Introduction
The urbanization process is viewed as a natural process and the economics therein are sometimes considered to be beyond human contemplation (Parker, 2004). However, social and economic planning must take place to curtail uncontrolled urbanization, which eventually has many demerits than otherwise. The ethnic-racial, religious, class and economic diversities within major urban centers around the world mold the political landscape in such a manner that in and about cities, decisions by city management and fathers will often take into account all the stakeholders, their influence notwithstanding. The other dimensions include social and cultural, economic and resources, and last of all, Government and institutions. Therefore although our focus is on survey and analysis of urban design principles, our undertaking will be all-inclusive in scope and will encompass even the influence of such principles, if implemented on the other aspects of life. It then concludes with the immediate technical requirements in any constructions.
Background
To carry out this assignment successfully, it was necessary to conduct a survey of an urban center, Mayland. This was analyzed in its totality, in consideration of the principles of urban design. After the analysis, a proposal for the urban design ideas, policies, and improvements for a major Redevelopment Area, happened to be the same city: Maylands. It has a wide use of land uses, facilities, and services.
The improved food supplies, good sanitation, and better health care that result in population growth and low death rate have contributed to increasing urbanization. People move to towns to ease the burden of transportation and commuting in search of better opportunities for jobs, housing, and education. Life in rural areas is quite problematic due to irregular weather patterns, which often lead to famine, or floods and therefore people opt to move to towns where life does not necessarily depend on farm produce. Factors such as poverty, food insecurity, ecological dilapidation, and deplorable infrastructure push people to move to towns. In towns there are good basic facilities such as electricity and water compared to the ones available in the rural areas. It can be quite tricky to improve the standard of living in the rural areas since there are inadequate opportunities. On the other hand, towns are places where there is creation of fortunes since there is centralized wealth and money. Jobs and capital arise from the available businesses and that is why individuals take the risk of going to town to work to send money back home to the struggling family.
Trade and tourism practiced in the towns enable a country to earn foreign income. This increases the chances of job opportunities in towns. There are many luxuries in towns compared to life in the rural areas and this shows in availability of good restaurants, playing fields, swimming pools among others. Most well-developed schools and universities are located in towns hence it becomes a necessity for individuals in rural areas to think of pursuing better quality education.
Principles/ Element
Social/ Cultural
Every society has certain characteristics that identify them. Such characteristics then become their identity. It was, for instance, commonplace to identify Italian buildings with the artistic orientations of Michelangelo. This in common became the identity element of Italian artistic work and buildings and of even the rest of Europe. The same happened during the renaissance and enlightenment period. Judicial language, judicial attire, and judicial terminology all reflected the former Roman commonality, with all applying the then famous Latin. Therefore, the social and cultural elements of any society are inalienable and are consideration as a principle in urban design considerations.
Let us consider taste and style. This matters just as much as discussed above. For an English-oriented country, many houses would want or prefer houses with terraces. This then would influence not only houses, but also public facilities and amenities. Similarly, if the country were predominantly Catholic in terms of religion, then many churches would take the design of the Roman Catholic construction style. Therefore, it is an important aspect of urban design (Hassell, S. et al. 2003).
Another important aspect of a people’s culture is food. Food types are an important aspect of urban design because it influences much. Part of what influences the construction of a building is the kitchen type and the kitchen gadgets. Certain kitchen gadgets are only proper to certain people as certain food types are not common to all. The placement of such facilities in any building would influence the design of any construction e.g., whether or not a house is to have a chimney.
Similarly, the design of any textile industry will be influenced by the social life of its people. In certain cultures, industries are closely situated to the plantations of their raw materials. Britain is a case in point here. However, in some other cultures this would be considered unbecoming and unattractive. Factories and industries would therefore be required to be distantly placed. This principle would therefore influence the site of such an industry in a given locality. The same factor is bound to influence where resort centers, lodges, disco halls and similar facilities are likely to be situated within an area.
