2. PUBLIC REALM
• Public realm is all areas of the urban fabric to which the public have access. It is where
physical interaction takes place between people. It therefore, includes buildings and
their design, streets, squares and parks, from signage and street furniture to the
microclimate
• Public space/realm is defined as space that is shared communally by the public.
• Public space is intimately linked to the ideas of universal access, the common ground,
and shared amenities.
• Examples include parks, plazas, pedestrian pathways, and streets, indoor spaces such as
atriums, shopping centres, and community centres.
• The public realm belongs to everyone. It comprises public urban spaces and other
outdoor places that require no key to access them and are available, without charge
for everyone to use.
• Public spaces should not be seen in isolation but in the context of its adjacent
buildings, their uses and its location in a wider network of public and private space.
• The three key elements that influence the public realm are:
• The buildings that enclose and define the space;
• The space itself; and
• The people that inhabit the public realm and the way
• they use the space.
3. AIM OF PUBLIC REALM
• Essentially the public realm is a place for
individuals to come together as a
community and experience the place
• This can occur in such a way where the
user of the public realm is either directly
or indirectly participating in the public life
• Public space is integral to the concept of
liveability and the social, economic and
environmental viability of communities
• Planning and design of the public
realm often excludes the end user
thereby creating inappropriate and
meaningless spaces.
• An analysis of form and function
through use, access and perception is
useful in terms of planning for a
liveable environment that is valued by
the local and surrounding
communities
4. THERE ARE FIVE IDENTIFIED TYPES OF
PUBLIC SPACES
• CORPORATE SPACES
• DOMESTIC SPACES
• CONSUMPTION SPACES
• CIVIC SPACES
• IN-BETWEEN SPACES
5. CORPORATE SPACES
• Corporate spaces are usually privately
owned spaces characterised by the
corporate entities which bound them.
• These spaces are predominantly used by
workers of the surrounding corporations,
but may host other user groups temporarily.
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Corporate spaces are commonly created by
commercial developers.
• They are used primarily by office
workers for meeting colleagues,
smoking and lunch breaks.
• Impressive architecture, high quality
materials, and Public art.
• Visible security and effective maintenance of
the space
• Promotion of retail & commercial activities
Examples:
• Hotel lobbies/foyers, Shopping mall, food
court, Airport terminal, office park square,
university squares etc.
6. Challenges:
• Un-integrated spaces can appear to create
a level of conflict and competition between
permanent fixed retail and informal market
vendors in stalls.
• Providing shelter or shade to create a more
comfortable pedestrian experience.
• Provision of site amenities,
landscaping and street furniture for
pedestrians
• Flexibility and adaptability of the space
• Contextual relationships of the space and
the site
• Commercialisation / homogenisation and
exclusivity of space.
CORPORATE SPACES
• Omnipresent security intimidate
and portray a feeling of
unwelcome towards visitors of
corporate spaces.
• Extended use of space not
always encouraged due to
dominant ownership.
• Due to Branding, corporate
spaces frequently use similar
design styles and materials. This
can lead to homogeneity.
• Visual accessibility is not always
visible.
7. CORPORATE SPACES
• Corporate spaces should provide a
safe area that has enough capacity to
accommodate the extremes of
pedestrian traffic.
• Adequate lighting and security
• Corporate spaces should provide a
comfortable area that is welcoming, inviting
and inclusive.
• landscaping and public art
• Well established management regime
• Use of high quality materials
• Provision of retail space and branding
Design requirements
• Vibrancy, safety and comfort
• Provision of furniture and shade
• Accessibility, Diversity, Flexible and adaptive
• Shopping units and food courts
• Passive and active recreation.
• Creating a ‘transitionary zone’ between the
retail venues and the public realm helps
increase the active frontage
• Effective pedestrian circulation and stall
groupings.
8. • Architects: 3deluxe
• Location: Kaunas, Lithuania
• Area: 30000m²
• Year: 2020
V-Plaza
• This is certainly the new now in Kaunas, a
city in Lithuania which, with the help of
3deluxe, has brought to life a future-
oriented architectural concept that sets new
impulses and is geared towards the
communicative needs of a young and
dynamic generation.
