The Big Rethink : Urban Design
After reading through this article, i gained more insight of the idea of Urban Design. At the start of the article, it states the trend of human beings. People from lower-earning class, less developed countries or cities will start to flood developed cities to gain a new and better life. Developed cities provide better facilities, healthcare, education, etc. thus, it attracts people to move to these cities. Some although cannot afford to move to big, developed cities still stay in the slum areas but they create their own niche, small market and start businesses and move their houses around to earn a living. Contrary to the other side, the "richer and more developed area", developed cities are looking to upgrade their spaces even more, so as to create better space for the people living in there. Tall buildings are also being erected so as to create an identity, an economic and social identity to the city. It stands like a "fortress" to the people. However, the article also states its disadvantages and shortcomings of such cities. Everything is like a fragmented "fabric", the designs are all kind of like own its on. No considerations for the buildings in the vicinity, it gives an example like a persons' workplace, choice of leisure, are all in different areas and it seems all very fragmented when you see the design at an overall, birds-eye view glance. So, the fundamental purpose of an Urban Design, is to provide a very detailed and considered framework on the designing of an city. Example would be to zone the different areas specifically, so each zones serve their own purpose and not split them up. By specifically zoning the areas into their own purposes, brings an identity to that zone. It shows clearly which zone or area you are currently in, what that zone does, what the zone serve as an design overall. The author thinks that Design should include everything into consideration, how people feel, it must also serve its purpose, create an ease, transport efficiency. Designers need to help people gain a deep feeling towards the environment and design around them. It also comes to targeting designers themselves, the author feels that designers now in this period of time, are selfish. They only think about their own specific design and have no consideration to the buildings, the environment, the ambience around them. Designers now feel that they're design is far superior than the environment around them, they do not think that they should design for the environment, or what the environment needs, what the space is lacking and what does it need. They only design because they think is "pretty" or "pleasing to the eyes". Overall, the article is trying to tell us designers that we should take everything, all aspects, all factors in consideration to designing. Everything should fall in place nicely, function, form, the utility of the space, how are people going to utilize them, what are the feelings that invoke the users when they are at the space itself.
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