In addition, the taste of a people will also influence the number of rooms in any house. It is quite common in Europe to have adolescent and adult children housed in their parents’ houses, although in separate apartments. This is however considered quite unpleasant elsewhere. Such children would be expected to have their apartments separately from their parents. Such would be the situation in South Africa.
In designing the infrastructure of a town e.g. in Netherlands, special considerations must be made. Since the Dutch have a special interest in bicycles than cars, special tracks must be created along the main roads to facilitate this peculiar interest.
Environmental/ Physical
It has been seen that the traditional buildings have a significant impact on the natural environment as mentioned above. However, by the use of new building practices there are chances that the environment is saved. Whenever buildings are built, they tend to account for a large amount of space, use large amounts of energy and water and there is a definite alteration caused to the air and the atmosphere. Green building does not include your typical renovations but the plus point is that by going for this type of construction, there are chances that a significant amount of emissions can be reduced. The humorous aspect of this is that while constructing buildings the environmental impacts are underestimated whilst in opting for designing an urban building, the cost aspects are overestimated.
The first environmental factor to be considered is the adequacy of land available for use. For any urban center to be considered a city or any rural area to be set as urban, its size matters abundantly. These huge numbers of people in turn carry out various activities, which convert the center into a beehive of dynamic activity. If the land is not enough then, innumerable repercussions will arise since expansions will not b possible and yet an influx of people to such centers is normally inevitable. Therefore, availability of land is indispensable a factor.
Another crucial factor is the topography of the area. An urban place is sure to have many buildings, highways, flyovers, railways among others. Such infrastructure must be supported by the relevant landscape. It would so difficult and would perhaps swallow enormous amounts of resources to put up such establishments in an area that is extremely mountainous or hilly. Areas infested with steep widespread valleys would equally impair progress in the area.
Climatic or weather conditions are another important principle to uphold. A good or favorable center should avoid extremes. It should be neither too hot nor too cold. Either of the two extremes tends to scare away investors more than drawing them. Some areas are too hot in summer and too cold in winter that they keep away people who are allergic to such conditions. If the same people are important like, say, potential business people the area would miss their investment and thus experience slowed progress.
Likewise important is the locality. This refers to the centrality and convenience of the area of choice. Urban centers should be located in areas that are readily accessible to the other areas of the country. This would facilitate free flow of goods and services into and out of the city. If the center is far removed from the other areas of the country, transportation costs and time durations consumable may discourage people from visiting, setting and even investing in it. This may also deny it the relevant raw materials it may need for production in its industries and factories.
Security has been and still is an all-time concern. Failure to consider the security of an area is sure to be detrimental to its development. If a country is, say, bordered by belligerent neighbors, it may be dangerous to position its capital city next to a frontier. This may endanger the city by exposing it to its enemies. Similarly, it may be dangerous to position such an urban center or city at the coast where pirates and terrorists may have a chance for sporadic attack and an easy takeaway route via the sea. Therefore, an urban center should be far removed from all its security threats to guarantee its survival and development.
It is also important to consider population. Population is especially an important factor where a developed society wants to shift its main urban center. This could be an administration center, a commercial or trading city, an industrial or trading city etc. if the former capital, for instance, was also an industrial city, a less populous city would be selected and thus the city would be relieved of too many people since many artisans and technocrats would retreat to the new town.
Soil types and productivity: this is particularly important in an agrarian population where farming is crucial to its economy. As such, places with soils unfavorable for agricultural production are regarded less important. Such poorly soiled areas like those with sandy soil or clay soil would face less regard than those with alluvial soil. Consequently, if a place was to be selected for a city, the one with alluvial soil would gain favor at the expense of others. Similarly, an area with sandy soil and rocks would be the place of favor in an area where construction works are the key to livelihoods e.g. in real estate business society.
