Urban Design Guidelines of American Cities.pptx

Urban Design
Guidelines from
American Cities
Submitted to:
Dr. Sudha Shrestha, Professor
Submitted by:
Mona Nakarmi | PUL078MSUrP009
Neha Rathi | PUL078MSUrP010
Pampha Moktan | PUL078MSUrP011
Prabal Dahal | PUL078MSUrP012
March 2022

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Sudha Shrestha, for her continued support and guidance.
This study would not have been possible without her proper guidance and directions. We convey our
sincere thanks to IOE, Pulchowk Campus, Department of Architecture for providing us this platform.
Besides, we take this opportunity to acknowledge all the writers, publishers and governments that
prepared the guidelines and articles that have been included in this presentation.
We are very grateful to everyone involved in making this presentation.
The Presentation Team
Urban Design Guidelines from American Cities
Urban Design and Conservation: EG606 AR

CONTENTS
1. Urban Design: An Introduction
2. Relationship between Urban Planning, Urban Design and Architecture
3. Urban Design Guidelines from Cities in the USA:
a. San Francisco City, CA
b. Denver City, CO
c. Austin City, TX
d. New York City, NY

URBAN DESIGN: AN INTRODUCTION
Urban Design involves arrangement and design
of buildings, public spaces, transport systems,
services and amenities.
Urban Design is a process of giving form,
shape, and character to the groups of buildings,
to the whole neighborhoods and the city
Urban Design is the process of giving physical
design direction to growth, conservation and
change.
Photo from The Kathmandu Post November 2018

URBAN DESIGN: AN INTRODUCTION | PRINCIPLES OF URBAN DESIGN
1. Density, Diversity and Mix of Use
2. Smart and Functional Transportation
Options
3. Sense of Place/Image of Place
4. Public Realm/Hierarchy of Same
5. Legibility
6. Livability and Sociability
7. Sustainability
Points extracted from Lecture 2 Notes: Elective I- Urban Design/Shailita, KEC Kalimati

URBAN DESIGN: AN INTRODUCTION | ELEMENTS OF URBAN DESIGN
Points extracted from Lecture 4 Notes: Elective I- Urban Design/Shailita, KEC Kalimati
Urban Pattern
Buildings
Street Networks
Open Spaces
Movement Systems

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UD, UP AND AR
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URBAN PLANNING
URBAN DESIGN
ARCHITECTURE
URBAN DESIGN
Urban design is concerned with
the arrangement, appearance
and function of our suburbs,
towns and cities.
ARCHITECTURE
Architecture is the art and science
of designing buildings and other
physical structures.
URBAN PLANNING
Urban planning encompasses the
preparation of plans for and the
regulation and management of
towns, cities, and metropolitan
regions.

https://www.slideshare.net/aalliance/whats-different-between-urban-plan-urban-design-architecture-aadi

1. Several Cross-Cutting Disciplines (Example: Economy, Sustainability, Landscapes)
2. All required for harmonious and balanced development of a city
3. Architecture – Urban Design – Urban Planning >>
Design of Building – Design of Campus/Street – Management and Policies for City

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES FROM CITIES IN THE USA
New York City
Austin City
San Francisco City
Denver City

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES | SAN FRANCISCO CITY
• cultural, commercial, and
financial center in the U.S. state
of California
• 17th most populous city in the
United States, and the 4th most
populous in California.
• San Francisco’s architecture
spans various eras and
architectural styles, but its urban
fabric maintains a high degree of
continuity and consistency within
the variety of buildings
Introduction to SAN FRANCISCO CITY

The Urban Design Guidelines consists of three topics:
SITE DESIGN
• where massing, open space,
• and site organization patterns
• respond to these values
ARCHITECTURE
• where design organization
• reflects adjacent volumes,
• proportions, and facade
rhythms
PUBLIC REALM
• where context informs the
• appropriate use of particular
• materials, tones, detailing,
• and placement
• of elements

