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Assignment 2 Barcelona Brasilia Karlsruhe Letchworth Palmanova Urban fabric -repeatability of urban isles which seem dull and hard to individualize -interior courts that leave room for personalized use - they give the specific of the area (the unexpected thrill of the search) -traffic, sunlight and ventilation were taken into account - beveled corners which create the opportunity of larger public spaces at every intersection, probably also influencing the way the space is perceived in terms of orientation. -functional districts which are perpendicular on the city axis -community activities are not a main concern -good connectivity for federal affairs -large empty spaces which act as a symbol, enhancing the impact of architectural objects -no industry or other form of production does not create the need for expansion -The fan shaped initial panning of the city degrades itself while moving away from the core - The new lots still keep some characteristics of the urban isles, but do not thoroughly respect the fabric -they move their public space towards the exterior, instead of isolating it inside -weak limits consisting of transportation and green areas that can allow further development -miming organic development at a first glance -nature integrated as an essential part of urban planning -high focus on social infrastructure and high living standards for individuals in terms of space, distribution and comfort street conditions. -industry, separated but highly accessible, is the work nucleus that makes Letchworth urban rather than countryside. -clear separation between the service pole and the living areas -Strong boundaries -star shaped plan with a radial and concentric development -housing arranged to follow the road line -gathering space in the center -no other functions, except living and defense Road distribution and "Via Triumphalis" -Via de los Corts Catalanes acts as a barrier between Eixample and the old city -it distinguishes itself through size -it serves mostly for transit -the rest of the streets are identical, laid down after a strict rectangular plan -The main road is a metaphor for symbolism -it connecting the railway station to the National Congress Building -it acts as a traffic aggregator -it has no community infrastructure -the road system is perpendicular to this axis and acts as a traffic distributor -Via Triumphalis, an axis that provides access to the palace and the city’s most important buildings -the road system started as a strict fan shape, but it evolved differently in time Green spaces have different roles: Green belts -visual, acoustic and theoretical insulation from the exterior of the city -physical limit, boundary that does not allow urban sprawl Public parks and squares -space for community Private gardens -re-creating the green oasis from the countryside Large green areas -either community parks (with no planned areas) or private spaces for golf courses and other leisure facilities. -access in the city is not hierarchised according to points of interest -access points in order to ensure protection in strategic points -the main road is substituted by the main square that has the role of the ancient agora. Green spaces -green spaces used to mark intersections -the community spaces mostly consisting in the interior courts of isles, where people individualized space -not all initial plans were respected, hence no parks - green spaces emphasize the architectural objects - they do not provide for community, except the spaces in the housing areas which, as history has proved, does not necessary increase the urban comfort in free-plan areas. -other green spaces are residual -the main planned green space surrounding the Palace, symbolizing the architectural object -it also expands the final point of the main urban axis. -other green spaces are subdued to urban isles -planned parks try to address community needs. Green spaces have different roles: Green belts -visual, acoustic and theoretical insulation from the exterior of the city -physical limit, boundary that does not allow urban sprawl Public parks and squares -space for community Private gardens -re-creating the green oasis from the countryside Large green areas -either community parks (with no planned areas) or private spaces for golf courses and other leisure facilities. -green spaces used as a defense mechanism, an intermediary space between the living area and the fortress -green spaces inside the town are residual in nature Main functions that influenced development -built in the 19th century as an extension to the city -Cerda wanted Eixample to be an all- class aggregator neighbourhood, providing all types of services for a normal life -it however, became a living place for the wealthy -mid XXth century urban development -strongly focused on creating a federal district -approached urban planning as a circulation node and public spaces as a compliment to the national importance of its function. -developed around the Karlsruhe Palace -further generated its expansion as a Justice district -influenced urban planning by creating symbolic axes and important public buildings as nodes. -developed in 1903 as Ebenizer Howard’s first garden-city, Letchworth was planned as an ideal industrial city. -although industry was the main function, a greater focus was put in providing high standard living to people. -the most well-known working city garden, with urban politics applied to this day so as to promote this model -built in the 16th century as a defense city, Palmanova has the military function strongly embedded into its urban planning -urban extensions by adding concentric walls also ensured better defense -population was self-sustainable, generating no need for other facilities -only military in purpose, the city died after it became obsolete Team #642 - Assignment 2 - Planned cities