Economic/ Finance
The economy could be described as the country’s ability to run its affairs excellently without dependence on foreign assistance. Such would include ability for military self-defense, advanced healthcare that is readily affordable and accessible to its citizens, quality and affordable education, and adequate agricultural production as well as adequate industrial production. Military defense would ensure the security of the people in a country. The healthcare would cater to the medical needs of the people. Affordable education would cater to the knowledge of the people. Knowledge is power and therefore knowledgeable people are empowered people. Briefly, therefore, the economy encompasses virtually all the sectors of a peoples’ life because it involves resources of all types. Such resources would be human, natural resources and financial. Human resources involve the knowledge and skill of the people, which should be rendered profitably to the establishment of the good environment of an urban city (Heady, 2001). It also includes the labor of the people, which should not be utilized exploitatively. People should be able to live a decent life from the work of their hands. The natural resources are myriad: minerals, oil deposits, tree plantations, water bodies, wildlife, and game among others. All these resources are meant to balance the wealth of a nation among the people. They are meant to ensure equitability of wealth and a general welfare of the nation. Thus, the economy of any society would largely influence the urban design of any town or city in a manifold of ways.
In the first place, the economy determines the types of buildings to be established. Constructions differ significantly depending on the type and quality of building materials. The affordability of such materials depends on both the individual financial ability and that of the economy of the country. If the country suffers serious inflation, then the cost of such materials is bound to shoot up unprecedentedly. This thus determines the quality of buildings put up. Therefore, whether it is hardwood or softwood used, marbles or cheaper materials, bricks or blocks, tiles or usual verandas, flats or single apartments all depend on economic firepower. Therefore the poorer the population, the poorer the types of constructions made.
The second aspect of economic principle is the type of economy exercised. It could be socialistic, capitalistic, agrarian, communistic economy. A capitalistic economy would exercise economic rationalism and therefore offer its citizens a good share of decision-making. Such a people would get an opportunity to compete and develop on his or her own. If the ‘winner takes all’ situation turns out in the favour of a person, such a person may advance well. They may put up personal estates and design them as they wish. Here money talks and so the capitalist has the say in the location, the design, and the quality of the construction works to be undertaken. Be they roads or theatres. This is because the government has little said in individual personal welfare.
In a socialist economy however, matters are quite different. While individuals may have a say in certain aspects, the government freely intervenes whenever it deems necessary. Thus, an individual may choose the materials and design of the constructions to be made, the government may determine where the same is to be put up. Thus, it is a shared economy.
Besides, the communistic economy may not give an individual a say in design matters, let alone urban design matters. The government here has all the say in any matters of national interest. Thus, it is not easy to find extremes in such an economy. Rarely do you get individuals who are too rich and others who are too poor? Many designs are likely to be determined by the government and thus Persons have fewer options in design choices (Conrad, 2004).
The infrastructure plays a major role in the urbanization of major cities. The transport sector is thus of great importance to the political leaders of these cities and especially the mayors. Finding solutions to the problems related to transport should be accorded the highest priority by the mayor’s office. Transportation is directly related to environmental pollution and the mayor’s office should therefore find solutions to the environmental pollution caused by the transport sector in the city. The main form of pollution that needs to be addressed by the mayor in relation to transportation is air pollution. The strain caused by the ever-increasing number of automobiles in the city should be addressed. Transport–related problems that most affect the city’s environment are air pollution and traffic city. The infrastructure growth should not be allowed to take precedence over environmental concerns. Economic attractiveness, clean environment, and quality of citizens’ lives must be harmonized to drive the city’s growth (Park, 1987).