SITE DESIGN
S1 Recognize and Respond
to Urban Patterns
S2 Harmonize Relationships
between Buildings, Streets,
and Open Spaces
S3 Recognize and Enhance
Unique Conditions
S4 Create, Protect, and
Support View Corridors
• guide the form,massing, and
placement of development as it
arrives in a evolving city.
• determines the massing of
buildings and their relationship
to topography,open space and
the overall city fabric
• Three key patterns of guidelines:
enhancing mid-block open
space, defining the streetwall,
and shaping buildings based on
adjacent street types.
S5 Create a Defined and
Active Street wall
S6 Organize Uses to
Complement the Public
Environment
S7 Integrate Common Open
Space and Landscape with
Architecture
S8 Respect and Exhibit
Natural Systems and
Features

S1 RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO URBAN PATTERNS
• Urban patterns are the streets, blocks, lots, buildings, and open spaces which, when taken together, give a cohesive
structure to the city.
• Design sites to help connect and define edges, landmarks, paths or districts.
Stairways promote walkability where
topography is challenging.
Alleys and mid-block passageways
encourage activity and pedestrian
movement.
Civic buildings can act as markers of
public space, gateways, or centerpieces in
a neighborhood.
Design projects to orient to key
neighborhood elements as well as
the street environment.

S2 HARMONIZE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUILDINGS, STREETS, AND OPEN SPACES
Building massing should respect larger patterns in the
urban fabric
• A building that
relates to city
fabric, to its
immediate context,
and adjacent
human activity
helps unify
neighborhood
experience and
character
New projects should reflect the scale
of existing street frontages.

S3 RECOGNIZE AND ENHANCE UNIQUE CONDITIONS
• The multiple grids of the City roll over its hills, creating transitions, interruptions,
and irregularities in its geometry and lot patterns.
• Projects can use terminated vistas, curves, and grid offsets to define local places,
offering spatial variety and orientation.
Corners can have special
treatments
Inflection points can shape special open spaces Develop unique design responses to a
typical street patterns

S4 CREATE, PROTECT AND SUPPORT VIEW CORRIDORS
• Seeing the city's hilltops, open areas, and
surrounding water help people orient themselves in
the city and beyond.
Building orientation can take advantage of
views from the public realm
Design roof gardens to offer vistas
S5 CREATE A DEFINED AND ACTIVE STREETWALL
• Street walls help define public space, city
identity, and promote interesting pedestrian
spaces.
• The scale and design of building fronts at the
street can support an active, engaging, and
pedestrian-oriented street life.
The ground level of the street wall
should be active and permeable
Street walls should both relate to the pedestrian
realm and express district density

S6 ORGANIZE USES TO COMPLEMENT THE PUBLIC ENVIRONMENT
• Sites should organize new uses to
support neighboring ones to help
catalyze or even initiate larger block
activity.
• As all streets--even alleys--include
public space, design projects with
inviting frontages on all accessible
sides.
Civic entries can align with public pathways
More utilitarian features, such as loading docks,
can serve off-hour functions, such as lunchtime seating
S7 INTEGRATE COMMON OPEN SPACE AND
LANDSCAPE WITH ARCHITECTURE
• When integrated into the built environment, common
open space- rear yards, front setbacks, courtyards, and
roof decks—enhance the quality of urban life.
• A continuous landscape conceived of mutually supportive
• interior and exterior spaces imparts a better human
experience.
Buildings can capture space and create
active, civic environments
Landscape and buildings together can
frame entries

S8 RESPECT AND EXHIBIT NATURAL SYSTEMS AND FEATURES
• Natural features provide contrast from the intensity of the built urban environment.
• Sites should support ways for residents to see and experience waterways, sand dunes, hills, cliffs and trees.
Retaining the natural environment promotes its health and our connection to it.
• Buildings that reflect the existing site topography and retain natural features help express city identities.
Shape building form to
express natural features and textures
Building mass can frame special
natural elements
Buildings reinforce the natural topography
by stepping up a hill

