typology and morphology

7/29/2019 Typology and Morphology

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morphology / typology

Urban Analysiscode 7W565

MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

Copyright Technische Universiteit EindhovenThis material is intended for students of the Technische Universiteit Eindhoven only. No

part of it may be copied or distributed in any form.

Stedebouw = a non-translatable Dutch / German word meaning approximately: a combination of urban design

andplanning, research anddesign.


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urban morphology

form (visible, knowable) of a settelment

including:

meaning, use, transformations,

relation to urban processes

Definition of morphology in stedebouw

Important for morphology as a tool of analysis is that it is not just about form. In serious

urban design form may never be seen without the its context: the meaning attached to

it, its relation to use, the processes of transformations that characterize it, and its

relation to urban processes (for instance social and political processes).


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typology

characteristic set of form properties*

of a building, a space or combinations of both

* form & content cannot be seperated

- a tool to establish relations

- model

- vague delineation, multiplicity

Definition typology

The word type has been derived from the Greek word 'Typos' which means 'impression'.

Definition:A type in urban design is a characteristic set of form properties of a building, a space or

combinations of both (groupings of buildings or spaces, combinations of buildings and

spaces).

A type is not a concrete example that can be copied. It is a means of establishing a

relation between a large number of comparable objects. Keeping that in mind it can be

seen as a kind of 'generalized model'

In contrast to a category that has a sharp delineation, the delineation of a type is vague

and it is multiple interpretable. This makes it pre-eminently suitable to be used in a

design process because it occupies a position in between abstract ideas and concrete

forms.

In theoretical terms it holds a position between the traditional measure than to the modern

measure. The type incorporates quality andquantity, but it is not necessary to revertto pre-rational scientific ideas to use it.


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typo/morphology

modernism

roots of the morphological approach

the generic

the specific

modernism versus. typo/morphology

The attention for morphology/typology has its origins in a reaction against modernism in

architecture

Modernism emphasizes the generic and the abstract, those that developed the

typo/morphological approach emphasized the specific and the concrete.


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Berlin

A small example of the ideas of modernism ais the plan by le Corbusier for Berlin. The

purple line in this map is the Friederichstrasse. The purple square is the museum

island with its famous museums......


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Plan by Le Corbusier (1957)

... the same Friederichstrasse and museum island in the plan drawn up by le Corbusier in

1957

Modernist considered old urban forms to be obsolete because they where not functional

any more in the age of the modern factory and the car. In the view of modernists

perception and meaning of the environment played no role at all. 'Image' was reduced

to an abstract pattern, an 'image on paper' like a modern work of art. Their believe in

the virtues of a 'new men' meant that in there eyes the attachment of people to their

built environment was not of importance or even harmfull for the formation of a better

society. This also meant the had no remorse in destroying existing urban fabrics.


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Urban analysis in modernism

Le Corbusier:

We must build on a clear site

The city must be constructed geometrical

(in: Urbanisme, 1924)

Citation of le Corbusier

Underpinning his ideas.

Translated from an article in 'Urbanisme' (1924)


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Cover of a book by McLoughlin (1969)

Modernism did not finish with modernist architecture. In principle its ideas went over to

spatial planning. This famous book about planning was of great influence on planners

in the 1960's and onwards. The philosophy behind it is that we could have a better

society by a rational and comprehensive approach of planning using scientific

modeling based on the ideas of natural science. In some circles this idea still prevails.

Of course there is nothing against more science or using ratio. In fact ratio is the most

important tool of civilization, the problem is that it is great mistake to leave out emotion

and meaning altogether (or to consider them to be just categories in a rational

approach).


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Morphological research

development, directions


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Italian school (three phases)

French school

English school

Mixed approach

Morphological research

development, directions

Morphological research, directions

Although the word 'school' perhaps suggests more than can be justified if we look at

morpholgical researchers, it is usefull to distinguish between three main approaches

and a mixed approach. The main approaches are strongly related to the

developments in architecture in three countries and thus could be labeled in that way.

We will start with developments in Italia (Italy) and continue with the subsequent

directions.


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Salverio Muratori

- Spatial structures are concrete material forms(+ use & function)

- Largely an autonomous system

- Carrier of meaning

Salverio Muratori (1910 1973)

Muratori is considered to be the first systematic and analytic researcher of urban form. Heis also seen as the godfather of the morphological approach in architecture and urbandesign.

The 'Italian' approach is often referred to as the typo-morphological approach, becausethe type plays a central role.

Muratori became most known by the publication of his work:

Studi per una operante historia urbana di Venezia (study into an operative urban historyof Venezia) in 1959

Developing morphology as an approach to urban design by studying concrete examplesbecomes a hallmark of almost all research in urban morphology. This is partly due tothe fact that financing fundamental research in architecture and urbanism up until thepresent day has proven to be almost impossible. On the other hand it is in line with thefundamental notion of the typo-morphological approach that research has to be placespecific and that is dangerous to draw conclusions that are supposedly universal tosoon.

The core of Muratori's approach is:

He considers spatial structures to be concrete material forms. He opposes modernisticdesigners and planners who see spatial structures as abstract forms. (In fact bothvisions are right in their own way, see the reader for the bachelors course'Stedebouwkundig Ontwerpen' (7w220, in Dutch only).

The rules that govern the transformations of these forms are to a large extend anautonomous system that can be studied separately. This opposes the idea that urbanforms are only the result of social processes. A view held by many social scientists.

In a cultural sense the system is a carrier of meaning. Forms represent more thendimensions and are more than containers for functions, in it are encompassed theideas and experiences of the local culture. By studying the forms we are also studyingthe culture attached to them.

The means of studying forms taking into account the three points above is by groupingthem into types. This is why Muratori's method is also referred to as the 'Typologicalmethod'.


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Salverio Muratori

Typological Method

4 scale levels

building - dist r ict - cit y - ter rit ory

elements of the design

internal structure of the elements relation between form and use

formal aspect (m aterialisation)

4 aspects

Typological method

Muratori distinguishes between four scale levels:

the building, the district, the city and the territory

Detailing and complexity of the types that can be distinguished increase with the scale

level. An element on one level can be a type on a lower level

For instance: a school with a certain architecture can be an element on the level of adistrict and a type of the level of a city.

For each scale level there are four aspects:

The elements -or parts- of its design. For instance: a building consists of building parts,a district consists of buildings and urban spaces, etc.

The internal structure of the elements. For instance: what is the disposition of buildingsand spaces in a neighborhood.

The relation between form and use.

The formal aspect. By this Muratori in fact means : the materialization. For instance: ona higher scale level one can talk about a route, but it is important to know how it ismaterialized. In a building one can talk about a window, again it makes a differenceif this is for instance plain glass in a steel frame or stained glass in a wooden frame.


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Salverio Muratori

Central role for the type

type counterpart of standard

Method aimed at cohesion

Innerly, intuitive norms

Meticulous study

Usability in design:

Storia operante

Typological Method

Central role for the type

Muratori's definition of 'type' is:

A construct of conventions and norms that exist in a certain region or town and that

evolved over time on the basis of experience.Important aspects:

Muratori uses the word 'type' as the counterpart of 'standard'. A 'type' is rich in meaning

and culure, 'standards' consist of technical norms that are culturally poor.

The method is aimed at coherence, as a counterpart of the lack of coherence in

modernism.

According to Muratori lack of coherence in modern urban design and planning is caused

by the devaluation of inner, intuitive forms that used to shape the environment. He

tries to overcome the disability of modernism by incorporating culture and meaning

but at the same time tries to remain systematic and scientific by developing a new

analytic method. Because of this intention many later morphologists sometimes refer

to their work as 'rational' to emphasize that the tightrope walk between the tangibleand the scientific has not the intention to revert to the 'mythical' and also that the way

people act in their environment has its own rationality, be it a different one than the

abstract rationality of modernism.

Typology is studied meticulously in contrast to the shallow and abstract approach of form

in modernism.

Muratori had the explicit intention that his method of analyzing could be used as a basis

for architectural and urban designs. This is reflected in the fact he uses the word

'storia operante' (operative history). History is not there to satisfy curiosity it should be

usefull, it should 'work' in a design process.


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Salverio Muratori

Building environment

theoretical premisses

part whole

city history

1.

2.

3.

Most important theoretical premisses

(In fact the premises of all of the Italian school)

1. Building and environment can not be separated. They should be taken intoconsideration together in analysis and design.

2. Parts of the city cannot be considered separately from the whole city.

3. The city can only be understood in its historical dimension because it emerges from a

succession of reactions and processes of growth.

In other words: the exact opposite of a timeless abstract approach.

In the view of Muratori typology is not only about buildings but also about walls, streets,

gardens, the construction of the city and everything that determines the form of a city

in a certain period. In his work and the works of those that came after him the local,

the time specific and place specific are emphasized. This is done by careful study of

the development of building types en urban tissues. Based on this studies one tries to

formulate an 'archetype' - the 'mother' of all later types - and tries to reconstruct the

lines of development from this archetype to later types.


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Italian school

Carlo Aymonino, Aldo Rossi

Gianfranco Cannigia, Gian Luigi Maffei

Bernardo Secchi

Italian school

3 successive generations of theorists and researchers can be distinguished in the 'Italian

school'. These generations can be linked to the most well known names in a specific

period and to the most well known work.

The relative meaning of the word 'school' had been explained earlier.

1960 1980: Carlo Aymonino, Aldo Rossi

1975 1990: Gianfranco Cannigia, Gian Luigi Maffei

1985 2010 : Bernardo Secchi


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Bernardo Secchi

The architecture of the city, 1966

La citt di Padova, 1970

Italian school

Key works of the first generation


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Bernardo Secchi

De architectuur van de stad, 1966


Il progetto nell edilizia di base, 1984

Letture di Firenze, 1985

Italian school

Key works of the second generation


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Bernardo Secchi

De architectuur van de stad, 1966


Il progetto nalledilizia di base, 1984

Letture di Firenze, 1985

Articles in Casabella, Plan for Sienna 1989,

PRG Prato 1996

Italian school

Key works of the third generation


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Aymonino, Rossi

Permanence in the city structure

Relating building types to city form

Mainly aimed at the small scale

Italian school

Aymonino, Rossi

Characteristics:

Most important: the notion of 'permanence' in the urban structure. Rossi talks about theimportance of 'urban facts': aspects of the urban form (buildings, spaces, monuments)

that are of particular value for the identity of a city and that exceed time. Permanence

eventually leads to peculiarity of a city.

Rossi tries to relate certain building types to the form of the city. Like Muratori his most

important subject of attention is typology.

The work of the first generation is primarily aimed at streets and squares. Accoring to

Aymonino and Rossi the larger scale cannot be described in terms of topologies

because the material structure of a city is a continuous process and not a completed

form.

Rossi's work 'The architecture of the city' was influential throughout the international world

of a architects.


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Cannigia, Maffei

Developing Muratoris Theory

Processes of growth

Relation building city form

Searching for the archetype

Italian school

Cannigia , Maffei:

Continue to develop Muratori's theory.

Are especially interested in processes of growth, in the city as a dynamic happeningEmphasize the relation between building type and city form. Against the idea of

autonomous and placeless form they place the idea of autonomous formative

processes and place dependency.

Introduce the concept of the 'archetype'. In their work they look for what they call a 'basic

type' the precedes all later types and try to construct lines along which later types

developed. For example the roman 'domus' as the basic type for later medieval types.The aim is to get an in depth insight into the characteristics of a type. This insight can

be used to develop new buildings that incorporate the lessons of the past without

being a historical pastiche and extend this into the present. It is thus aimed at what

could be called 'guided creativity in context' which is something quite different from

'neo-styles' that only imitate examples from the past skin deep.


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Cannigia, Maffei

bu i l d i ng s t one f o r 5. city

4. urban quarter

3. urban tissue

2. building block

1. parcel

bu i l d i ng s t one f o r



Scale levels

low

high

Italian school

Theory of Cannigia and Maffei

In the approach of Cannigia and Maffei lower scale levels are the building stones for

higher scale levels. This means the city is explained from the logic of its buildingblocks. The smallest block being the parcel, seen as a combination of a space andone building.

