Issues of Mix & Density in Urban DesignMIX: Jane Jacobs forcefully argued the advantages of planing city centres and suburbs to promote social mix to generate exchange of ideas , goods, services and culture [Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961) and The Economy of Cities (1971)]. These are recognized in both New Urbanism and Responsive Environments.

But: competing views of traditional planning theory argue the need to segregate incompatible land uses & activities into different zones, such as noxious industries and residential areas.

DENSITY: Dr Johnson’s celebrated dictum: “It is Density , Sir, that creates Convenience!” has regained great currency in recent times & is annexed by both advocates of inner city residential conservation and of massive redevelopment of the same areas.

But: excessive densities can cause conflict, congestion and pollution.

Copyright 2011 Phil Heywood

Brisbane: Queen Street Mall’s historic facade, sub tropical sun

& human scale draw city centre users

Systems of Centres

Systems of Activity Centres within broad regions and majorcities can promote both:• interaction &• differentiation

and provide the basis for ranges of densities and activities that meet the objectives of:• Mix• Diversity • Convenience• Contact • Amenity

Public, Private & Community Spaces

Even when physically small, public spaces play important roles in the social, cultural and commercial lives of Brisbane City:

1. Post Office/ Anzac Square in Brisbane (collects, accommodates and distributes pedestrian flows between Central Station, GPO & all other parts of the city canter)

2. Queen Street Mall (Commercial & casual social hub & hangout spot)

3. South Bank Gardens (Recreational & Tourist focus for metropolis and all visitors)

4. Former King George’s Square (Performed Civic , Historic & emblematic roles before current unsympathetic re-design)

Many Levels in Post Office Square

Queen Street Mall again

Mixed Use in South Bank Gardens

Public Life in the Gardens

BUZZ PAIRS

• In pairs or groups of three, each identify and describe to the other(s) a great or horrible space you have experienced & together discuss reasons for those experiences and responses (5 minutes)

Iconic & Symbolic World Spaces

1. Times Square -The focus & expression of Manhattan & New York

2. Trafalgar Square -The hub of London’s life from New Years Eve to mid summer splashing in the fountains, & from mass demos to daily throngs

3. St Peters in Rome -combines timeless architecture with universal religious & cultural significance

4. Tianenmen Square -the huge iconic fortress of Chinese Culture & Central Control

Iconic & Symbolic World Spaces

5. Taj Mahal -a universal expression of harmony & love relating India to the world in a symbolically boundless form

6. The Obis of Onitsha Inland Town -Harmonious and irregular spaces framing sacred trees and totems and the compounds of the surrounding clans

7. Sydney’s Circular Quay -a robust meeting zone of land and harbour, past and present, and local and international that has survived constant piecemeal changes

Trafalgar Square – Still busy on a wet Sunday

Evolution of Public Space in History

• There is a 3,800 year history from Hapshupsit’s Temple Forecourt, (see below), the Sacred Court of Medinet Habu, the Avenue of the Kings at Luxor, through the Athens Agora and the Acropolis which made up the 2 sides of the city’s life.

• Commercial Space dates from the Athenian Stoa to the Medieval Market Square and the contemporary Shopping City.

• Public community spaces for play, contemplation and culture: parks, commons, gardens & sacred places like Varanasi and New Zealand Maraes

Grand Collective Spaces over 4,000 YearsHapshupsit’s Temple Forecourt, the Avenue of the Kings at Luxor, Sacred Court of Medinu Habet & Beijng’sTianenmen Square

The Great Square & Holy Kaaba at Mecca: Designed to Assemble

Space Designed with Feeling:The Jewish Holocaust Museum &

Surrounding Spaces, Berlin