Urban design is concerned with designing the physical environment of cities and towns. It involves designing buildings, public spaces, and infrastructure networks, and considering how people interact with and use the urban environment. Urban design operates at multiple scales, from entire cities down to individual buildings and public spaces. The goal of urban design is to create places that are functional, socially vibrant, and environmentally sustainable through a collaborative process that considers both the physical form and social impacts of design. The document discusses key principles of urban design like context, character, connections, choice, creativity, and custodianship. It also outlines how urban design is implemented through statutory planning documents and development assessments in local governments.

1. An Introduction to Urban Design
22 March 2016
Colin Hattingh

2. SOUTH AFRICA

6. THEORY
PRACTICE

7. Differing
roles
& focus

8. WHAT IS URBAN DESIGN ?

9. “…for all our investment in the complexity of
individual buildings on the one hand & in
elaborate engineering infrastructures on the
other, we have failed to achieve a humane
and coherent physical setting for human life”
Gosling & Maitland: Concepts of Urban Design,
1984

10. Urban design is concerned with the
design of the buildings, places,
spaces and networks that make up
our towns and cities, and the ways
people use them.
It ranges in scale from a
metropolitan region, city or town
down to a street, public space or
even a single building.
Urban design is concerned not just
with appearances and built form but
with the environmental, economic,
social and cultural consequences of
design.
It is an approach that draws together
many different sectors and
professions, and it includes both the
process of decision-making as well
as the outcomes of design.

11. creating memorable places...
THE ART OF DESIGNING THE
PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT OF A CITY,
INCLUDING THE INTERFACE
BETWEEN PRIVATE PROPERTIES
AND THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT

12. CITY DESIGN

16. CIVIC DESIGN

19. PALEY PARK

20. BRYANT
PARK

21. FEDERATION SQUARE

27. FUNCTIONALITY
FIT
MEANINGFULNESS
VARIETY
INTEGRATION
CHOICE
CUSTODIANSHIP
LIVEABLE
COORDINATION
CHOICE
CUSTODIANSHIPVIBRANT

28. Context:
seeing buildings, places
and spaces as part of
whole towns and cities
Character:
reflecting and enhancing the
distinctive character, heritage
and identity of our urban
environment

29. Connections:
enhancing how different
networks link together for
people
Choice:
ensuring diversity and
choice for people

30. Creativity:
encouraging innovative
and imaginative
solutions
Custodianship:
ensuring design is
environmentally sustainable,
safe and healthy

31. Collaboration:
communicating and sharing
knowledge across sectors,
professions and with
communities.

32. VISTA outlines
Hamilton’s
expectations for better
designed
environments. The
guide highlights key
urban design
principles considered
fundamental to
Hamilton’s
development as a
dynamic, prosperous,
memorable and
sustainable city.

33. METROPOLIS CITY PLANNING
REGION
DISTRICT PRECINCT SITE BUILDING

34. Physical aspects
Metaphysical aspects

35. What is your favourite place and why?

36. Physical Characteristics
(buildings, roads, trees, shade, water, landmarks, pedestrians,
vistas, facilities, ridges, proportion, arcades, sunlight, colour,
scale, space…)
Metaphysical Characteristics
Metaphysics investigates principles of reality transcending
those of any particular science. Concerned with explaining the
fundamental nature of being and the world – “Intangibles”.
(safety, character, cosmopolitan, vibrant, clean, legible,
atmosphere, memorable, welcoming, interesting, sense of
place, sterile…)

39. UD IS NOT….
URBAN COSMETICS

40. IS NOT ABOUT
PAVING PATTERNS
STREET FURNITURE
TREES

42. Why?

43. “DESIGN DISJUNCTURE:
SCENIC SPLENDOUR
MEETS URBAN MEDIOCRITY”

46. PDP

47. Second Generation Plan
Introduction of urban design Objectives and Policies to
ensure that the Plan reflects and aligns with the
commitments that Council has made to improve urban
design outcomes through RMA processes.

48. From ‘rules-dominated’ design response 
Outcome focussed ‘design-with-rules’
Change in Approach

49. RD Status in the Plan
Central City rules and standards set a
baseline expectation:
• Rules & Standards guide applicants as to what is acceptable
• A breach of rules would lead to an RD assessment on that
matter which has been failed
• Guided by:
– Objectives & Polices
– Relevant assessment criteria
– Relevant Design guidance
• If its good enough, rules can be broken

50. Why RD?
• Have the ability to enter a dialogue with the applicant and could
advise the applicant that the building proposed does not result in an
acceptable outcome in relation to the objectives and policies and
has not adequately considered the matters of discretion.
• Discussion would use Rules and Standards as a starting point and
benchmark of what is expected.

51. • PDP has a range of criteria to be
used in assessing resource
consents
• Particular Interest
–B Design and Layout (36)
–C Character and Amenity (28)
Assessment Criteria

52. B23 (Central City Zone)
“Whether the design of the
external façade relates to
and compliments the
surrounding architectural
form, and breaks down the
scale of the building so as
not to create a large
featureless building façade”

53. B 35 (Residential Activities)
“The extent to which the design of residential
development will provide visual interest and passive
surveillance of public spaces and streets”.

55. CityGate
Centre Place
CONCEPT – INTERSECTION UPGRADE
Ward and Anglesea Streets
The Warehouse
Colour paving to pedestrian
crossing
New trees and
benches
New trees
& benches
Left turn lane removed
Planted
median
Existing
trees
Not to scale
Dick
Smith
New trees
Stairs to
plaza

57. • Consider row or terrace building typology
• Units oriented parallel to street
• Designed to overlook street and provide street address
• Improved CPTED outcomes
• Provide rear access lane
• Higher intensity away from neighbours
• Define public/private interface
• Celebrate corner
• Provide on site amenity – improved access to sunlight,
outlook
• Reduce hard surfacing increase landscaping
• Visually interesting, unique contemporary designs

60. DOES IT MATTER?
TO CONCLUDE…

64. City of Arts and Sciences
by Santiago Calatrava, Valencia
Milwaukee Art Museum

65. Centre Pompidou Modern Art Museum,
Paris
Denver Art Museum Frederic C. Hamilton
Building by Daniel Libeskind