Urban Design Studio

Module 7 –Application of Concepts and Techniques to an Urban Design

Problem
EO 71 -

LEARNING PD 1616 Intramuros Law –

OBJECTIVES RA 7916 PEZA Law -
After studying this module, you as a future Architect
should be able to: RA 7924 MMDA Law -

1. Explain what an urban design plan report is

and what are its uses, purpose and
component parts.
2. Identify and explain the attributes of Urban APPLICATION OF CONCEPTS
Design Process. AND TECHNIQUES TO AN URBAN
DESIGN PROBLEM SITUATION
TOPIC
AN INTRODUCTION ON URBAN DESIGN PLAN
OUTLINE
REPORT/URBAN DESIGN BRIEF:
1. Introduction to Urban Design Plan
Reports URBAN DESIGN PLANS
Urban design is the discipline between planning and
architecture. It gives three-dimensional physical
form to policies described in a comprehensive plan.
OVERVIEW It focuses on design of the public realm, which is
created by both public spaces and the buildings that
define them. Urban design views these spaces
Module 6 serves as an in-depth review of the various holistically and is concerned with bringing together
attributes in urban design processes. It is also an the different disciplines responsible for the
introduction on urban design plan report and the study
components of cities into a unified vision. Compared
of its importance, purpose and component parts. This
to comprehensive plans, urban design plans
module is good for 3 hour lecture.
generally have a short time horizon and are typically
area or project specific. Key elements of an urban
design plan include the plan itself, the preparation of
ACTIVATING design guidelines for buildings, the design of the
public realm—the open space, streets, sidewalks,
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE and plazas between and around buildings—and the
Looking back at the lessons learned in previous “public interest” issues of buildings. These include
module. massing, placement, and sun, shadow, and wind
issues. Urban design plans are prepared for various
RECITE at least three (3) pertinent provisions of the areas, including downtowns, waterfronts, campuses,
following laws: corridors, neighborhoods, mixed-use developments,
RA 7279 - and special districts. Issues to be considered include
RA 9563 – existing development, proposed development,
PD 772 – utility infrastructure, streets framework, open space
RA 7835 – framework, environmental framework, and
sustainable development principles. Urban design

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plans require interdisciplinary collaboration among around the process all become part of the
urban designers, architects, landscape architects, overall marketing effort to attract
planners, civil and environmental engineers, and development and residents.
market analysts. The central role of the urban
designer is to serve as the one who can often Forming “Treaties”
integrate the work of a diverse range of specialists. Urban design plans are sometimes born as a
result of a conflict; for example, a proposed
REASONS TO PREPARE AN URBAN DESIGN PLAN redevelopment project may result in
An urban design plan must respond to the displacing existing businesses or residents.
circumstances under which the project will be An urban design document can serve as a
conducted, including the goals of the sponsors of the “treaty,” to bring about a truce among
plan, the political or social climate in the community, warring parties. By focusing on the issues,
and financial and marketing realities. Below are a presenting thoughtful analysis, and urging
few examples of reasons to prepare an urban design parties to come forward with their concerns
plan. and ideas, urban designers can use an urban
Forging Visions design plan to help resolve problems in a
Urban designers are often asked to provide nonconfrontational way.
a vision for communities to attract
investment and coordinate many disparate THE URBAN DESIGN PLANNING PROCESS
and even discordant interests. By providing An urban design planning process has much in
such a vision, urban designers can bring common with a comprehensive planning process;
individual efforts together to create a whole both include basic elements such as data collection
that is greater than the sum of its parts. and analysis, public participation, and involvement
Creating such a vision needs to be a public of other disciplines. However, urban design differs in
process, to cultivate widespread enthusiasm the use of three-dimensional design tools to explore
for the vision and build a “bandwagon” of alternatives and communicate ideas. Below are the
support. essential attributes of an urban design planning
process.
Devising Strategies
In addition to an overall vision, an urban Public Outreach
design plan must also include a strategic Because urban design plans usually involve
implementation plan, with both short- and multiple stakeholders, public participation in
long-range initiatives. To keep the the planning process is essential. A
momentum going, it is also important to representative steering committee is one
assign specific tasks or projects to groups mechanism to ensure involvement of a cross
conducting implementation. section of interests. Among the various
public outreach techniques used are focus
Creating Good Locations groups and public meetings. Input from the
Many projects begin with sites that are public informs the urban design team about
compromised or deteriorated. An urban assets, liabilities, and visions for the project
design plan illustrates how a site is linked to area.
surrounding strengths, and it can show how
the site can become a great location. Involvement of Major Stakeholders
In addition to the public outreach process,
Marketing Sites or Areas one-onone meetings with key
Urban design plans often work to transform representatives of the major stakeholders,
an area, creating a new image for an area such as elected officials, community leaders,
once overlooked or blighted. Urban design and major institutions, are important for
documents, illustrations, and publicity both sides—the urban design team gains