Governance/ Legislation
One of the main drivers in the context of the commercial property industry forces the property owners to adopt environmentally sustainable practices. In fact, that there are a number of large public authorities funds that are willing to invest their money in organizations that can show their credentials, in the environmental context. This organization invests about 10% of its portfolio on large Australian as well as international entities according to what they see about the company’s sustainable business strategies
Summary showing interaction of principles/ Elements
Most people tend to think that the primary importance of urban design is only aesthetic and economic. Such understanding is probably based on the confusion that has been made on biological diversity for biodiversity. With such notion, man is busy varying his ways of using land while thinking that changes in land use would result in more economic gain and aesthetic beauty. However, such understanding is misplaced since the value of biodiversity is not only determined by the number of species in a given habitat, but also by how these species interact with their physical environment. This implies that, the fundamental value of biodiversity is attached to an ecosystem more than on the species and therefore changes in land use for agriculture, urban sprawl, and infrastructure causes loss of biodiversity in various ways. For instance, urban sprawl exerts pressure on urban lifestyle thereby causing rise in consumption rate. Therefore, there is need for humanity to understand biodiversity as characteristic of nature that must be composed of genes, species, and ecosystem and not as nature for biodiversity to be conserved for sustainable development. Moreover, economic gain and globalization that are derived from biodiversity should be weighed against environmental destruction that occurs when the value of ecosystem is attached to economic substance.
Applications of Elements in Subiaco
The Tobacco’s transport system is independent of energy requirements in the town. There was an implemented, a strategic plan that reformed the Sobiaco’s transport system thus providing clean transport options and spurring energy independence. The transportation system of the city was made independent from oil, made more affordable with variety of options like trains, air, and automobiles. This ensured that the cross-section of the city was catered for by the services. Implementation of these changes was however challenged by factors such as; a larger percentage of the city dwellers would rather risk environmental pollution than experience slower growth rate due to reduced infrastructure advancement. The ever-rising number of automobiles may render environmentally friendly measures put in place ineffective. Legislations that recognize and promote the necessary reforms in the transportation sector of the city should be enacted.
Improved transport makes commuting to and from work easier thus encouraging people to live away from the city center (Parker, 2004). The transport areas that have improved to aid suburbanization are road, railways, and city commuter services (Wise, 2005).
Technological advances such as internet and broadband services have led to people being able to work at home and therefore they no longer need to live near the city center. By this, they avoid the traffic congestions and the cost of driving to work every day. Telecommunication services have led to the movement of industrial companies to the suburbs since they do not have to be at the city center to receive or dispatch mails, goods, or services to customers.
There is construction of affordable housing to woo low-income earners to the Sobiaco. Provision of services such as security and fire protection equal to the entire city community brings out the aspect of the policies of allocation. This theory also notes the differences in the structures of institutions at local and national levels. Services such as schooling in cities can be provided in standardized equitable form while suburbs can compete fairly with one another and offer different levels of services. Since few people are involved in local or city politics, small groups are at the periphery while the economically privileged group find their way into decision-making organs of the city.
The town has good transport system that allows free flow of automobiles with pavements for pedestrians. The suburban has well-designed shopping malls that have parking for shoppers. Near homes there are free town own spaces where children play as well as good medical centers for the people to use. These facilities should be considered by Maylands.
Facts about Maylands
Maylands is the city in the west of Australia. It succeeded in meriting our attention in this case study because it met all the conditions of how the principles of urban design operate. It is one of the industrialized countries with the relevant swarming populations experienced in the major cities of the world. Maylands has also experienced the challenges of the same populations. Such include development of slums and ghettos. The slums develop because of the high rate of the rural-urban-migration with people flying to the city in search of greener pastures. Many people are consequently rendered jobless and end up packed in the slums. The same abnormal populations also lead to insecurity. Insecurity comes about because of poverty and joblessness. These poor and jobless people end up seeking means of survival no matter whether safe or unsafe, legal or illegal. Such increases activities like robbery, syndicate gangs, rape and general dishonesty and unreliability. However, opposite every slum in every city there comes up a posh cozy suburb that acts as the exclusive preserve of the rich. Often this class of wealthy merchants often also constitutes the political elite. With such inequalities, it becomes possible for the rich to take advantage of the poor in terms of their cheap labor and poor working conditions. Overpopulation in the slums also causes high prevalence of diseases. In case of an outbreak of a contagious disease like cholera, many people end up losing lives due to inability to afford medication. These glaring realities are evident in Maylands, just like in many other major cities.
