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Multiple Nuclei Theory

The Multiple Nuclei Theory posits that cities do not grow solely from a single central business district, but rather multiple nuclei develop that influence land use and urban growth. These nuclei, which can be pre-existing settlements or results of urbanization, specialize in certain activities like business, production, or residential. As the nuclei grow outward, they eventually merge into a single large urban area. The theory assumes factors like flat land, even resource distribution and transportation costs, but critics note it does not consider variations in land, overlapping zones of activity, or government policies.

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Kevin Hinaloc
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1K views

Multiple Nuclei Theory

The Multiple Nuclei Theory posits that cities do not grow solely from a single central business district, but rather multiple nuclei develop that influence land use and urban growth. These nuclei, which can be pre-existing settlements or results of urbanization, specialize in certain activities like business, production, or residential. As the nuclei grow outward, they eventually merge into a single large urban area. The theory assumes factors like flat land, even resource distribution and transportation costs, but critics note it does not consider variations in land, overlapping zones of activity, or government policies.

Uploaded by

Kevin Hinaloc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MULTIPLE NUCLEI THEORY

KEVIN JAY RANAN HINALOC

A REPORT

SUBMITTED TO

PROF. ROQUE A. MAGNO

SCHOOL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

DILIMAN, QUEZON CITY

FEBRUARY 20, 2016


I. OUTLINE

 Basic Principles
 Factors Leading to the Rise of the Different Nuclei
 Multiple Nuclei Model
 Assumptions
 Criticisms
 Summary
 Sources

II. BASIC PRINCIPLES

The Multiple Nuclei Theory is considered one of the three classical


urban land use theories. It was suggested by geographers Chauncy Harris
and Edward Ullman in their article “The Nature of Cities” in 1945. Based on
Chicago City, it posits that the expansion and growth of cities do not
solely hinge on the Central Business District (CBD) – rejecting the idea of a
uni-centered city. Rather, it considers the contribution of the automobile in
encouraging greater movement of people that led to the specialization of
areas outside the CBD. These areas then developed into growing points or
“nuclei” that eventually influenced land use in their respective environs.
These nuclei could either be pre-existing settlements or a result of
urbanization. Growth would then move outward from each nucleus until
they all merge into one large urban area.

III. FACTORS LEADING TO THE RISE OF THE DIFFERENT NUCLEI

1. Certain activities require specialized facilities.


Similar activities/industries are expected to congregate in areas where
facilities needed for their operations are located. An example would be
retailing, which requires a high degree of accessibility in order to
ensure foot traffic and encourage shoppers to visit. This explains why
malls (ex. Trinoma) are located near transportation hubs.

Another example is manufacturing that requires vast lands and


logistical support. It can be observed that industrial complexes are
located away from the city where there is plenty of available land and
at the same time where the port/airport is accessible (ex. Cavite Export
Processing Zone).
2. Like activities group together for mutual advantages.
Activities that support/complement each other tend to come together in
order to make operations more efficient and profitable. For example,
banks and corporate centers locate themselves in the Makati CBD in
order to make financial and business transactions easier. In the case of
University Belt in Manila, bookstores, photocopying centers,
dormitories, and retail shops abound to serve the needs of the students
and teachers based in the nearby schools.

3. Some unlike activities are mutually detrimental or incompatible with


one another.
There are activities that naturally repel thus they tend to be located
away from each other. Take for instance; living near a dumpsite is
normally repulsing to anyone. Thus, people who have the wherewithal
will most likely choose to live away from it. Another example, factories
are seldom located near schools because this is hazardous to the
health of the students, faculty, and staff.

4. Certain activities are unable to pay the rents of most desirable sites.
Rental rates and land values are major considerations in the location
decision of people. Those whose activities cannot sustainably support
certain levels of rates would opt to find a different location even if it
isn’t the most ideal for them. A classic example is warehousing. This
activity would require big spaces. However its operations cannot
support the rates in the CBD thus it is forced to locate itself in the
outskirts. The same concern applies to factories.

IV. MULTIPLE NUCLEI MODEL


The regions of the Multiple Nuclei Model can be divided into three main
classifications: the business district where commerce and trade take
place; the production areas where goods are made; and the residential
areas where people live.