In a sense the approach could be called 'atomistic'.


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1. parcel2. block

3. tissuel

4. quarter

5. city

Italian school

Illustration of the levels


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Ponticelli,Napoli

Examples of the approch of Cannigia and Mafei

Reconstructie of the development of urban tissue

Ponticelli (Napoli, Italia)A. Reconstruction of the original situation with one family houses; The 'archetypal'

situation.

B. Situation in between. More families live on the same parcel. Houses are expanded,buildings are erected in the back yard.

C. Present situation. A dense built up area.

(From the book Il progetto nelledilizia di base, 1984)


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24Via de Servi,Firenze

Via de'Servi, Firenze (Italia)

On the left a building block that was the subject of a morphological study.


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25Via de Servi,Firenze

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Typology of a building block in the Via de'Servi.

In the upper part of the drawing: Piazza Brunelleschi

Present situation and reconstructed 'archetypal' situation. This reconstruction is not asartificial as one might think. The Via de'Servi was developed by the monastry of the

Servi in the late middle ages. In modern terms this was 'project development'. It is

very likely that the houses originally where erected in a standard style. Over time

these original houses were transformed. They 'absorbed' the spirits and activities of

the successive times that can thus be seen as being 'stored' in the present structure.


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San Frediano, Firenze

Base material

San Frediano, Firenze (Italia)

The faubourgh of San Frediano in Firenze. Examples of the base material used in the

research: historic maps, historic drawings, paintings and photographs. cadastre

records, whereby the researchers had the advantage that these are very old in

Firenze and that pictures of the buildings are part of it. Not depicted: books, written

records.


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San Frediano,Firenze

Development

Development of the city quarter San Frediano

A1 Development phase at the end of the 13th century. The city wall runs through theneighborhood. Just outside the wall the chapel of Santa Maria del Carmine.

A2 A new wall encompasses all of the city quarter The chapel is replaced by a churchand a monastry. The space in fornt is transformed into a square (Piazza del carmine) .

The street structure develops on the basis of the old paths and parcellation.

A3 New building blocks are made, partly as project development by the monastry. Thereis a new line of bastions to support the ols city wall. One of the bastion is filled with

buildings.

B Cadastral map 1820


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28Borgo SanFrediano

The street Borgo San Frediano

View towards the former city gate Porta San Frediano.


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29Borgo SanFrediano

The street Borgo San Frediano


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Piazza delCarmine

Piazza del carmine and surroundings

Detailed studie encomassing the ground plans of the buildings. This is a typical Italian

way of analysing part of a city. Made easier by the fact that these plans are available

in city records.


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Piazza delCarmine

Piazza del Carmine

Why are important buildings or spaces always under restauration whe you visit them?


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Piazza delCarmine

Piazza del Carmine


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Piazza delCarmine

Piazza del Carmine


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Big historicalinterverntions

San Frediano: plans and interventions

Cannigia talks about traumatic interventions. Most of them are based on ambitious plans,

many of them are only partially executed. Sometimes they are not executed at all, but

they still have influence on the development of the quarter. Without knowing these

plans some aspects of the morphology can not be explained. Therefore studying all

plans should be part of a morphological analysis.

A. 1914 plan for restructuring San Frediano according to the principles of 'artistic urban

design'.

B. Plan to transform the Piazza del carmine and to erect market halls.

C. Restructuring plan from the beginning of the 1930's.

D . 1935 1939: redevelopment project for parts of the quarter.


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35Piazza de Nerli

Piazza De' Nerli

A result of the 1914 restructuring plan.


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36Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso

Result of the 1914 restructuring plan.


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37Via del Drago d Oro

Via del Drago 'd Oro

Result of the 1914 restructuring plan.


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Clericalposessions1579

Reconstructionof buildingblocks designedto plans

San Frediano: Map of church posessions 1579

(Left below: Piazza del Carmine)

Planned developments by the monastryReconstruction of the building blocks that were planned

1 & 2 A typological reconstruction of a narrow and a wide block.

3 A block that was actually built.


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Typology ofsolution foredges ofbuilding blocks

San Frediano: edges

Study of the different solutions in the present edges of the buidling blocks


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41Housing types

Different types of houses in a street


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42Housing types

Twee 'archetypes', as identified in the study

Left: two windows wide, two story, shop on the ground floor. Right: three strories.


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San Frediano,

FirenzeClericalposessions1579

Developmentof housingtypes

Schema showing the development of the different types from two archetypes.

These are related to the development of the city (schematized in the form of concentric

circles)

Gerelateerd aan de ontwikkeling van de stad

A. Continous development

B. Developments with 'jumps' and ruptures

C. Development of new types from a basic type.


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44Building block adjacent to Piazza Tasso

Building block adjacent to the Piazza Tasso


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45Building block adjacent to Piazza Tasso

Building block adjacent to the Piazza Tasso

Theoretical reconstruction of the original building block.


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BuildingblockVia diCamaldoli

Use of typology in city renewal

Building block adjecent to the Via di Camaldoli

A. The block in the Catasto Leopoldino (Cadastre map)B Present situation and spots that have to be reconstructed. Gray= reconstruction of the

original inner terrain of the block.


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Design of new housing based on the typology of the area.

The idea is that going back to the original typology of the block it is possible to make new

housing that on the one hand is rooted in the local context on the other hand leaves

possibilities for the future. These new house incorporate the essence of the building

type but this still leaves enough freedom to interpret the type. This typically shows the

role type as a vague category can play. This is approach quite different from making

imitations of the present face of the existing buildings.


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Different solution that is also possible based on the typology of the area.

Deeper and higher houses.


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Development ofhousing types inthe Apeninemountains nearForli

Typology of houses in the Apenini mountains near Forli

Example of an extensive 'gyneology' of building types going back to ancient times.

Most upper row: variants in plot occupation that occur synchronous.Upper left: the archetype.

