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Rob Krier: Urban Space Public Square Facade

The document discusses the concepts of urban space through history. It defines urban space as the space between buildings in towns, which is geometrically bounded and allows conscious perception of external space. The document then examines key types of urban spaces, including squares and streets. Squares were likely the first urban form, created by grouping houses around an open courtyard. Streets developed as settlements spread beyond central squares. The document also discusses typical functions that occur in public and private urban spaces, as well as a typology of urban space forms based on geometric ground plans.

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Nausheen Ara
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37 views

Rob Krier: Urban Space Public Square Facade

The document discusses the concepts of urban space through history. It defines urban space as the space between buildings in towns, which is geometrically bounded and allows conscious perception of external space. The document then examines key types of urban spaces, including squares and streets. Squares were likely the first urban form, created by grouping houses around an open courtyard. Streets developed as settlements spread beyond central squares. The document also discusses typical functions that occur in public and private urban spaces, as well as a typology of urban space forms based on geometric ground plans.

Uploaded by

Nausheen Ara
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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URBAN SPACE I Public Square Facade

Rob Krier
Modern cities we have lost sight of the traditional understanding of urban space

Urban space and what meaning it holds within the urban structure. Especially in contemporary town planning
DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPT
'URBAN SPACE
concept of urban space without imposing aesthetic criteria we are compelled to designate all types of space
between buildings in towns and other localities as urban space.

This space is geometrically bounded by a variety of elevations. It is only the clear legibility of its geometrical characteristics
and aesthetic qualities which allows us consciously to perceive external space as urban space.

The polarity of internal-external space is constantly in evidence in this chapter, since both obey very similar laws
not only in function but also in form.

Internal space, shielded from weather and environment is an effective symbol of privacy;
external space is seen as open, unobstructed space for movement in the open air, with public. semi-public and private zones.

An urban space has clear distinction between precise aesthetics and confused emotional factors. Every aesthetic analysis runs
the risk of foundering on subjective questions of taste.

An urban Space is almost always identified with the social structure prevailing at the time in question
The more conscious
a society is of its history, the more
effortlessly and thoroughly it handles
historical elements of style.

All societies are a product of their


own traditions
And many modernist have just a
vague understanding of History

Example: when one makes statements


that Greek history is more advanced
than roman. The statement itself is not
correct as both are products of a
different situation.

Lijiang houses of china


Many architects like lee Corbusier went against the old
school of thought and attempted a new pioneering act
“modernism” but in reality was considered artistic
falsehood.

But The generation around the turn of the century


sought new models. They found them in part in the
folk art of other ages and continents, which had
hitherto attracted little attention.

There began an unprecedented flurry of discovery of


anonymous painting, sculpture. architecture, song and
music of those peoples who were considered
underdeveloped, and their contribution to culture was for
the first time properly valued without regard to their stage
of civilization.

Other artists sought their creative material in the realm of


pure theory and worked with the basic elements of visual
form and its potential for transformation
why certain kinds of urban space were created in the 17th century which we now identify with that
period.

And it would be even more interesting to examine the real reasons why 20th century town planning
has been impoverished and reduced to the lowest common denominator
The aesthetic quality of each element of urban space is
characterized by the structural interrelation of detail.

The two basic elements are the street and the square.

In the category of 'interior space' we would be talking


about the corridor and the room. The geometrical
characteristics of both spatial forms are the same.

The geometrical characteristics of both spatial forms are the


same. They are differentiated only by the dimensions of the
walls which bound them and by the patterns of function and
circulation which characterise them.
THE SQUARE

In all probability the square was the first way man discovered of
using urban space.

It is produced by the grouping of houses around an open space.


This arrangement afforded a high degree of control of the inner
space.

as well as facilitating a ready defense against external aggression


by minimizing the external surface area liable to attack.

This kind of courtyard frequently came to bear a symbolic value


and was therefore chosen as the model for the construction of
numerous holy places (Agora. Forum. cloister. mosque courtyard).

With the invention of houses built around a central courtyard


or atrium this spatial pattern became a model for the future.
Here rooms w ere arranged around a central courtyard like single
housing units around a square.
THE STREET

The street is a product of the spread of a settlement once houses


have been built on all available space around its central square. It
provides a framework for the distribution of land and gives access to
individual plots.

It has a more pronouncedly functional character than the square. which by


virtue of its size is a more attractive place to pass the time than the street, in
whose confines one is involuntarily caught up in the bustle of traffic.

Its architectural backdrop is only perceived in passing. The street


layouts which we have inherited in our towns were devised for quite different
functional purposes.

They were planned to the scale of the human being, the horse and the
carriage. The street is unsuitable for the flow of motorized traffic, whilst
remaining appropriate to human circulation and activity.

It rarely operates as an autonomous isolated space. as for example in the


case of villages built along a single street. It is mainly to be perceived as
part of a network. Our historic towns have made us familiar with the
inexhaustible diversity of spatial relationships produced by such a complex
layout.
TYPICAL FUNCTIONS OF URBAN SPACES
The activities of a town take place in public and private spheres.
Actions which a person performs out side the familiar territory of his own home and for which he utilizes public
space. as for example travelling to work. shopping. selling goods. recreation. leisure activities. sporting
events. Deliveries etc. Although the asphalt carpet which serves as a channel for the movement of cars is
still called a 'street'. it retains no connection with the original significance of the term.

Example: Paris. Rome or Berlin. the air was polluted in a different way : by horse manure. stinking sewage and uncollected
refuse
TYPOLOGY OF URBAN SPACE

In formulating a typology of urban space. spatial forms and


their derivatives may be divided into three main
groups. according to the geometrical pattern of their ground
plan: these groups derive from the square, the
circle or the triangle.

Without doubt the scale of an urban space is also related to


its geometrical qualities.
Scale can only be mentioned in passing in this typology. I
wish to try and deal with the significance of proportions in
external space more comprehensively in a later chapter.
They do not affect the arrangement of my typology.
MODULATION OF A GIVEN SPATIAL TYPE

A. First there is a The basic element


B. The modification of the basic element resulting from the
enlargement or reduction of the angles contained within
it. Where the external dimensions remain constant:
C. The angles remain constant and the length of two sides
changes in the same proportion
D. Angles and external dimensions are altered arbitrarily.

Reading from left to right. There are the following stages of


modulation:

1. Angled space. This indicates a space which is a


compound of two parts of the basic element with two parallel
sides bent.
2. This shows only a segment of the basic element.
3. The basic element is added to.
4. The basic elements overlap or merge.
5. Under the heading 'distortion' are included spatial forms
which are difficult or impossible to define. This category is
intended to cover those shapes which can only with difficulty
be traced back to their original geometric model.
MORPHOLOGICAL SERIES OF
URBANSPACES

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