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 insight into the stakeholders’ concerns and drawings are often the most effective
goals, and the major stakeholders develop communicators of the plan’s elements.
confidence in the team and the planning
process. Executive Summary
Multi-Disciplinary Team Key images from the body of the report and
Urban design is a collaborative process summary text can convey the “big ideas” of
involving urban designers, architects, the plan in just a few pages.
planners, and landscape architects.
However, other disciplines are usually Existing Conditions
required, such as transportation planners Assemble all existing conditions data related
and engineers, civil and environmental to the project area, including streets,
engineers, residential and commercial building coverage, land use, topography,
market analysts, construction cost vacant buildings and land, and
consultants, and public/private finance environmental constraints. This information
consultants. When such a team has been is documented in the report as the existing
assembled, the individual consultants should conditions “portrait” of the area.
be coordinated so that their expertise
permeates the planning process from Analysis Drawings
beginning to end. Analysis drawings can be some of the most
influential materials of an urban design
Focus on Implementation initiative. Creating these drawings involves
Urban design projects are often complicated professional review of existing conditions
plans with multiple projects and data and mapping, to translate this
participants. Implementation can be information into findings that will influence
difficult, even when all the forces are aligned the plan. More information on analysis
properly. The process should begin with drawings can be found in The Urban Design
implementation in mind. Develop a plan that Handbook (2003).
is tied to the realities of receiving funding,
obtaining approval, and getting the project Summary of Issues
built. During the planning process, involve citizens
and stakeholders in focus groups and public
Design as a Tool for Decision-Making meetings to learn about the strengths and
By exploring alternatives—the “what ifs” of weaknesses of the project area and the
a site or district—the design process allows community’s vision for the future. The issues
for speculation, brainstorming, and and opportunities that arise from these
innovative thinking. Alternatives can be meetings are summarized in the report, in
tested against various factors, including both narrative and diagrams.
physical constraints, regulatory controls, the
market, overall costs and benefits, economic Development Program
feasibility, property valuation, phasing, Market studies, forecasting demand for
public input, and experience elsewhere. The residential and commercial development,
consensus vision will then reflect those are frequently done concurrently with the
realities. urban design planning process. These
studies are summarized in the urban design
COMPONENTS OF AN URBAN DESIGN PLAN plan. If such studies were not commissioned,
REPORT the client’s development program is
As a general rule, an urban design report should be described in the development program.
light on text and heavy on graphics. Diagrams, charts,
rendered plans and sections, and perspective

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Urban Design Plan Described below are three of the most commonly
The urban design plan is a color rendered produced urban design plans: neighborhoods,
plan showing existing and new buildings, downtowns, and mixed-use developments.
parking, streets, trails, and landscape
planting. The urban design plan presents a Neighborhood Plans
two-dimensional vision of the final project On the neighborhood scale, urban design
build-out. plans often address the location and design
of infill housing, new parks, and community
Streets Framework Plan and Street Sections institutions; main street revitalization;
The streets framework plan identifies housing rehabilitation guidelines; and street
existing and new streets. It includes cross reconfiguration. Sponsors of neighborhood
sections of streets indicating sidewalks, plans include cities, community
parking, travel lanes, and medians. development organizations, foundations,
and private developers.
Open Space Framework Plan
The open space framework plan illustrates Downtown Plans
parks; trails; “green streets,” which are Downtown urban design plans are usually
streets designated for enhanced landscape part of a larger economic development
planting and pedestrian amenities; plazas; strategy focused on attracting jobs,
public space; and the connections between residents, and visitors to a downtown. The
them. development scale is relatively dense and
multistory, which requires sensitive
Perspective Drawings treatment of the public realm for
Three-dimensional perspective drawings are pedestrians. Topics covered in downtown
essential in conveying the sense of place of urban design plans include mixed-use
an urban design plan. Often the general buildings, historic preservation, adaptive
public cannot easily interpret plan drawings; reuse, height and density, setbacks, views,
however, eye level and bird’s eye view parking strategies, transit corridors and
perspectives are often more readily nodes, streetscapes, waterfronts, street
understandable. networks, highway access, redevelopment
policies, zoning overlays, incentive districts,
Design Guidelines new stadiums and convention centers, and
Urban design plan reports often contain a entertainment and cultural districts.
section on design guidelines, including Cities, downtown organizations, business
massing, height, building setbacks, improvement districts, and regional
architectural style, parking, streetscapes, agencies all may sponsor downtown urban
signage, materials, and sustainable design. design plans.

Implementation and Phasing Plan Mixed-Use Developments

The implementation section details the Mixed-use developments are typically one-
mechanisms to make the plan a reality. owner, site-specific projects. Among the
Among the tools typically included are public various types are infill projects in
and private partnerships, funding sources, downtowns, brownfield reclamation
regulatory issues, conceptual budgets, and a projects, lifestyle centers (also called
phasing plan with early action and long- specialty retail centers), and
range projects described. office/technology developments. Office,
retail, and housing are among the typical
EXAMPLES OF URBAN DESIGN PLANS uses in mixed-use developments. Project
sizes can range widely, from a few acres to

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 hundreds of acres. A central goal is to
develop a pedestrian-friendly place to live,
work, and play. Sponsors of mixed-use
developments are often private developers, REFERENCES
redevelopment agencies, and large
institutions, such as universities and medical
centers. Steiner, Frederick et.al. (2007). Planning and Urban
Design Standards. John Wiley and Sons Inc.

www.Wikipedia.com
SUMMARY
Prepared by:

ARCH. ALBERT T. PASCUA, LRA

Urban Design Planning Process Faculty, College of Engineering and Architecture
Public Outreach
Involvement of Major Stakeholders
Multi-disciplinary team
Focus on Implementation
Design as a Tool for Decision Making

Components of an Urban design Report

Executive Summary
Existing Conditions
Analysis Drawings
Summary of Issues
Development Programs
Urban Design Plan
Streets Framework Plan and Street Sections
Open Space Framework Plan
Perspective Drawings
Perspective Drawings
Design Guidelines
Implementation and Phasing plan

Examples of Urban Design Plans

Neighborhood Plans
Downtown Plans
Mixed use Developments

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Home reading assignment on “Application of

Concepts and Techniques to an Urban Design
Problem”
- Design Brief and Design Considerations

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