ARCHITECTURE
A5 Shape the Roofs of Buildings
A6 Render Building Facades with
Texture and Depth
A7 Coordinate Building Elements
A8 Design Active Building Fronts
A9 Employ Sustainable Principles
and Practices in Building Design
A1 Express a Clear
Organizing Architectural Idea
A2 Modulate Buildings
Vertically and Horizontally
A3 Harmonize Building
Designs with Neighboring
Scale and Materials
A4 Design Buildings from
Multiple Vantage Points
• Respond to
neighbourhood form &
materials.
• Relate to neighbourhood
heights & widths
• Use similar window sizes
& shapes
• Provide a façade with
texture and human scale

• Architecture that starts with a clear organizing
idea, or parti, is more likely to convey meaning and
withstand the whims of style.
A1 EXPRESS A CLEAR ORGANIZING ARCHITECTURAL IDEA
Materials can support concepts at both
volumetric and fine-grained levels.
Neighborhood patterns can help establish a
cohesive system of architectural components
A2 MODULATE BUILDINGS VERTICALLY AND
HORIZONTALLY
• a city of narrow lots with vertically oriented facades
composed of bays and recesses. In many cases,
buildings are horizontally composed of strongly
defined and differentiated bases, bodies, and tops.

• New buildings should recognize and respond to existing
patterns of scale, form, materials, and proportion to create
continuity within a neighborhood and enhance San
Francisco’s appealing and walkable nature.
A3 HARMONIZE BUILDING DESIGNS WITH NEIGHBORING SCALE AND MATERIALS
A4 DESIGN BUILDINGS FROM MULTIPLE
VANTAGE POINTS
• Design all visible facades
with similar effort and
consideration as primary
facades
• Minimize, combine, and
integrate rooftop utilities
into the overall building
architecture
Scale and texture similarities can allow
differences in color or style.
Window and doorway systems should be similar in proportion,
scale, and amount to nearby structures.
San Francisco hills offer overhead views of city buildings. The bay window, a characteristic San Francisco
feature, is often viewed from the side.

• Viewed from its many hills, San Francisco is a city of roofs.
• Shape rooflines in response to existing topography.
• Roofs should complete the composition of the building
and street wall and express their various functions.
A5 SHAPE THE ROOFS OF BUILDINGS
A6 RENDER BUILDING FACADES WITH
TEXTURE AND DEPTH
• Facades designed as three-dimensional
ensemble create street walls that engage the
eye and enhance the experience of the
pedestrian.
• Design curtain walls that modulate the facade
and provide scale and three-dimensional
texture
Use a full top floor to articulate the top
of a building facade
Skyline-defining elements help
establish neighborhood character.
Ornament at the tops of buildings helps to add
visual interest and expression
Form and materials can work together at different
scales of detail and variability.

• Signage, lighting, canopies and other finer-grained
architectural elements provide additional means of
animating and harmonizing with its environment.
• Lighting should contribute to the public realm and highlight
significant features while being careful not to disrupt
neighbors or dominate the night sky
A7 COORDINATE BUILDING ELEMENTS
A8 DESIGN ACTIVE BUILDING FRONTS
• Buildings that provide an active and transparent
interface between their interior uses and the street
support well-being and safety through natural
surveillance.
• Ground floors with residential stoops, setbacks,
retail, lobby entrances, and upper levels with
balconies create an engaging, human scale street
experience.

• By choosing building materials and systems that help conserve resources and reduce carbon emissions,
new projects can better support the health of natural systems.
• Provide natural ventilation to reduce energy use and allow access to air flow.
A9 EMPLOY SUSTAINABLE PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES IN BUILDING DESIGN
Inviting stairs encourages walking
rather than taking the elevator.
Light shelves help protect interiors from heat gain while bringing
daylight into interior space
Create daylight working areas to encourage connection to
natural cycles and reduce energy use.

