Soraya, Golsa, "Inner City Diversification and the Role of Urban Design: The Return to an Enriched Urban Fabric"

Much of today's development pattern has changed due to economic and social conditions. The rise of the information sector, the fall of the manufacturing sector, the increased use of the automobile, the design philosophies of the Modem Movement, and monotonous single use areas produced by restrictive zoning have all helped to produce, in the last 50 years, many underutilized areas within our urban inner cities.

On the basis of contemporary situations, a new outlook and attitude is necessary to create more accessible and viable residential and employment opportunities. Fortunately, many cities are now adopting this new outlook.

The city can be rejuvenated through diversification, whereby human activities enhance one another. A healthy environment, economic vitality, and social ambiance can be achieved by promoting a mix of activities and choice. A mixed use policy approach can be successful. Policy alone, however, cannot ensure a good quality of life, improved physical form and an enriched public realm, unless backed up by urban design.

Development approaches such as diversification, intensification, infill, and mixed-use preserve land while accommodating growth, use existing infrastructure, and promote employment-residence proximity. There are many ways to achieve the results of a diverse and lively environment. One effective means of action is to focus on inner city housing and enrich the urban areas with a mix of functions. Existing housing stock can be treated, and adaptive reuse and conservation can be considered. New pieces of urban form can be effectively brought into harmony with existing spaces.

The shift is now toward incorporating smaller scale housing, retail, and commercial activities to create neighbourhoods; M[ixed-use development is an important component of a vibrant city. The important concern is how this diversity can be achieved efficiently with better integration of policy and design.

CAN THERE BE AN EFFECTIVE INTEGRATION OF DESIGN SOLUTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS? WHAT INFLUENCES CAN PLANNING HAVE ON ENSURING AN ENVIRONMENT OF DIVERSITY? HOW CAN PLANNING PLAY A PROACTIVE ROLE IN THE CITY'S REJUVENATION? WHAT RANGE OF POLICIES AND IMPLEMENTATION IS AVAILABLE FOR DIVERSIFICATION? HOW CAN DESIGN GUIDELINES HELP TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION POLICIES?

Urban design plans define the three-dimensional built form; they illustrate the relationship between the street and the building, pedestrian and vehicular circulation, and overall height and mass to space.

The approach adopted in this thesis was to [a] identify new attitudes to land use policy through a literature review, supplemented with interviews with planners and architects and drawing on personal experience and travels; [b] analyze the effectiveness of new policies and any associated design guidelines, [c] postulate 'a set of Elements for achieving Diversity; [d] analyze and synthesize urban design policy for diversity; [e] apply elements of this policy to a case study in the Halifax C.B.D. (Barrington Street), (f) produce conclusions and recommendations based on these findings.

This thesis concentrates on the challenge and opportunity to make our cities into a better living environment, one with a "sense of place", identity, diversity, and hence vitality. The profile studies focus on medium scale developments in cities of varying size and character, such as SoHo district in New York, Long Beach in California, and Pike Place in Seattle, Washington. Although these cities are all different, there are certain common elements that ensure the "success of the PLACE" and make a memorable impression.

Diversity has been defined in this thesis in the following manner:

Diversity is the opposite of segregation. It is the means to complexity and flexibility. It provides choices.

Diversity creates excitement in public places by providing for a mix of activities, and the use of the street as public space.

Diversity creates a stage for different activities, and allows passive people to observe others.

Diversity satisfies social needs of integration (the need for belonging, and participation), the individual needs of identity and freedom, and physical needs of security and permanence.

Diversification in the physical environment is about developments which serves people first and foremost; and only secondly is it about economic investment.

The basic ELEMENTS of DIVERSITY are identified as:

i) Integration of Land Uses

ii) Residential Use as main component of mix of use

iii) Variety of density patterns

iv) Scale of development

v) joint venture developments

vi) Mix of people / mix of lifestyle

vii) Street-life Vitality access and circulation

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This document was last modified on November 30, 2000.