• The history-steeped “Unity Square” with its
impressive buildings from different eras has
been redesigned to reflect the innovative
spirit of a country considered to be a
pioneer of digitization.
• The extraordinary design sets off the
extensive façades to bright and cheerful
effect, creates modern workspaces, and
uses organically shaped green spaces,
curved pathways, seating levels, and the
latest technology to transform the space into
inspiring terrain with an urban ambiance.
9. The real challenge was
to preserve cultural
heritage while creating
space for social
transformation. And the
solution was innovative
architecture that caters
to the needs of today’s
society: bright, friendly,
open, and connecting.
10. DOMESTIC SPACES
• Domestic spaces are public open spaces
in close proximity to a cluster of homes
and residential developments, domestic
squares offer a space for both formal
and informal social activity.
• A local environment for people of all ages
to play, to relax, to enjoy the sun, to meet
their neighbours
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Predominantly characterised by the
residential uses that surround them.
• A space were residents involve in many
recreational or relaxation activities.
• Defines a neighbourhood scale and
identity in the context of working
environments
• Provides a degree of intimacy and
seclusion within the dense and bustling
urban fabric.
Examples:
• Balconies and terraces, courtyards,
community parks,
11. Challenges
• Failure to achieve balance of actives
• Intimacy, safety and comfort
• Natural surveillance
• Sense of Ownership
• Poor maintenance
Design requirements
• Engagement: Creating Responsive
Spaces
• Inclusive & Sustainable Spaces
• Use of different materials is an
important tool for defining spaces and
pathways.
• Designation of primary and
secondary movement corridors
through the square and clustering
of activity types
• Provision of intimacy, furniture and
shade
• Accessibility, Flexible and adaptive.
DOMESTIC SPACES
12. Hyperlane Linear Sky Park
• Architects: ASPECT Studios
• Location: Chengdu, China
• Area: 1300 m²
• Year: 2020
• Hyperlane is a 2.4km multi-level linear sky
park, youth culture and lifestyle destination at
the heart of the Sichuan Conservatory of
Music University in Chengdu. It establishes a
vibrant and fun youth, music and life
orientated linear space, linking the local
transportation hub with the university
community and campus in Chengdu.
• The Urban Gallery, the Initial phase of the
project has recently opened. Hyperlane is
invested, built, and operated by the core team
that once operated Chengdu Taikoo Li project.
The overall planning and design intents to
create high standards and high-quality
design.60% of the commercial products is self-
sustaining, adheres to the long-term business
philosophy, provides professional support, and
realizes long-term commercial value.
13. The Urban Gallery
The Urban Gallery was the first phase of
the Hyperlane project and a sociality
orientated, pocket place for the
community to come together. Defined
by the simple notion of ‘community and
connection’, the Hyperlane Urban
Social Gallery is a bold, vibrant youth-
oriented point of identity that reflects the
artistic and creative culture of the
district.
14. CONSUMPTION SPACES
• Consumption spaces are public open spaces, part of the public realm where
‘consumption’ activities are predominant.
• Often a combination of fixed retail, informal trade and mobile temporary stalls.
They are by essence places where people meet, trade, recreate and exchange.
Distinguishing characteristics:
• Three main spatial typologies have been identified:
• The corridor shape is usually characterized by a linear continuity of the shop frontages
and a relatively narrow width between the building frontages.
• The square shape is a typical square surrounded mainly by retail venues at the ground
floor.
• The crossing of streets very probably generated by the “natural” meeting occurring at
such places.
• Presence of shops, stalls and external seating
15. Nest Experience
• Architects: Tinker
• Location: Vevey, Switzerland
• Year: 2016
• Area: 6626 m2
• The Swiss Concept Consult Architects
renovated the industrial heritage site and
covered it with a magnificent glass roof and
steel construction. Underneath, Tinker
designed a large, floating, organic world
made up of white, flowing forms and
containing a dozen playful exhibits.
16. The big idea behind nest was simply to become more
transparent and engage in an honest and involved
dialogue about what the company stands for. Visitors
will receive an interactive and personal look behind
the scenes. They will accompany the enterprise on a
journey through the past, present and future. Nestlé
displays its diversity across five different zones, with
‘care, enjoy, improve & share’ as the motif.
17. CIVIC SPACES
• Civic spaces are an essential
component of the city’s suite of open
spaces and broader public realm.
• They help characterise the city
or town’s history, and acts as
vital spaces for people to
interact with political leaders.
Distinguishing characteristics:
• A forecourt to civic
buildings, often with at least
one frontage addressing the
main entrance or façade.
• A setting for monuments, statues and
other memorials or public art
installations.
• Designed for pedestrians and
adaptable to cater for civic events
and meetings.
• High quality materials & finishes.
• Grand, symbolic and of national and
local significance.
18. Challenges:
• Exclusionary, isolated, impermeable,
inaccessible and over managed
space
Design requirements
• Symbolic: reflect the history and
character of the community.
• bring the community together and act
as a centre.
• Adaptable: Flexible to changing
time and various seasonal uses.
• Inclusive: People from all walks
of life should be able to relate
to and enjoy using the space.
• Accessible: Encourage movement to
and/or through the space and
pedestrian friendly
• High quality: Design,
materials, art work, sculpture
and finishes contribute to a
consistent and legible urban
environment.
Trafalgar square, London
CIVIC SPACES
19. IN-BETWEEN SPACES
• In-between spaces are the residual elements
of the city, which evolve out of an ever-
changing urban fabric.
• in-between spaces present flexible
environments, which offer potential
locations for diverse and unexpected
activities and future developments.
Distinguishing characteristics:
• In-between spaces can be divided into three
categories:
• the good, the bad, and the ugly.
• Good in-between spaces are those, which
have become successfully integrated with
their surroundings physically and/or
functionally; minimizing internal conflicts
• Bad in-between spaces are those that have
failed to meet their full potential, despite
having been incorporated into the planning
process.
• Ugly in-between spaces refer to
spaces in the urban environment that
have been forgotten and fallen into
dereliction.
20. Challenges
• Isolated and unutilised
• Dangerous, unfriendly and
uncomfortable
• Awkward shapes and layouts
• Cluttered, dirty and not maintained
Design requirements
• Provide a sense of identity in a space
can be encouraged and controlled by
surrounding buildings, culture, history
and urban furniture.
• Natural surveillance and safety
• A diversity and flexibility of land uses,
providing varying uses overtime (days,
week, seasons, etc.)
• Aesthetic elements such as
vegetation, which enhances the time
spent in the space
• Include some memorable functions and
designed spaces: coffee shop, skate
ramp, playground.
IN-BETWEEN SPACES
21. 300 Ivy Street
• Architects: David Baker Architects
• Location: 300 Ivy Street, San
Francisco, United States
• Year: 2014
• The design was developed as a
balance of inside and out: equally
addressing the needs of residents
for high- quality, modern, peaceful
homes with the needs of the
community for vibrant retail, a
place for pedestrians, and a texture
and scale that respects the
surrounding buildings.
• By moving the trees into planters
between the street parking, pulling
the building a few feet back from
the property line, and lifting the first
living floor off street level via indoor
stoops, the design widened the
sidewalk for pedestrians and
buffered the townhouses from the
fully public realm.
22. The neighborhood-inspired pattern of bays creates
unique edges for the units, adding interest. The
rooftop has an outdoor entertaining kitchen, a
lavish protea garden, and a patio for lounging. A
perimeter of bamboo defines the common space,
which is lined with planters available to residents for
gardening.
An emphasis on the corner bays creates a gateway
feeling as the busy one-way traffic approaches the
heart of Hayes Valley.
23. URBAN SPACES in Surat
International business center
Nanpura corporate buildings
Diamond bourse
COPORATE SPACES
24. DOMESTIC SPACES
Joggers park Sarathana park
Jyotindra dave garden
CONSUMPTION SPACES
Night bazar
Mall serving as consumption space
URBAN SPACES in Surat
26. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PUBLIC REALM
Streetscape
• Streets are delightful and offer attractions and rewards: reasons to walk and
explore.
• Sidewalks are comfortable, with room to pass and pause, and places to rest.