Left row of drawings: development of the type in flat terrain.

Right columns: development of the type in mountainous terrain.


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Detailed elaboration

Typology does not stop with abstract drawings showing the main principles of the building

volumes. The concrete materialization is also part of the typology. Simple example: inparts of the Swiss Alps the houses are made of wood. This is essential for the type.


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Characteristic details for certain types

Sometimes even small details are essential. If this is the case and which details are

involved varies according to the location. Is in all of typology no general rules can be

given for the amount of detailing required to make a good typology.


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Concrete buildings

After looking into types in general it is alwys good to go back to cencrete examples to

avoid that typology becomes detached from reality. Drawing is most suitable for this

purpose as it allows the researcher to emphasize important aspects and leave out

unimportant.


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Example of a typology of a modern building block

The typological method is not only intended for old buildings and and old areas. It can

also be used for modern architecture.


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Typology of the houses inside the block


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The block in their urban tissue


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French school

Phillippe Panerai, Jean Castex, Jean-Charles Depaule

Social involvement (empowering inhabitants)

City as producer of social and economic

relations

Rational = human

Historical structure creates resistance

Also attention for experiencing the

environment

The 'French school'

Characteristic for the french approach:

French morphologistst are very socially involved. Attention for the form of the city is seenas a bottom up approach to urban design, a way to make the voice of the user heard

and to empower users. it is seen as a counter movement against top down planning.

The city is considered to be a producer of social and economic relations that are reflected

in physical form. Form is seen as less autonomous than by the Italian Morphologists.

The 'Real rationality', the way people interact daily with the environment is seen as a

better alternative for the alienating rationality of the machine age

The value of morphologic permanence of the historic city is that it resists forces that

impoverish the urban life like fashionable architectural frills or hastily reconstructions.

Analysis is important to discover valuable determents of resistance.

French researcher not only look at the formal properties of the environment. like the

Italians do, the way the environment is percieved and experienced also has their

attention. This is reflected in the fact that they use three dimensional drawings and

photographs besides the usual plans, aspects and sections.


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Phillippe Panerai, Jean Castex, Jean-Charles Depaule

Elements d analyse urbaine, 1980 (1972 - 1975)

Dutch translation: De rationele stad, 1984, 2003

Formes urbaines: de l lot la barre, 1977

Reissue: Analyse Urbaine, 1999/ 2002

French school

Key publications


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Scope of urban analysis

Traces in the environment are indications

Tracking uncovers stage and motivates

City is more than an abstract array of data

Scop e At t i t ude W ay o f w o r k in g Resu l t

French school

Scope of urban analysis

In the book Elements d analyse urbaine (Elements of urban analysis) Phillippe Panerai

explains the angle of view of the French morphological school.

The traces that inhabitants leave in the urban environment tell us more about them.

Investigating these traces makes it possible to get involved in the environment and to be

enchanted by it, this is motivating for the design process.

Urban analysis makes us conscious of the fact that cities are more than a collection of

bare facts and situations. Le Corbusier was wrong when he claimed that ' Statistics arethe engine of urban design'.


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Attitude

No predetermined position

No quick judgements

Urban analysis = regaining the city

No imitation but understanding


French school

Attitude necessary to perform urban analysis

The researcher should not have a predetermined moral opinion. First of all he or she

should observe and let the situation speak. Keep in mins that opinions can also vary

over time. An example of danger of a predetermined position is the opinion of Goethe

on the architects that transformed parts of Rome, he said: 'What the barbarians haveleft of the old Rome is now being destroyed by the architects of the new Rome' Hewas talking about the baroque architects that are today highly praised for the quality of

their work!

Don't judge too quickly over processes that occur in an urban context.

Urban analysis is to a certain extend 'reclaiming the city', making it more a place for its

inhabitants than for planners and so called 'visionaires' in any way of life but especially

in architecture.

However 'reclaiming the city' does not equal 'imitating what has been'. To copy forms

without understanding what lies behind them leads to cliche's and empty picturesque

analogies.This reminds us of the ideas of Webers 'Vertehende' science.

Pannerai emphasis that we have to find original solutions for our time.

One could ask one self if this last statement has been influenced by modernism. The

dogma of modernism is that everything has to be new and original, isn't it?


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Way of working

Comprehending the base of the urban

culture; reading the city

Carefull, meticulous

The temporal factor

Schould be no obligatory excercise


French school

Way of working

It is important to understand the basis of the urban structure, to interpret the city as a form

of organization, to uncover its logic. In the French tradition one speaks of 'reading the

city', and the result is a 'reding of the city'.

It is important be careful and meticulous in urban analysis and to raise accurate

questions. For example: it is not a good attitude to reject the urban building block ingeneral, like modernists did. One has to ask the question: what type of street and whattype of building block are rejectable and what exactly where the bad properties.Simple solutions based on inaccurate analysis most of the time do more harm than

good.

We could add to that: design is part of careful analysis. To use the example of thebuilding block again: design has shown that the objections of the modernists can beovercome by developing new types of solutions for the problems.The plea for asking accurate and meticulous points back to the ideas of Socrates.

We should not forget the temporal dimension. Time plays an important role in the urbanenvironment.

Urban analysis should not be an obligatory exercise that precedes design because it is

'commonly done'. This also means that we should not distance ourselves from the

subject. Discovery, involvement and pleasure are also important ingredients of

analysis. Being involved in thrilling 'detective work' and the 'joy of analysis' should be

our motivation.


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Result

Insight in order and force fields

Lerning from solutions

Value for the future


French school

Results of urban anlysis

Urban analysis is interesting and usefull because:

It provides the designer with insights into the order and the force fields that eventually willbe able to support the work. One has to keep in mind that the social context of urbandesigns is very complicated. Designs only can be executed if they have enoughsupport in society. To rally support it is of utmost importance to know the context.

it provides the posibility to define a theoretical framework for a design project and to

extract knowledge from good solutions from the past.

lastly it provides the possibility to embed architecture and urban design in history, or to

put it differently: to embed it in the context, or different still: to give it value for the

future.