Business Districts

a. Central Business District


As the name implies, it is the center of business activities in the
city. It is also the main transportation hub. It is often characterized
by tall buildings with a high density of people.

b. Outlying Business District


It is a business district that developed separately from the Central
Business District. This is where new business activities thrive.

Production Areas

a. Wholesale, light manufacturing


Located adjacent to the CBD, this is where small goods are
produced that will then be used by factories located in the heavy
manufacturing region.

b. Heavy manufacturing
This is the region where larger products are made. It is at the
periphery located away from the CBD because its operations cannot
afford to pay high rents and apart from that the pollution it
generates is dangerous. It is also far from middle- and high-class
residential regions because moneyed people tend to live away from
factories.

c. Industrial suburb
A community disjointed from the city that primarily has an industrial
economy.

Residential Areas

a. Low-class residential
This is where low paid workers live. It develops near the CBD,
wholesale/light manufacturing, and heavy manufacturing regions
because these workers want to live near their workplace to reduce
transportation expenses. Houses are also small since they don’t
have much money to afford bigger spaces.

b. Middle-class residential
This is also near the CBD but a bit far from the production areas.
People living here have higher standards of living and have bigger
houses compared to those in the low-class residential region.

c. High-class residential
Wealthy people who can afford to drive to/from the city live here. The
standard of living is higher compared to the middle-class and
residents often enjoy luxurious amenities such as clubs and parks.

d. Residential suburb
It is a residential community (usually mixed-use) separate from the
city.

V. ASSUMPTIONS

The following are the assumptions of the theory:

1. Land is flat.
It assumes that there are no variations in the terrain of the city that
could limit its expansion.

2. Even distribution of resources.


Resources such as food, water, and power are accessible wherever
in the city.

3. Even distribution of people in residential areas.


People living in the same residential region have similar amount of
land to use.
4. Even transportation costs.
Transportation cost is similar throughout the city.

VI. CRITICISMS

Just like any other theories, the multiple nuclei theory, has its fair share of
criticisms. These include the following:

1. It focuses on ground-floor functions disregarding the fact that some


buildings are multi-functional.
The usage of the ground floor does not truly reflect the total use of a
building. Most buildings have storeys that houses different activities.
For example, a high-rise condominium can also host retail shops at
the ground floor to serve the needs of the residents.

2. In reality, there are no abrupt divisions between zones.


Zones do not usually have well-defined segregations. In most cases,
they would overlap with each other.

3. In reality, most zones contain more than one land-use.


The zones can attract several other activities to locate within to
serve the needs of the people or complement with other activities.
For instance, CBDs could have residential towers in order to satisfy
the demand of office executives who wish to avoid the hassle of
driving.

4. It does not consider the influence of physical relief or terrain.


The physical terrain of the city actually affects its growth. In several
cases, it would limit the kind of structures that can be constructed
on the land. As an example, factories cannot be built on a
mountainous terrain because this would affect its operations.

5. It does not consider the impact of government policies (ex. zoning,


urban renewal).
It disregards the police power of the government to regulate
structures and activities in the city.

VII. SUMMARY

The Multiple Nuclei Theory suggests that the growth of the city is
not uni-centered. Rather, it proposes that due to several factors, growth
points or “nuclei” develop away from the Central Business District that
then become new generators of change in land use and urbanization. As
these nuclei grow, they all merge to form one large urban area.
SOURCES

Langenfield, J. (n.d.). Urban Geography Models Key Models in Urban


Geography Presict and Explain Land-Use. Retrieved February 15, 2016,
from http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/Urban-
Geography-Models.htm

Palen, J. (1997). The Urban World (5th ed.). USA: McGrawHill.

Park, J. (2010, March 26). Multiple Nuclei. Retrieved February 16, 2016,
from http://www.lewishistoricalsociety.com/wiki/tiki-read_article.php?
articleId=78

Sharma, S. (n.d.). 4 Theoretical Explanations of Morphological Pattern of a


City (with diagram). Retrieved February 16, 2016, from
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/geography/geographical-theories/4-
theoretical-explanations-of-morphological-pattern-of-a-city-with-
diagram/40001/

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