This document discusses the concepts and objectives of urban morphology. Urban morphology is defined as the study of the physical form and development of human settlements. It examines the shape and structure of settlements as well as their transformation over time under various forces. The document outlines different types of settlement patterns, forms, and structures. It also discusses the determinants that influence a settlement's morphology, including physical, functional, social, cultural, economic, and political factors. The objectives of urban morphology include improving comfort, accessibility, diversity and other qualities of urban form.

1. URBAN MORPHOLOGY
BY:
NAIBEI PETER
UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI –KENYA
Comments send to petnab09@gmail.com

2. CONCEPTS
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`Morphology`-is as “the study of form and process, growth and form, form and
function”.
urban morphology (U.M) -is the study of the form of human settlements and their
formation & transformation.
urban form-is the study of the physical characteristics of towns/cities resulting
from an evolutionary process of urban activities and planning action.
Human settlements-is the totality of the human community whether city, town, or
settlementsvillage with all the social, material, organizational spiritual and cultural element
that sustain it.
Urban fabric The physical aspect of urbanism, emphasizing building types,
thoroughfares, open space, frontages, and streetscapes but excluding
environmental, functional, economic and sociocultural aspects
Urban structure... its the physical complexity of various scale, from individual
building, plots, street-blocks, and the street pattern.
urban texture the geometrical structure formed by the spatial distribution of
urban elements expressed as coarse or fine.

3. OBJECTIVES
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Comfort-reduction of stress such as noise, pollution
Accessibility-movement, transport and communication
Adequacy-basic facilities and services
Diversity and choice- variation of facilities and activities.
Adaptability and stability-resilience
Aesthetics and imageability-pleasantness
Interaction and participation-citizen for a, social contact.
Growth and continuity-physical and functional without
disconnect from the related/complimentary functions/areas.
TOOLS OF ANALYSIS
Transect analysis Visual survey Zoning
Texture analysis
Space syntax
analysis
Concentric ring
SPSS analysis
METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION
GIS data Remote sensing Direct
observation Literature review Visual
survey

4. DRIVING FORCES
•NEEDS
•DEMANDS
•EXPECTATION
FORMATION OF
SETTLEMENTS
resources for housing
and fuel
natural resources such
as fresh water supply
Reliable food sources
Suitable land for
agriculture
Trade areas
Transport corridors
FUNCTIONS OF SETTLEMENT
FORM OF SETTLEMENTS
•The shape and structure
•Mode of existence
•Design of the settlement
•Basic nature
•Shaping of the settlement.
•Ordering(hierarchy)
•Arrangement
•The conception-abstract
idea/mental symbol.
URBAN MORPHOLOGY
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
1.Dispersed
2.Linear
3.Nucleated
LAYOUT/STRUCTURE
Regular.
Irregular
TRANSFORMATION OF
SETTLEMENTS
Rapid urbanization,
Population Growth
Non-organized
settlements
Primitive organized
settlements
Static urban settlements
Dynamic urban
settlements
Universal city
TYPES
Hamleted villages
Urban agglome…

5. 2. FORM
• Refers to the shape and arrangement of human settlement
while structure is the way they are organized. Form may be of:
AS A PRODUCT (state of being)
AS A PROCESS(state of becoming)
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The shape and structure
Mode of existence
Design of the human settlement
Basic nature
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DESCRIPTIVE ASPECTS OF FORM
Shaping of the human settlement.
Ordering(hierarchy)
Arrangement
The conception-abstract idea/mental symbol.
• Size, Density, Grain(coarse or fine), shape,
pattern and focal organization.
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SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
Dispersed
Linear
Nucleated
planned

6. LAYOUT/STRUCTURE OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT
•
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•
Regular.
Irregular
Grid
Radial centric
DETERMINANTS OF SETTLEMENT FORM,STRUCTURE AND
PATTERN
PHYSICAL
CONTROL
FUNCTION
AL FRAME
SOCIAL
MILIEU
CULTURAL ECONOMIC
FACTORS FACTORS
NATURAL
Topography
Climate
Geological
factors
MANMADE
Service distr.
Networks,
transportatio
n systems,
housing,
government
policy
• Linkages
• Channels
• Size of
space
• Quality of
space
functions
• Type of
developm
ent
• Level of
social
interactio
n
• institution
s
• Groups
• Social
amenities
and serv.
• Populatio
n
• Common
values
• Religious
/cultural
connotati
on
POLITICAL
AFFLUENCE
Economic
• Degree of
linkages such
dominance
as trading
• Command
centres,
btw
infrastructure
ppl/area
• Regionalis
m

7. SETTLEMENTS HIERACHY/
Name of
settlement
Size
Services
Hamlet
Very
small
Post office or perhaps none
Village
Small
Church, post office, school,
small shops
Town
Quite
large
Several shops and churches,
doctors/ dentist, bank, high
school, supermarket
City
Very
large
Large railway station,
shopping centre, cathedral,
large hospital, museum, etc

8. DETERMINANTS OF SETTLEMENT FORM,STRUCTURE AND
PATTERN
Type of
development
relief
Linkages/networks
/connectivity
Social factors
e.g. population
density
Water supply and uses

9. LAYOUT/STRUCTURE OF HUMAN SETTLEMENT
GRID
GRID
RADIALCENTRIC
IRREGULAR
REGULAR

10. 3. VARIABLES
MACRO- SCALE
NEIGHBOURHOOD
SCALE
MICRO SCALE
•cultural production and
from of the city,
Covers plot,
block,
urban form,
Central Business District,
lot,
neighborhood form and typo
morphology.
Related to function, form,
urban elements, urban solid
and void, aesthetic, pattern,
street, square, open land,
urban structure and volume.
• political control and town
form.
• incremental nature of
urban morphology and
regional change.
• cultural context and
orientation of contemporary
urban planning.
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Usually these are within
the town/city scale
Generally these concepts
are a transition between
macro and micro scales.
They focused on the
district/ neighbourhoods
level of the urban form.
This kind of concepts
more related to street,
square and open spaces.

11. CONCLUSION
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Urban Morphology is not and end-state by itself rather:
It has forces against which it acts.
It’s a regulator of function and this the morphology orientation
has a set aim to achieve.
It is one of the important variables as a determinant of the
urban pattern, urban form and urban space components.
While the urban form and structure consisted of various
compositions of physical and spatial elements, urban
morphology inquires these forms and relations between
causes and effects of the social forces within.
Expects to explore the differentiation of urban morphological
approaches in different urban space.
It tries to understand the physical or built fabric of urban form,
and the people and process shaping it .
To help predict urban changes i.e. small-scale variations and
peculiarities in the urban fabric e.g. new infrastructure.