• Streets and public spaces invite a range of uses; not just necessary ones, but
optional and spontaneous ones as well.
• Pedestrian routes are continuous and have options.
• Streets and public spaces are used well and have value; there are no empty or
neglected places.
• The street network provides for multiple modes of transportation and promotes
walking and biking.
27. Built Form
• The built form has an immense impact on the character of the space and its success in
a neighbourhood.
• The design of the built form can be categorised into three components, base, middle
and top:
• The Base should contribute to the quality of the public realm, having active frontages,
awnings, lighting and high quality materials;
• The Middle should compliment the architectural features of the base and the top by
including windows and a material typology that is visually cohesive with the base and
top
• The Top consists of the roof and cornice treatment for smaller buildings and on larger
buildings this also includes the mechanical penthouse.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PUBLIC REALM
28. URBAN DESIGN
As a focus on physical improvement of public environment.
29. • A successful city cannot operate efficiently in isolation from its environment. It must balance
social, economic and environmental needs.
• Poor urban designing and management can have grave results for the urban economy, the
environment and society.
• A well-managed urban environment is a key to economic development and poverty.
• As our built environment expands, it is imperative that land development activities not
compromise the long term quality of our environment.
• Nature is very important for humans to survive and thrive, was provided by the natural world
around us.
• Due to the development of suburb areas into new urban cities ,cities are comparatively
nature-poor.
• And with inhabitants living busy lives, there are fears that people are increasingly
disconnected through an extinction of experience from the natural world in both quality and
quantity.
INTRODUCTION
30. • In land use planning, urban open space
is open space areas for "parks,"
"greenspaces," and other open areas.
• The terms "urban open space" can
describe many types of open areas.
• Urban open space is a natural and
cultural resource, synonymous with
neither 'unused land' nor 'park and
recreation areas."
OPEN SPACES
31. • Open space is any open piece of land that
is undeveloped (has no buildings or other
built structures) and is accessible to the
public.
• Open space can include:
• Green space (land that is partly or
completely covered with grass, trees,
shrubs, or other vegetation). Green space
includes parks, community gardens.
• Schoolyards
• Playgrounds
• Public seating areas
32. • Preserve natural beauty.
• Improve ugliness.
• Buffer unpleasent view and disturbing space.
• Buffer between conflicting land use.
• Two common types of land-use conflicts in
urban areas are Residential industrial or
residential-transport land-use
• conflicts.
• These can cause noise, air and water
pollution.
• Apart from the noise and gases released by
factories, pollution is also caused by the
vehicles which carry materials to and from
factories, which can cause incessant noises
and smoke.
• Heavy road traffic also causes traffic
congestion, affecting many nearby residents.
• In addition to factories, the presence of main
roads also
• affects residents, causing the same problems
as above.
• Visual relief from manmade cityscape.
OPEN SPACE
RESIDENTS ROAD TRAFFIC
BENEFIT OF OPEN SPACES
33. • URBAN SPACE is actual physical
enclosure or its strong articulation
by urban forms. e.g. In a plaza, we
must be sufficiently enclosed on
all sides so that our attention
focuses on the space as an entity.
• ‘Urban Space’ –Public Spaces
within cities, created through
arrangement of buildings and
other built elements.
• Related to concept of ‘Public
Realm --Public Spaces, available
for free use.
• Focus of ‘Urban Activity’. All types
of spaces between buildings in the
town which include paths squares-
gardens – parks.
URBAN SPACES
34. They provide space needed for recreation.
They give form and shape to the city.
Functional importance
IMPORTANCE OF URBAN SPACES
Social importance
They create chances for interaction between people.
They preserve natural beauty.
35. They provide places for economic activities.
Economic importance
IMPORTANCE OF URBAN SPACES
36. • “Urban place" means any place to which the
public or a substantial group of the public has
access and includes, but is not limited to,
streets, highways, and the common areas of
schools, hospitals, apartment houses, office
buildings, transport facilities, and shops.
• A space with activity is know as place.
• Urban Place is a 200,000+ square foot
community made for living, learning, shopping,
working and dining.
• Urban design involves the arrangement and
design of buildings, public spaces, transport
systems, services, and amenities.
