URBAN CHARACTER ANALYSIS

Identifies key things that make up the

qualities of an urban area

Sets out the things that will improve the

quality of such areas: trees & landscapes; protection

of views and landmarks; character of local streets; building shape

and form; diversity of housing e.t.c

The outcome is evolution of design

guidelines for safeguarding and improving
character that could culminate in adoption
of policy.

Urban Design Issues

Identity of towns often associated with high degree

of authenticity of form and character

Identification of such character and assessment of

its significance to determine the need for character
management techniques and when to apply these

Effective techniques for character evaluation

Illustration of ways of measuring the value and

relative significance of urban areas

Recommendations/ on appropriate types of

development control guidelines

Methodology

Identification of typical development patterns, in space and time, relating

to various aspects: building age, type, scale, height, site coverage, lot size
& morphology, frontage, setbacks e.t.c
Summary of systematic urban design evaluation of the study area.

Evaluation is broadly based on, but not limited to, the following areas:

1.

Townscape/Street scape analysis:

- identification of important visual characteristics of streets and adjacent
buildings
- verification of location and character of development
- overview of specific features and patterns of various parts
- recording of key characteristics using the designed checklists
- photographic recording of all defining patterns of streets

2. Use of property records:

- various data based on land information system available at various
authorities and repositories; may be in form of thematic maps: building
age; building site coverage; building height, location of multi-unit dwellings

3. Measurements:
- these could be direct physical measurements from the ground
or from cadastral maps and aerial photographs; 1:500 or larger
is an appropriate scale
- results are then tabulated to indicate typical patterns which
could graphically illustrate typical patterns of building size,
intensity of development, and urban grain in selected areas
using techniques such as GIS.
4. Synthesis and Assignment of character significance:
This entails determination of:
The importance of the study area to the character of the city as
a whole
-

Any elements within the study area (precincts or groups of

houses) of special character or amenity value

Relative significance of the identified elements

The output will help to develop appropriate levels of
development control.

The criteria applied in Character Significance:

1.

Primary criteria (in descending order of

importance):

Rarity of type, design or configuration

Visual prominence
Ability to demonstrate historical or otherwise valued
development pattern

2. Secondary criteria:
-

Intactness of original building fabric

Visual unity or consistency
Aesthetic coherence
Expression of identityt or contribution to sense of place

Key Data Areas

Spatial: district boundaries; topography; development type

e.t.c

Morphological: street patterns; blocks; edges; nodes;

building lines e.t.c

Contextual: setting; building groups; unity; diversity

Visual: townscape qualities; materials & their distribution;
colours; local styles; roofs e.t.c

Perceptual: sense of place; image; legibility; scale e.t.c

Social: community spirit and cohesion; assembly areas; e.t.c
Functional: infrastructural linkages; use of house
typologies;

community integration; e.t.c

Sustainable: energy efficiency; ecological value;

indigenous vegetation; features for preservation

Achieving Urban Form Character:

Concepts & Practical Tools
Urban character could be physical (products) or
functional (processes)

Sense of Place:
shows most clearly in the way a community feels
about and uses landscape.

- A sense of place is basic to civilization:

All the great cities of the world have been places that
were intensely and minutely loved.
- Describes places where townscapes are full of
incident and variety but working as a community is
palpable.

Authentic places:
Good urban design addresses diverse social
needs, as well as the natural environment.

Eco character:
- Built form responses that minimize impact
and are in harmony with the natural setting.

Eclectic character:
- Built form that takes its character from the
local
setting with elements defined by that place.