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Phenominas to be analized

Urban structures

Growth

Typology

Urban landscape

Social practices

French school

Phenominas to be analyzed

French morpholistst define the following types of spatial analysis:

Urban structures. Structural analysis.

Phenomena of growth Groeifenomenen: ruimtelijke ontwikkeling, sporen van hetverleden, processen.

Typology. This is presented as a specific method.

Urban landscape. This builds on the ideas of Lynch, Cullen and Unwin.

Social practices in the urban space. 'Practice' is a notion from sociology. It points towards

certain social constellations. The French school interprets is as: the relation betweenbehavior and urban space.

Besides this they emphasize the importance of the research fields of:

Urban Anthropology. This is a field of research that has much attention today. Citypopulations city are studied in the way that in the past strange populations in far awaycountries were studied, primarily by observation and analyzing records like writtentext, artefacts or art. The idea is that life in cities is typified by numerous cultures thatcan only be understood by close study.

Sociology. A classic form of social science that has been brought to life recently after ithad virtually died out in the 1980's because its pretences - based on the idea oftraditional science - could not be fulfilled. This form of research is still seen by manyas a bit suspect.

Environmental psychology. Here again the pretences of those trying to work in the classicscientific tradition have not been fulfilled. This does not mean that the results wereuseless, but the usefullness was very limited, to limited to be the fundament of design.

Cognitive psychology. The ideas of cognitive psychology have had a lasting influence onurban analysis and design and rightfully so. The 'godfather' of this line of thinking inurban design is Kevin Lynch. Although in the beginning many of them were highlyspeculative, gradually there is more proof, for instance from the field of neurology, thatthey are plausible.

Because this course is about spatial analysis from the latter four forms of analysis onlythe last one will be cover. The first three of research plus some more and theirscientific methods are the subject of the course 'Research methods in architecture andurbanism' (7w640).


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Phenominas to be analized

Growth

Typology

Urban landscape

Social practices

Urban structures

French school

Method for Typology

Castex and Panarai have developed a method for typological research that will briefly be

described in the following.


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Typology: methodical prepositions

Starting from existing characteristics

Research dependent on situation

General criteria are not sensible

French school

Methodological prepositions: letting the environment speak to you'

Typology should start from the existing environment, not from idealized images. We

should not impose predetermined spatial models on the environment. For instance:nowadays among project developers and political decision makers there is an idea ofhow a riverside development should look. This idea is based on prestigious exampleslike the Baltimore Harbor project or the Rotterdam Kop van Zuid harbor project thathave contributed to a kind of generalized image how such a development should look.The problem is that presently this generalized idea is projected everywhere withoutknowledge of or insight in local situations This leads to harmful failures.

The way of researching and the method used must be dependent on the situation. In fact

it can be said that in theory in every situation a specific method will have to be

developed, but of course existing knowledge can be used and adapted if necessary.

The same can be said about criteria to judge a situation or design. It is dangerous to

apply general situation less criteria to a design proposal.

Because it makes no sense to provide general criteria and methods the 'method'proposed by Panerai and Castex is limited to general indications. Most important is

the way of thinking.


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Typology: sorts of types

Family, Typical example

Base type, (Typ consacr)

Prototype, Archetype

Levels

Variations / transitions

French school

Method: different sorts of type

Different sorts of types and relations between types can be distinguished

Types can be ordered into families. For each family it is possible to look for acharacteristic example or 'typical example'. For instance the houses along thegrachten in Amsterdam can be grouped into the families: stepped gable, bell gabel,neck gable and frame gable. Each of these types could be represented with aphotograph or drawing of the 'most typical 'example.

One could look for a type that in many respects is exemplary for a certain period: use,

symbolic value, form, etc. The French morphologists call this type the ' type consacr'.This could be translated into 'base type' or 'undisputable type'.

In line with the ideas of the Italian morphologists typological research on a historic base

can look for a 'prototype' or 'archetype'. The French researchers speak of an idealized

model that forms the foundation of the concrete type and of base type that evolved

into several types. The 'archetype' can be derived from studying the form of building

blocks, the properties of parcels, etc.Typological analysis can have several levels, each with its own level of detailing and

influencing each other. Again this builds on the ideas of Italian morphology, however

the French do not make a specific choice for the number of levels nor do they

postulate explicitly that urban morphology is build up from the smallest components

upwards.

looking for variations within and transitions between types is also part of typology.


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Phases of typological research

A. Definition corpus

B. Temporary classification

C. Elaborating types

D. Typology

French school

Phases of typological research

A. Definition of the corpus (= Latin for: mater to be investigated)

B. Temporary classificationC. Elaborating the types

D. Typology itself


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French school > typological research

A.Definition B.Temp.Classific. C.Elaboration D.Typology

Transition slide

The four phases on top op the page to keep overview in the next slides.


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A.1 Choice of levels

A.2 Delineating the research area

parts

buildings

parcels

groups of parcels

global level



Phase A1: definition of the matter to be researched

Choice of levels

Broadly speaking it is possible to make typologies of the following levels:parts of buildings, but only if this makes sense. In urban analysis these parts could be:

gables, courtyards, entrances, etc.

buildings. In some urban tissues buildings are the basic unit

the combination of parcels with buildings. For many researchers this seems to be the

most fruitful level of typological analysis because it brings forward the relation

between buildings and space.

goups of parcels. According to French morphologists the level of the building block

deserves special attention. At this level the devision of space becomes clear (as doesthe relation of the individual with the collective). However it is also possible to takestreets, boulevards, squares, gardens, canals, etc. as a starting point.

the global level. It is also possible to make a typology of urban tissues that is as global aspossible and to incorporate the studies of underlying levels into it.

A good typological study takes the differentiation between different levels into account.

Even if it focuses on one level only this should be placed between adjacent levels.

It is NOT necessary - and in many cases not desirable - to divide a city into

morphological areas or -units that cover all of its surface. Panerai quotes Alexander

who has stated that ' a city is not a tree', by which he meant that it is not desirable to

take the ideas of natural sciences - with their exclusive categories and strickt

hierarchy - as the sole guideline for city planning and urban design.