PUBLIC REALM
P4 Support Public Transportation
and Bicycling
P5 Design Sidewalks to Enhance
the Pedestrian Experience
P6 Program Public Open Spaces
to Encourage Social Activity,
Play, and Rest
P7 Integrate Sustainable Practices
into the Landscape
P1 Design Public Open Spaces to
Connect with and Complement the
Streetscape
P2 Locate and Design Open Spaces to
Maximize Physical Comfort and
Visual Access
P3 Express Neighborhood Character
in Open Space Designs
• Connect to existing public
spaces
• Support public
transportation
• Foster walking, play and
rest
• Express neighbourhood
uniqueness

• San Francisco's public realm is a network of open
spaces that consists of parks, parklets,
plazas, sidewalks, streets, alleys, and privately
owned public open spaces.
• Design and quality of open space is more important
than size.
P1 - DESIGN PUBLIC OPEN SPACES TO CONNECT WITH AND COMPLEMENT THE STREETSCAPE
P2 - LOCATE AND DESIGN OPEN SPACES
TO MAXIMIZE PHYSICAL COMFORT AND
VISUAL ACCESS
• Orient and design publicly accessible open
space to maximize physical comfort
Plazas surrounded by active building uses
mutually support each other.
Provide open spaces at the ground level and
adjacent to the sidewalk.

• The public realm of every neighborhood should
express its unique character and culture.
• Open spaces should be inclusive, interactive, and
accessible.
• Engage local residents, businesses, and cultural
leaders to design and program activities and events.
.
P3 - EXPRESS NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTER IN OPEN SPACE DESIGNS
P4 - SUPPORT PUBLIC TRANPORTATION
AND BICYCLING
• Locating bike parking close to
building, open spaces, entrances at
grade - facilitates bike use, reduces
the need for automobile parking, and
augments an active street life.
• Provide bicycle parking and seating
near transit stops

• A well-designed pedestrian environment increases
walking, the success of the neighborhood, and overall
comfort and safety.
• Sidewalk design helps to connect the public realm
to ground floor activities.
P5 - DESIGN SIDEWALKS TO ENHANCE THE PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE
P6 - PROGRAM PUBLIC OPEN SPACES TO
ENCOURAGE SOCIAL ACTIVITY, PLAY
AND REST
• Design places for people of all ages, abilities, and
backgrounds to maximize use.
• Design spaces for specific and flexible uses.
Programming and design should be considered in the
context of neighborhood uses

• Landscape elements along sidewalks offer shade, a rhythm or walking cadence, texture and finer-grained
scale, a sense of street enclosure, and a soft buffer from traffic.
• Select trees species to be compatible with the local microclimate and support habitat.
• Provide trees and foliage in public space
• Sidewalk features can contribute to the enjoyment of public space
• Street trees help shade buildings and reduce solar heat gain.
P7 - INTEGRATE SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES INTO THE LANDSCAPE

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES | DENVER CITY
INTRODUCTION TO DENVER

CREATE A DIVERSE, MIXED-USED URBAN
CONTEXT
NETWORK OF VEHICLE AND PEDESTRIAN
ROUTES
WALKABLE, PEDESTRIAN-FRIENDLY
ENVIRONMENT
TRANSFORM CURRENT HOSPITAL CAMPUS
INTO URBAN CENTER
COMPLEMENTARY TO EXISTING URBAN
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
The GDP is a master land use and
infrastructure plan that provides a long-
range vision and general direction for
future development.

INTRODUCTION TO 9TH STREET, DENVER
9th Street, Denver 2002 9th Street, Denver 2021

STANDARDS
&
GUIDELINES
Site
Design
Building
Design
Street
scapes
Outdoor
Lighting
Signs
CATEGORIZATION OF THE STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.
For each sub-category of focus, it
• begins with a set of guiding principles to set
the stage,
• followed by more detailed intent statements,
• design standards,
• design guidelines

SITE DESIGN
Site Design standards and guidelines
addresses issues related to
• block configuration,
• new and perimeter street design,
• vehicle and pedestrian access and
circulation,
• service areas,
• parking,
• open spaces and plazas,
• sustainable site design.