URBAN PLACES
Urban design is about making
connections between people and
places, movement and urban form,
nature and the built fabric.
37. • Administrative centres – headquarters for government offices
• Industrial
Nelson heat tracing cable
TYPICAL FUNCTION OF URBAN CITY
Government communication headquarter Transport – ports, railway junctions, airline hubs
Markets – places where agricultural products
made in the surrounding area can be sold.
39. • INTERNAL 'PUBLIC’ PLACE or public
institutions such as libraries,
museums, town halls, hospitals and
post offices.
1. EXTERNAL PLACE
2. INTERNAL PLACE
• EXTERNAL PUBLIC PLACE as
pieces of land that lie between
private landholdings such as
public squares, streets, parks,
stretches of coastline, rivers.
Open spaces lie between the
private landholdings.
TYPES OF URBAN PLACE
41. Gopi talav , Surat
EXTRNAL URBAN
SPACE
Pal walkway, Surat
Canal corridor,
Vesu, Surat
42. PATHS
Definition: The streets, sidewalks, trails, and
other channels in which people travel.
• They organize the mobility. Pattern of
street network is what defines a city and
makes it unique.
Characteristics of Paths
• They are defined by their physical
dimension, size, shape and character of
the buildings that line them.
• They range from grand avenues to
intimate small paths.
KEVIN LYNCH’S 5 ELEMENTS OF CITY PLANNING
NODES
Definition: A common point where two or
more roads meet to form a junction or
square. The strategic focus points for
orientations of squares and junctions.
Importance:
• To increase the perception of an active, urban corridor and to encourage more walking.
• Strengthen the emphasis on alternative mode use in the corridor.
• Contribute to the overall vibrancy, safety, and desirability of the area.
43. EDGES
Definition: They are boundaries between two phases,Bodies of water (such as an ocean,
river, or lake),Landforms (such as mountains and hills),Manmade structures (such as
buildings, railroad tracks, walls, or highways).
Characteristics of edges:
Acts in a space by stopping it, more or less penetrable, or they may be seams, lines along
which two regions are related and joined together. Street edges need to be oriented and/or
adjusted for maximum light on the space between buildings, and not just for interior
penetration, in order to encourage active street life.
Edges that are seen from building to street
44. DISTRICTS
Definition: Areas characterized by common characteristics, these are the medium to large
areas, which have some common identifying character.
Characteristics:
• Distinctive physical characteristics might include ‘thematic continuities’, such as texture,
space,form, detail, symbol ,function and building.
• The presence of these and other similar attributes reinforce a
district’s fabric, cohesiveness, and identity.
• Good planning makes for liveable neighbourhoods, a safe and healthy community,
and a sustainable economy.
LANDMARKS
• Definition: external points of orientation, easily identified
objects– towers, spires, hills are distant and are typically seen
from many angles and from distance, over the top of smaller
elements.
• Other landmarks – sculptures, signs and trees are primarily local
being visible only in restricted localities and from certain
approaches.
• Importance: Functionally prominent structures have a major
influence on the aesthetics of their immediate urban landscape;
location, function of open spaces and landscape furniture.
45. Urban Design involves the design and coordination of all
that makes up cities and towns:
• BUILDINGS
• PUBLIC SPACES
• STREETS
• TRANSPORT
• LANDSCAPE
ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN
46. BUILDING
IDENTIFICATION:
• Buildings are the most pronounced elements of urban design.
• They shape and articulate space by forming the street walls of the city.
• Well-designed buildings and groups of buildings work together to create a sense of place.
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Variation in building height, volume and the way in which buildings are grouped
together.
• Contour
• Facade Design-main doors
• /openings, other fenestration, material, etc.
47. ROLES:
• Height & Contour define sense of enclosure and visibility.
• Openings lead to spatial structuring.
• Facade Designs animate & personalize urban space.
• Building forms are guided by specific uses of buildings.
• As they have an impact on the streetscape, it is important that their forms respond to their
surroundings.
EXAMPLES:
• Developments along Orchard Road, however, have shopping podiums with high-rise towers
set further away from the road. This gives a sense of openness to the tree-lined pedestrian
mall, that has become a signature feature of Orchard Road.
