices, apartments and public facilities that encourage a diversity of people, of ages, income levels, cultures, and races. Mixed use environments encourage a more vibrant environment that enhances interaction and creates safer environments for the user as the buildings are occupied on a twenty four hour basis with eyes on the street.
Figure 15 (left): Gallions Reach Shopping Park, Beckton, London. The figure depicts a big box shopping centre surrounded by car parking, not encouraging social interaction or a sense of a community (http://lds.localdataimages.com).
Figure 16 (right): The figure depicts Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa retail and restaurant environment on a street where provisions are made for both vehicles and the pedestrian. The environment is open air, vibrant and attractive with active streets. This type of atmosphere belongs to the community and encourages social interaction (www.gautengcc.co.za).
4. Mixed Housing: A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity that allow for a diversity of users as well as different socio economic classes to be able to live in the same environment.
5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design: Beautiful architectural style to be human scaled, to encourage human comfort and create a sense of place. The strategic placement of public facilities and public spaces to allow for ease of accessibility to the wider community.
Architectural environments that are of human scale, vibrant and pedestrian friendly nourish the human spirit which is importance for the well-being of the individuals.
6. Traditional Neighbourhood Structure: Creating environments that have a definite public space at the centre with dissemble edges. This central space is usually a square or a park. The buildings are to contain a variety of uses and densities and are to be in close walking distance to the rest of the community.
7. Increased Density: Buildings, places of residence, shops and offices to be close together to create a more efficient use of services and resources as well as for ease of walking.
Increased densities of buildings and functions allow for a more convenient, enjoyable place to live as everything is easily accessible and available to the users and occupants.
8. Smart Transportation: The streets created are relatively narrow and are shaded by rows of trees. This slows traffic down and creates an environment that is far more conducive for pedestrians and bicycles. In some instances parkings are made available parallel to the streets to create a buffer for the pedestrians from the cars. A pedestrian friendly environment is created to encourage a greater amount of people to use walking as a form of transport which has positive impacts on peoples overall health. It also allows for social interaction to occur and for one to experience the spirit of the place in which they work and live.
9. Sustainability: Sustainability is taken seriously; new developments are to have minimal impact on the environment and a respect for nature. Materials and resources that are energy efficient and are less harmful to the environment. Creating environments that encourage people to walk more and drive less.
10. Quality of Life: The preceding principles that New Urbanism adheres to when combined together create a synergy that produces architectural environments that offer a high quality of life, well worth living for, and create environments that enrich, uplift and inspire the human
spirit. All these elements are important in the well-being of an individual (http://www.new urbanism.org/).
3.3 STREET AND THE PLAZZA IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT