The concept of socio spatial patterning in urban design and its manifestations through physical embodiment through organic growth of urban spaces.

1. SOCIO-SPATIAL
PATTERNING IN URBAN
DESIGN
Principles of Human
Settlements and Urban
Design
Semester VIII
Spring 2018

2. INTRODUCTION
Spatial patterning is configured
culture-specifically and is by
nature diverse.
All cultures unwittingly display
similar spatial patterning and
‘organicness’ in the physical
structuring of their places of
habitation. In practice,
conventional planning has neither
recognised nor exploited the
significant link between culture
and spatial organisation.

3. ORGANIC DEVELOPMENTS IN
SPATIAL PATTERNS
A rather basic social space, that is essentially a
well-sited uncluttered space, might spontaneously
become a venue for creative lifestyle
opportunities, and not be considered sterile space
to the users.
The criterion for success in urban social space is
therefore, rather the spatial opportunity afforded
for the diverse needs of urban living than
overdesign or over-planning.
Over time city or town people often place their
own stamp on favourite urban spaces through
institutional or commercial upgrading, generally in
direct response to custom, economic survival,
sentiment or habitual usage.

4. PHYSICAL EMBODIMENT OF SOCIO-
SPATIAL PATTERNING
Significantly, in the study of socio-spatial patterning the physical
embodiment of social custom and functional need is very largely expressed
in the urban movement corridors, which are the streets, pedestrian lanes and
trafficable open spaces.
In physical terms, the urban movement systems in fact represent a cultural
storyboard comprised of a hierarchical network of spatial corridors.
The differentiated parts and functions are dependent on this circulatory
system without which there would be no city.
In essence, it follows that social spaces are integral, nodal and interfacial
within this circulatory system of urban settlement.
To conceptualise social spaces according to a framework employing the
movement corridors and providing them with a social importance and
character would be to emulate the success in the layouts of many historic
cities.

5. CLASSIFICATIONS
Simplistically, the components forming the movement systems are
hierarchical; some are corridors and others destinations, but both can
potentially provide amenity to the urban dweller. All can have distinctive
cognitive associations, either private or public.
Broadly expressed in ascending order of scale and intensity of use, the urban
spatial network elements can be characterised as follows:
 Private social space
 Open space between buildings
 The building edge to the street
 The neighbourhood street or square
 The street corner
 The main street
 The primary street system
 Natural features

6. PRIVATE SOCIAL SPACE
Private open space is exclusive
space, part of the home environment
or shared social space of a
residential grouping that offers a
transitional frontage to the public.
Varying degrees of privacy can be
achieved through discreet planning
configurations.
Old Delhi City

7. OPEN SPACE BETWEEN BUILDINGS
Open spaces between buildings form an
uninterrupted continuum of space, often
neglected, that offers design opportunity and
amenity potential within the urban fabric and
can significantly contribute to the quality of
other social spaces.
Such residual space, often the interface
between neighbours, is equally important as
the street for spontaneous communication
and civic behaviour.
There should be no spaces lost to the
community within the urban fabric.

8. THE BUILDING EDGE TO THE
STREETThe building edge to social space to a large
extent determines the aesthetic and
functional qualities of social space.
This can take on many forms such as arcaded
pavements, stops, canopies, awnings or a
simple recess in a facade.
The potential for social usage of a street or
square is linked and enhanced by the
architectural character of the building edge.

9. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD STREET OR
SQUAREThe neighbourhood streets and squares
are important in the urban fabric
affording communication, identity and
orientation within and between
neighbourhoods.
Urban form is diverse and varies in
character and texture according to the
extent of intrusion by the motor vehicle.
Entries to properties are invariably off
streets or squares, but gateways to
neighbourhoods are useful devices to
define exclusivity.

10. THE STREET CORNER
The street corner is the confluence of both
vehicle and pedestrian movement and therefore
usually, more intensively trafficked than other
urban spaces.
Characterised by unusual opportunity for
commercial enterprise and social encounter, each
junction can become a well-defined ‘place’.
In the secondary urban movement system, the
street corner can invite intensive social
interaction.
At a primary level, it can develop into a main
square surrounded by public institutions or
become a trading node in the commercial heart
of a city.

11. THE MAIN STREET
Traditionally, the main street is afforded
distinctive status in neighbourhoods or in
small-town life.
High up on the status structure, the main
street can be a source of local pride and is
typically a centre of activity, of culture,
education, social intercourse and might
serve the locational needs of institutions
and commerce.
Offering social encounter and cultural
status, a sense of identity within the urban
milieu, the main street plays an important
role in the quality of urban life.
Such streets should be provided with wide
pavements for safe pedestrian passage
together with a high degree of access for

12. THE PRIMARY STREET SYSTEM
Primary streets from the main urban arterial
infrastructure usually provide for a fast traffic
movement corridor, to serve neighbourhoods.
They are scaled and relate firstly to the needs of
vehicles rather than people.
As a link with the wider freeway network of the city
or town, they are capable of sustaining both the flow
of vehicles and providing cross-urban mobility and
interaction within a metropole.
For large scale movement of goods and people
primary arteries require to be well planned and can
contribute to the quality of the urban experience
through providing fast and convenient access to
destinations.
Some of the more memorable examples of the
freeway genre are attractively landscaped to mitigate
the impact of hectares of hard surfaces and even to
promote linear habitats.
Linkages such as verges in the primary street system
can act as corridors along which animal and plant life
can exist and flourish.
Old Baghdad City

13. NATURAL FEATURES
Natural features lend meaningful
relief in the urban environment by
adding to the quality of life of the
urban user.
Natural features enable the creation
of islands or lungs for ecological
diversity with good potential for
recreation, depending on their scale.
Natural areas can become the
extension of the surrounding rural
areas into the urban fabric.

14. CONCLUSION
The social success of the urban canvas expressed through the open
space system depends on the response of city management not only
to the cultural forces at work, but also to the extent to which social
amenity is achieved through architectural responsiveness to that
canvas.

15. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Architecture and the Urban Environment by Derek Thomas
Urban Design by Cliff Moughtin, Taner OC, Steven Tiesdell

16. THANK YOU!