48. IDENTIFICATION:
• Great public spaces are the living room of the city - the place where people come together to
enjoy the city and each other.
• Public spaces make high quality life in the city possible - they form the stage
and backdrop to the drama of life.
• Public spaces range from grand central plazas and squares, to small, local
neighborhood parks.
PUBLIC SPACES
49. CHARACTERISTICS:
• Promotes human contact and social activities.
• Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users.
• Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
• Promotes community involvement.
• Reflects the local culture or history.
• Relates well to bordering uses.
• Is well maintained.
• Has a unique or special character.
EXAMPLE:
• Parks like Gardens by the Bay and the plaza in front of Cathay Building and School of
the Arts (SOTA) provide respite in our high-rise city environment.
50. STREETS
IDENTIFICATION:
• These are the connections between spaces and
places, as well as being spaces themselves.
• Other pedestrian networks include pedestrian malls,
promenades, covered walkways.
• and link-ways, through-block links and overhead linkages.
CHARACTERISTICS:
• They are defined by their physical dimension and character as
well as the size, scale, and character of the buildings that line
them.
• The pattern of the street network is part of what defines a city
and what makes each city unique.
• Well-connected pedestrian networks to allow people to move easily and
comfortably within the city, and facilitate the use of public transportation.
• It connects open spaces, points of interest and parks, and
can be at different levels, allowing you to appreciate the city
from different perspectives.
EXAMPLE:
• Walking to the Esplanade from City Hall MRT takes only about 15 minutes via the City Link
underground pedestrian network. The link-way is also lined with shopping and dining options.
51. TRANSPORT
IDENTIFICATION:
• Transport systems connect the parts of cities and help shape them,
enable movement throughout the city.
• They include road, rail, bicycle, and pedestrian networks, and
together form the total movement system of a city.
• The best cities are the ones that elevate
the experience of the pedestrian while
minimizing the dominance of the private
automobile.
CHARACTERISTICS:
• The balance of
these various
transport systems is
what helps define
the quality and
character of cities,
and makes them
either friendly or
hostile to
pedestrians.
52. • The location of car parks and drop-off points affect the way vehicles navigate their
way around the city.
• It also influences how pedestrians experience the city.
• It is important to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic to avoid causing danger
and conflict to pedestrians.
EXAMPLE:
• The drop-off point at Mandarin Gallery used to be located in front of the buildings along the
main Orchard Road pedestrian mall. This mix of vehicular and pedestrian traffic was not
ideal, and caused disruptions to pedestrians. After Mandarin Gallery was refurbished , the
drop-off point was relocated to the side, along Orchard Link. This opened up the front of
the development for activity generating uses and also provides pedestrians with a safer and
more pleasant environment.
53. LANDSCAPE
IDENTIFICATION:
• It is the green part of the city that weaves throughout, in
the form of urban parks, street trees, plants, flowers, and
water in many forms.
• Green spaces in cities range from grand parks
to small intimate pocket parks.
• The landscape helps define the character and beauty of a
city and creates soft, contrasting spaces and elements.
CHARACTERISTICS:
• Levels, Flat or Sloping Pattern
• Surface texture
ROLE
• Level moulds scale, give directionality, focus, emphasis.
• Texture suggests (supports / prohibits) nature of activity – pedestrian, vehicular / slow, fast
• Pattern moulds movement paths, gives direction
• Landscape plays an important role in our urban design, and developments are encouraged to
provide greenery (on the ground or skyrise) in the city.
• EXAMPLE:
• The sky terraces at Parkroyal Hotel at Pickering Street allow hotel guests to enjoy greenery at
new ‘heights’.
54. Questions:
1. What do you mean by Public Realm? What are the key elements of it?
2. What are the types of public spaces?
3. What do you mean by ‘Urban places’? Types of it?
4. How does urban spaces affect urban design?
5. What are the elements of Urban design?
55. BY
Mitiksha Jain
Rutva Devani
Janvi Patel
Madhvi Patel
Dhruvin Kachchadiya
Palak Shah
GUIDED BY
Dhruvita Mahida
Nirav Khandwala
Pooja Dhariawala