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A.2 Delineating the research area

A.1 Choice of levels

parts

buildings

parcels

groups of parcels

global level

A2 delineating the research area

The delineation of the study area is dependent odn:

the scope and aim of the analysis and the type of questions that have to beansweredavailable time and means

depth of the analysis

the material and knowledge that is already available and the usefullness of that material


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Steps:

1. Inventarisation (Survey)

2. Searching criteria

3. First classification

4. Evaluation and corrections

5. Temporary classification (n.b.: no types)

type = construction


A.Definition B.Temp.Classific. C.Elaboration D.TypologyB.Temporary Classification

Temporary classification

This is an empirical process of induction and itteration. As the amount of material growspreliminary theories can be derived ( = induced) from it. As the evidence mounts the

theory can be refined ( = itteration).A certain level of knowledge and experience in morphological research makes this

process easier. It also helps if the researcher has a feeling for visual typology, that isto say: if he or she can easily see main characteristics in complex visual information.

Steps of this process:

Invertarisation. In classical terms: a survey. Describing or recording (photographs,drawings, etc.) the objects to be typified in detail.

When a fair number of objects has been observed or recorded the possibility arises tosystemize them and to get a first idea of the criteria for a typology.

The first cautious criteria can be used to make a first classification by regrouping theobjects into families that comply to a number of criteria. The simplest way to do this isby starting with the most clear cases. For instance: if you don't know anything of Dutch

urban design and you have seen a few cities you could conclude that there are streetswith a canal in the middle and that apparently they form some kind of typologicalfamily. In the next step this impression could be confirmed and refined later on thebasis of more observations, literature etc.

Evaluation and corrections

Temporary classification. Please note this classification: this is NOT a typology, it is agrouping. A type is not a cencrete example it is a construct, a in sense a type has tobe designed.


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Steps:

1. Clarifiing properties of object within a

famlily

2. Defining types based on common

properties



Elaborating the types

This can be done in two steps

1. Clarifying the properties of the families/groupings that were found in the previousphase. It is important that not only the properties that conform to the temporary criteria

are futher investigated, pone has to look at all properties to avoid predjudice and

wrong conclusions.

2. Using common properties of the families of objects found in the previous phase to

define the type. The non-common properties are then considered to be the variations

of the type.


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Ordering types in a system

Relations and pedigree

Bandwidth of variations

Consensus



Typlogy

Ordering the types into an encompassing system.

Investigate relations and 'ancestry', that is: investigate if certain types via development,addition, modification and transition stem from other types.

Bandwidth of the variations. Investigate how types change, how far reaching these

changes can be without changing the type, etc.

Concensus. Investigate what elements form the basis of the social recognition of a type.

Which people recognize the type, what is the social basis of the concensus, or why

does it diminish and leads to the disappearance of a type. For instance: in the past

there were distinctive regional types of farms in Nederland. Although many farmers

feel a strong connection with their region, almost no new farms are constructed using

the traditional types for several reasons: economics, comfort ,etc.


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French school

Analysis of Versailles

Example of a morphological analysis in the tradition of the 'French school' : Versailles


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names of areas

Plan with names of streets, quarters and areas

Names are also part of morphology. They often represent a meaning. For instance

'Downing street' is symbolic for politics in England, 'Piazza San Pietro' for

religionamong Catholics, etc. These are examples of very famous elements, but on a

local scale elements also can have a strong symbolic meaning. A seperate category

are so called 'field names' that refer to former agricultural land use or the original

properties of the land. The most famous example is perhaps the Campo (=field) in

Siena.


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Morphological units and elements

Division into morphological unites and elements

Division of the town into morphological units, representing parts of the town withgrossly the same morphological properties. At the same time it gives an insightinto the main structure of the town. For the way this structure can interpretedand classified we point back to the reader of bachelors course:'Stedebouwkundig ontwerpen' (7w220, in Dutch only).

This type of analysis could also be called 'structural analysis'. Structure is seen asseperate object of study. In contrast Italian morphology works bottom up.


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Historic growth

Historic growth

Historic growth of the morphology. In this case in four stages. These type ofmophological maps are sometimes referred to as 'figure ground plan' or 'blackmap', they contain all footprints of buildings in black and in this case allimportant roads in outline.

The maps are based on the available historical maps. These are all translated into auniform scale, legend and lay out. Processing the information this way isessential. It makes it possible to compare stages in the development and todiscover morphological changes. Original historical maps are perhapsinteresting but unprocessed not very useful for morphological analysis.Although not explicitly mentioned by Castex and Panerai it should be addedthat these maps are most effective when they represent the right moment intime. These are moments that are of crucial importance for developments in themorphological development of a town. For instance: when a new harbourinterlocal road or railroad were constrcuted, when industrialisation took of,

when large housing projects were realized.


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Comparison Vaux le Vicomte - Versailles

1661

1662

Studying comparable plans and projects

Example: a comparison of the design of Vaux-le-Vicomte (1661) with the first plan for

Versailles (1662).

Some urban forms can only be correctly explained by knowing the planning context in

which they came into being. This context can be local plans and designs, but also the

influence of ideas form elsewhere. Versailles was strongly influenced by the great

innovation that was the design for the garden of Vaux-le-Vicomte, the model for the

French baroque palace garden.


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Spatioal relations with the region

Late 17th century

Spatial relations with the region

Versailles and the new division of the territorium west of Paris at the end of the 17th

century.

As stated in the theory of morphological research: a certain scale level must be seen in

relation to the higher and lower level.

In the case of Versailles it becomes clear that the design of 1661 is not an isolated case,

the whole landscape west of Paris was subjected to interventions whereby large scale

geometrical structures were imposed on the landscape as a symbol of man being

victorious over nature.


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Analysis Avenue Saint-Cloud

Plans and sections.

The main streets are ordered into types.

