Basic Urban Design Principles PDF
Basic Urban Design Principles PDF
Product Details:
Paperback: 412 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 363926228X
ISBN-13: 978-
3639262285
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It is evident that the geometry of the urban form as an urban design parameter is crucial. The layout
of the structure can modify the urban climate through proper design, thus improving the thermal
comfort both outside and inside buildings, even reducing energy demands for heating and cooling
requirements. The main goal of the research is to examine the relationship between different urban
forms and the shadow patterns they generate, and to develop evaluation tools for deriving climatic
design criteria suitable for use by designers. The main structure of this thesis is arranged in two
parts. The first part identifies the conceptual framework of the sustainable urban design in order to
provide the reader with basic information about the subject. Secondly, parametric studies have been
performed to bridge the gap in the previous studies. The study compares patterns (radial and
rectangular) with different orientations and their relation to solar accessibility, bilateral type of
buildings, and urban density. While the analysis was mainly related to the Palestinian climate, the
techniques employed may be applicable to other countries.
BASIC URBAN DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Prepared by:
Roba Ziara
Hadeel Al mahrok
November,2010
2.1 INTRODUCTION
¢ 2.5.1 Compactness
¢ Compactness is the technique of minimising the amount of
building surface exposed to the direct radiation of the sun.
¢ Compact cities were developed throughout history for
many reasons: social cohesiveness, defence, economic
efficiency , or adapting to a stressed climate.
2.5 THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIO-
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON URBAN
FORM
¢ The compact form alleviates the strong, hot day or cold night
winds, reduces the harsh effect of dusty storms, reduces direct
radiation, and minimises heat gain during the day and heat
loss at night.
¢ Therefore, the compact city consumes less energy for cooling or
heating.
¢ Density is one of the main criteria for keeping the overall
energy consumption of buildings and traffic at the lowest level
possible.
2.5 THE INFLUENCE OF THE SOCIO-
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON URBAN
FORM
¢ vegetation plays
an important role
in the improvement
of man’s immediate
physical
environment.
2.6.2 VEGETATION
It modifies the
microclimate and energy
use of buildings by
lowering air
temperature increasing
the relative humidity of
the air, functioning as a
shading device and
channelling wind flow.
oVegetation
contributes to the
control of solar
radiation,
temperature and
humidity.
oEvapotranspiration
and tree shading are
an important control
measure in heat-
island mitigation.
2.6.2 VEGETATION
¢ Vegetation enhances
human thermal comfort
and adds to the
psychological well-being of
urban dwellers.
¢ In addition, urban
vegetation improves the
surface water flow by
quantitative and
qualitative regulation of
runoff and enriches the
urban bio-diversity.
2.6.2 VEGETATION
o Plants, particularly if in
full foliage, are
obstructions to wind.
Hence, there is a major
reduction in wind velocity
up to five tithes the height
of the obstruction.
o Dense rows of trees are
even more effective in
providing shelter. For
example ,Wind velocity
may be reduced by 50
percent for a distance
downwind from 10 to 20
times the height of such
dense shelterbelts.
2.6.2 VEGETATION
¢ Windbreaks or shelterbelts
can be used for the reduction
of domestic heating
requirements.
¢ more belts with greater
density and thickness will
produce larger effects in wind
protection.
The choice of trees should be
very carefully based on the
shape and character of the
plant (tree or Bush), both
during the winter and summer
periods, and on the shadow
shape they provide.
2.6.2 VEGETATION