SITE DESIGN
BLOCK DESIGN VEHICLE ACCESS & CIRCULATION

SITE DESIGN
STREET DESIGN
VEHICLE ACCESS & CIRCULATION
PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE & PLAZAS

SITE DESIGN
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

Building Design standards and guidelines address issues related to general appearance and
compatibility, mass and scale, pedestrian-oriented design, building materials and sustainable
design.
BUILDING DESIGN

Streetscape standards and guidelines address issues related to pedestrian and amenity
zones, street trees, and streetscape furnishings
STREETSCAPE

Well-integrated lighting providing aesthetic appeal and safety, promoting comfortable, safe
pedestrian activity at night.
OUTDOOR LIGHTING

The Standards and Guidelines are intended to be flexible.
The Development Review Committee (DRC) may grant modifications to a design
standard if the DRC finds the applicant has shown the following:
• The modification is consistent with the stated intent of the design standard at issue;
• The modification achieves or implements the stated intent to the same degree or
better than strict compliance
• with the standard would achieve;
• The modification will not adversely effect implementation of the GDP; and
• The modification will not result in adverse impacts on properties abutting the Site.
COMPLIANCE

REFLECTIONS| DENVER CITY
Focused on creating a
● Diverse used urban city.
● Pedestrian friendly
● Publicly accessible

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Austin is the state capital of Texas. It has been one
of the fastest-growing large cities in the United
States since 2010.

Austin 2020
Austin 2000

● 1883 – Edwin Waller was instructed
by the President to create a new city
in Central Texas - Austin
● 1997 Downtown initiative - City council
led by Mayor Kirk Watson - to capture
benefits of a strong economy while
preserving the city
● City – a community of people, not
buildings – shared values
Shared
Values
Humane
character
Density
Sustainab
ility
Diversity
Economic
Vitality
Authentici
ty
Safety
Unique
Character

Area-wide urban
guidelines
1.Guidelines for the
public street space
1.Guidelines for
plazas and open
space
1.Guidelines for the
building
Four categories:

AREA WIDE URBAN GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Create mixed-use and dense development
Incorporate civic art in both public and private development
Create developments with connectivity and human-scale circulation
Buffer neighbourhood edges
Recycle existing building stock
Respect adjacent historical downtowns

AREA WIDE URBAN GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Visible Rooftop – view of
downtown buildings
Austin Guitar Town Project Mixed-Use Development

STREET SPACE GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Create a potential for two way streets
Reinforce pedestrian activity and enhance key transit spots
Enhance the streetspace
Install street trees
Provision of pedestrian-scaled lightning and generous street-level windows
Promote curbside parking

STREET SPACE GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Street trees Awning over windows providing
protection for pedestrians
Enhancement of street space with
pedestrian activity

PLAZA AND OPEN SPACE GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Treat Four Squares with Special
Consideration
Contribute to an Open Space Network
Emphasize connection to Parks and
Greenways
Incorporate Open Space into Residential
Development
Provide Plazas in High Use Areas
Provide Spatial and Visual Complexity in
Public Spaces
Use Plants to enliven Urban Spaces
Develop Green Roofs

PLAZA AND OPEN SPACE GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Open space Urban plaza serving as outdoor living
room
Common outdoor area contribute
to a sense of community

BUILDING GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Build to the street
Provide Multi-Tenant, Pedestrian-Oriented Development at the Street
Level
Accentuate Primary Entrances
Encourage the Inclusion of Local Character
Control On-Site Parking
Create Quality Construction and Buildings with Human Scale

BUILDING GUIDELINES | AUSTIN CITY
Building meet streets
Human scale with modern
building materials

REFLECTIONS| AUSTIN CITY
● Human Character – more focused on public
use.
● Waller grid – the original plan has been tried to
be preserved.
● Some city leaders argue that the design
guidelines no longer reflect Austin’s current
design needs.

URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES | NEW YORK CITY
Introduction to New York City
NYC has five boroughs—the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island

Introduction to New York City
Manhattan 2001 Manhattan 2021

Times square before 2009
pedestrian plaza initiative
Times square after 2009
pedestrian plaza initiative

Introduction to New York City Urban Design Guidelines Document
● There are many planning and design guidelines published by New
York City government.
● We shall take a look at the Design and Construction Excellence
2.0 Guiding Principles published in 2016
● It was published to bring together innovative design and construction
strategies to build a thriving, dynamic, strong and just New York City
for all.
● It was published by New York City Department of Design and
Construction

The Guiding Principles invite designers to insightfully
engage economic, social and environmental equity.
Recognizing the extraordinary urgency of climate change,
the Guiding Principles look for a deeper commitment to
environmental sustainability.
The Guiding Principles for resilience set priorities for
addressing the chief extreme threats and chronic hazards
that threaten the City’s infrastructure and buildings.
DDC’s healthy living lens expands upon the City’s
established Active Design Guidelines to help bring greater
access to fitness resources and nutritious food choices.
Categorization of Guidelines / Lenses
HEALTHY
LIVING
RESILIENCE
SUSTAINABILITY
EQUITY

Sense of Welcome: Opacity vs Transparency Encourage Use: “search” Neighborhood Pride and Incorporate Local Ecology

Nurture Economic Empowerment Design for Growth and Evolve with Change Promote Neighborhood Culture and Community

Use Renewable Sources and Treat Water On-Site Leverage Site Envelope & Reclaim Gray Water Bring Ecology Inside

Capture Rainwater Use Passive Tactics Optimize Site Conditions & Reduce Heat Island

Design for Emergencies &
Avoid Fortified Looking Design
Prioritize Multi-layered Approach &
Include Information System
Help Communities Adapt &
Respond to Unique Needs

Analyze Infrastructure for Continuity of Service
Explore Use & Anticipate
Transport Risks
Anticipate Places of Refuge
Engage Vulnerable
Communities

Maximize Connection to Nature
Reduce Social Isolation &
Include Humor and Playfulness
Invite Movement

Consider Unique Needs of
Populations & Promote Outdoor
Ease and Invite Access to
Drinking Water
Enhance Pedestrian Safety & Reduce Light/Noise &
Link Multiple Travel Modes

Reflection on New York City Urban Design Guidelines Document
● Addressing the challenging needs of the liberal world
● Focus on social-harmony and environmental preservation
● Lenses (Equity, Sustainability, Resiliency, Healthy Living) and guiding principles
holistically enhance quality living and well-being

REFERENCES
San Francisco Planning Department. (2018). Urban design guidelines - default.sfplanning.org. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from
https://default.sfplanning.org/plans-and-programs/planning-for-the-city/Urban-Design-Guidelines/udg_handouts.pdf
Austintexas.gov. (2009). Urban Design Guidelines for Austin. Retrieved 25 March 2022, from
https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Boards_and_Commissions/Design_Commission_urban_design_guidelines_for_aust
in.pdf.
AN DESIGN STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES Urban Design Standards & Guidelines for 9th & Colorado City and County of Denver
Community Development Department. (2012). Urban Design Standards & Guidelines for 9th & Colorado [Ebook]. Retrieved 25 March
2022, from https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/Zoning/other_regulations/Design-standards-
guidelines/9th-colorado-urban_design_standards_and_guidelines.pdf.
NYC Department of Design and Construction. (2016). Design and Construction Excellence [Ebook] (2nd ed.). Retrieved 25 March
2022, from https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ddc/downloads/DDC-Guiding-Principles-2016.pdf.

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