Not the interesting combination of section and one point perspective


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Development of the building block

Development of a building block

As was the case on the level of the town as whole, again a number of moments in time

are chosen to show crucial turning points in the development of the block, and again

use is made of a 'figure-background plan'. As it is virtually impossible to study every

block in a city in this way blocks that are representative for a development over a

larger area must be chosen carefully. They act as a kind of 'samples'.

In this sample we see a building block that originally was spacious contained three type ofparcels related to the wealth and position of the owners involved. Ranging from largefree standing to small row houses. As the need for more room inside the houses grew,the block became more densely build. Gradually the wealthy people moved out. thiswas exellerated by the French revolution when personnel for the royal palace was nolonger in demand (as was royalty). On a certain moment in time the parcels were nolonger occupied by one family, some parcels became divided. Density increased overtime until the block was almost built over except for some courtyards.


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Detailed studyof thecompositionof a block

Detailed study of the way the block is constituted.

This type of study can give more insight into the typology of the block and the buildings,

especially the relation between the buildings and the way space in and around the

block is used. This is related to the social structure.


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Detailed study of the disposition of buildings

Typology of appartment buildings

Left: analytic axonometric drawings of three concrete buildings. These drawings are a

means of studying the buildings before a typology can be drawn up. The drawings

show that details are also incorporated in the analysis before further abstraction takes

place.

Right: One type with variations. This typology how the type that was shown in the slide '

Typology of buildings and parcels along the Avenue de Saint-Cloud' was adapted to

increasing density and to several depths of parcels. Three zones can be

distinguished: the zone of the original house, a zone for extensions and courtyards

that do not cover the whole width of the parcel and a zone with buildings that do cover

the whole width. This zone exemplifies what French morphologists call the 'logic of

use' .


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Typologyvillas

Typology of villas

Originally the building stock of Versailles consisted of a considerable percentage of free

standing houses or villas. This was due to the fact that it was a town for dignitaries

and servants working at the court of the French king.

The drawings show several transformation of a base type.

After showing the examples of the research in Versailles it should be remarked that the

succession of the several stages of a morphological research as the one shown need

not be - and in fact will always never be -'neat and logical', whatever the ordering of

the results in hindsight may suggest. It is normal that several aspects of the research

overlap in time and that the research sometimes jumps from one aspect to the other

and back. This has everything to do with the availability of material and practical

aspects that can be as mundane as bad weather obstructing observations. But it also

has an methodical reason: levels and aspects are interlinked.


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85Coquard 1712

Drawing technique

Detail of a map of Versailles. Engraving by Coquard, 1712.

The 'French school' emphasizes the importance of the drawing and of drawing technique.This is understandable as there methods of analysis are more comprehensive than

the Italian.

The importance attached to drawing is reflected in this quote of Panerai (from 'Elements

d'analyse urbaine, 1972):

'Drawing technique is not neutral. Te be interested in the city means using means bywhich it can be shown in its 'fullness' with its streets, closes, buildings, walls and trees'


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86Fortier late 1980s

Bruno Fortier, Atlas de Parijs (late 1980's)

Illustration: the passages between Rue du Faubourg Montmartre and Rue du Quatre

Septembre.

Bruno Fortier worked on an atlas showing the historical morphology of Paris, among

others by beautiful and clear 3-d drawings like the one shown.

The atlas was only partly completed. The project proved to be to big and expensive.


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English school

M.R.G.Conzen, Birmingham School

Geographical approach

Tends towards classical natural science

Aimed at detailed descriptions

Parcel as engine of the city structure

'English school'

The 'English school' is founded by - and to a certain extend synonymous with -M.R.G.Conzen*. The works of Conzen and his colleagues are also referred to as the'Birmingham school

Characteristics:A geographical approach. This means it is related to thinking in terms of ground use and

functions and to spatial planning. This reflects the Anglo Saxon attitude towardsarchitecture and planning, with urban design being a bit of an 'orphan'. Conzen worksform the parcels and the ground plan rather than from buildings like the Italian andFrench schools. Consequently drawings are in 2-D and the properties of theenvironment are more or less seen as a kind of 'data' that could also be subjected tocalculations. In fact the ideas of the 'English school' lend themselves to beincorporated in a G.I.S. system. Steps in this direction have been taken by Americanresearchers .

The approach tends more towards classical natural science: more from a distance andabstract than the other approaches. It tries to describe and analyze the spatial aspectsof a city scientifically. Much of the research is performed as isolated research, notaimed at implementation. In contrast almost all Italian and French research has theintention of being usable in planning and design, however scientific it may be in otherrespects.

It is aimed at detailed descriptions and meticulous study. In this respect all morphologistsseem to agree, whatever their other approach.

The parcel is seen as the 'engine' of the city structure. There are similarities with theItalian ideas of the smallest unit as the basis for all processes. However for the Italiansthe buildings and their use are of greater importance.

* His son Michael Conzen continued in the footsteps of his father. So if you see a publication by 'Conzen',check who is involved.


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3-levels

City form

Urban tissue

Use of ground and buildings

- City form

- Dispersion of building types

- Dispersion of ground use

Maps

English school

Conzen distiguishes three levels in morphology:

City form . A 2-dimensional cartographic representation of the spatial characteristics ofthe town.

Urban tissue. The compostion of buildings and spaces

Use of ground and buildings in detail

These three levels are related to each other.

+ Every one of the three levels is represented by three maps that help to explain the formof the city form:

A map of the city form. In practice this is a map showing buildings and spaces.

A map with the dispersion of building types.A map with the dispersion of ground use.

Conzen considers the city to be a palimpsest of society and culture. Elements of certain

periods remain while others are written over in the course of time.


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Analysis

Streets

Parcels

Buildings

Seamless

Compositeness

Plan Units

Stratification

Fringe belt

Basis

English school

Conzen distinguishes three elements:

-Streets

-Parcels

-Buildings

These elements fit together like a puzzle. Conzen analysis the morphology of a city seamless. This shows thegeographical character of his approach and the tendency to take natural science as an example. In contrast inItalian and especially in French morpholgy is not deemed nescessary to be 'complete' in the sense that all of thesurface of a city should be equally covered by research.

Basis of the analysis is the parcel. According to Conzen the pattern of parcels forms the 'historic frame' of the town.In the eyes of the other schools of morphology it is strange that he does not incorporate the form of the buildingsin the base units, only their foot print.

For collection of the patterns and variations in form and use that can be found in the city Conzen uses the word'compositeness'. Other morphologists would probably call this simple the 'structure' or the 'totality' of the city,represented for instance by a figure-ground plan.

According to Conzen the totality of the city form is built up from 'plan units'. This could be translated as'morphological units', parts of the city with the same morphological properties. The units have characteristicproperties as concerns street patterns, buildings and configurations of parcels. Plan units reflect the socialeconomic backgrounds of the periods in which they were formed.

A plan unit can be seen as a piece of urban tissue. Depending on the detailing of the criteria used an analysis canresult in a 'patchwork' of small units. Conzen is not clear about criteria. In contrast the French morphologistspoint at the importance of choosing criteria. It is clear that when a lot of criteria are used the number of buildingscomplying to a certain type will be very small whereas limited criteria lead to large units.A very simple example: if the only morfphological criterium is 'flat or inclined roof' then the totality of a town willonly have two units. Another problem is highlighted by this simple example: in many instances there are areaswhere both forms of roof exist, what to do with them?

Plan units contribute to what Conzen call the 'stratification' of the urban landscape. With this he means what is alsocalled he layering of the city: the amalgamation of contributions to the city form over time and the traces theyleave. Contributions can either be additions or the disappearance of elements. Information is stored in the layersof the urban landscape. The concept of the 'layered approach' has played an important role in urban analysissince the 1990's

For areas that do not comply to clear morphological rules -for instance by having a clear urban tisue- and/or are in astate of transition Conzen introduces the word 'Urban fringe belt'. These often are an indication of changes in themorphological structure of a city. Sometimes fringe belts used to have a clear structure that disapeared. After a

certain period they might obtain a new clear structure again. So theay are also an indication of the dynamichs ofthe morphological structure.


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Basic elementsaccording toConzen

The basic elements of the city form according to Conzen

-Streets

-Parcels-Buildings

As can be seen these are represented by two fairly abstract maps and one map showing

streets, parcels and buildings. In this case the later map is an existing base map of the

city. One could also imagine that this would be a figure-ground map.


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Compositnessand units

Compositeness and units

A. Map of Ludlow (England) showing streets, parcels and buildings.

B. Left: the topography, right: the plan units.Together these maps give an indication of the compositeness of the town.

The form of Ludlow is a result of the topography and the plan units (morphological units).The present form has evolved over time.


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Burgage cycle

:Level of theparcel

Cyclus of building and use

Study of a parcel in Alnwick (1960). The deep parcel ('burgage') is gradualy built over and

then cleard because the buildings have become bad and dangerous. These type of

cycli occur in many old towns. They could repeat several times over time. For this

phenomenon Conzen introduces the term 'burgage cycle'.


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Burgage cycle

Bouwblokniveau

The same cycle on the scale of the building block

(example: Newcastle, study: 1981). Over time the block is completely chocked with

buildings. The block is then opened up by new roads.


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Conzens ideas have not only been applied on old cities. His successors also have used

them to analyze modern towns and suburbs.

American suburbs

Study by Anne Vernez Moudon of the typology of buildings, parcels and street networks

of American suburbs.


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Analysis of a concrete suburb 1

Network type 1 combined with house type A


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Analysis of a concrete suburb 2

Network type 2 combined with house type B


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Evaluation classical morphological approach

uniqueness and richness of the place

permanence / sustainability

form in planning processes

relation architecture - urbanism

relation form - use

Attention to:

+

Evaluation of the classical morphological approach

Positive points:

Attention to

- uniqueness and richness of the place as opposed to an abstract and distancing

approach. This makes it possible to connect with peoples daily experience and to

incorporate these in plans and designs. The researchers and designers are thepersons that order and process the information using their skills, general knowledge

and knowledge acquired by analysis of the context. The is quite different from the idea

that the ideas and opinions of inhabitants should be incorporated in a design process

via interviews using lists of questions that are scored and processed. These may be

more representative for a limited number of items (at least if the ideas of natural

science are the benchmark for the quality of research) but they impoverish

information.

- permanence and sustainability. These represent the 'remembrance' of the city and

define its image. It makes it possible for people to get attached to a place and to feel

at home. Sustainability in another meaning of the word point towards care for the

environment. Permanence as an aspect of this. Not having to change the environment

of being able to adapt it easily to changes of use contributes to the environment by

saving materials and energy.

- it as a way to introduce the aspect of 'form' in planning processes by taking it out of the

realm of arbitrariness. The methodical approach links up with methodical approaches

in planning without disregarding the non-rational aspects of form. It makes it possible

to discus form on the basis of founded arguments.

- it relates architecture to urbanism to the benefit of both.

- it relates form and use. Thus avoiding the pitfall of either basing designs only on form or

only on function.

The last two points mean that morphological research can be a means to approach the

spatial environment as


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Evaluation classical morphological approach

time consuming and labour intensive

little attention for structure

integration in design process

-

uniqueness and richness of the place

permanence / sustainability

form in planning processes

relation architecture - urbanism

relation form - use

Attention to:

+

Evaluation of the classical morphological approach

Negative points:

- Thorough morphological research is time consuming and labor intensive.

In principle this is a problem with all good quality research in urban design and

architecture. In practice those who commission designs or research in most cases do

not want to spend large amounts of money on research. Alas the world of architecture

and urban design is haunted by the false idea that design decisions are largely a

question of either taste or politics, both being irrational. In other technical domains it

has been recognized for long that research pays off. There is no reason to believe

why this would not be the case in architecture and urban design. Good research may

cost money in short term, but in the end it saves money for the project as a whole.

- Most morphologists pay little attention to structure. The Italian and English 'schools' see

cities as an aggregation of parcels and buildings. The human mind always structures

information, including information about the environment. So paying attention to

structure should be part of communication about the environment. Structure is also an

important tool of urban design (see the bachelors course in Urban design 7w220

typology and morphology

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