Another evident reality is high industrial activity. Normally the capitals carry the busiest of industries and factories in order to cater to the great needs of the enormous cities. Therefore, you could expect the best industries and highways developed with best main and feeder roads. Major international events have been held in Maylands.
The new houses in Maylands mean citizens of the Big City may move to Maylands where there are new houses.There is a likelihood of the population of the Big City dwindling as residents move to seek employment and better pay in Maylands. The level of tourism may decline in the other cities, as visitors will be attracted to the new Biotechnology Park in Maylands. Residents will flee to Maylands to seek better social amenities offered by the major development projects initiated in Maylands.
Elements of planning in Maylands
Social and economic planning takes place in Maylands to curtail uncontrolled urban growth, which eventually has many demerits than otherwise. That the process is inherently political, however, is not in doubt. The term is a blanket reference to the political structure and/or decisions upon which the socio-economic composition of Mayland. The ethnic-racial, religious, class and economic diversities within Maylands are many and should be considered in making decisions, their influence notwithstanding.
Political Influences on Maylands
Politics play a critical role in various governing process in Maylands based on the fact that it is composed of a group of people that make up a community. In most cases, it acts as a watchdog on how various government processes are made and implemented (Bardes, Shelley & Schmidt, 2009). Those who are involved in politics are assigned the responsibility of formulating policies that are deemed relevant in governing the town. This is based on the fact that all citizens and interest groups cannot get the opportunity to participate in the formulation and decision-making.
Efficiency and analyzing issues for proper resolution can only be attained if there is democracy (Saffell & Basehart, 2009). Transparent governance allows political actors with different opinions to unite on a binding issue. This provides room for an administrative and process-oriented system of governance. Political practice affects government processes by advocating their views on how to boost the country’s economy (Schmidt, Shelley & Bardes, 2008). Employing politics in such important activities prevents the government from making decisions in isolation. Politics therefore monitor the government to ensure that decisions are evaluated, processed, and represent the view of the general public (Bardes et al, 2009). Political actors often act as representatives of the general public. This implies that they evaluate how the government is organized at international, national, and local levels. This is meant for the overall well-being of the entire public
Cultural Influences on Government Process in Maylands
Cultural issues are very important in government processes based on the fact that they are what the society uses to distinguish, understand, and communicate with one another. This implies that the government needs to understand the attitudes, beliefs, and moral structures of her people for her to accommodate all the cultures that constitute it.
Culture provides the government with the opportunity to understand and appreciate its people for diversity within the nation. Through the cultural framework, the government gets an opportunity to provide meaningful life to its people (Schmidt, et al., 2008). It is also essential to the government when it comes to making changes. This is based on the fact that it is the only component of the human trait that is flexible and therefore can easily be altered to embrace policy changes.
Through cultural affiliations the government gets to know its origin. Functioning of the government processes is based on her people’s origin. For instance, a country that is composed of emigrants mostly functions well based on foreign ideologies. Therefore through cultural understanding, the government gets to understand appropriate policies that would apply to a specific group of people (Bardes et al, 2009).
Culture affects the formulation of laws with the government. These laws often apply to people based on their cultural affiliation. For instance, certain cultures have the attitude and beliefs of executing certain practices. Based on these beliefs, the government is able to intervene and protect these cultures against harassment.
Culture also provides the government with the opportunity to explore its own creative resources for economic gain. Most governments have benefited from the creative nature of culture. Human beings for instance, have constantly invented new ways through which they have managed to construct their own natural environment (Saffell & Basehart, 2009). One of such means is through the use of language. The government has utilized language to help people understand and conserve the world. Similarly, policies of development are largely dependent on languages that are shaped by culture.
Various interest groups who are linked to ethnicity have been instrumental in guiding the government in formulating civil liberties and rights (Bardes et al, 2009). For instance, African-American activist groups often lobby support for government programs that protect African-Americans. Similarly, groups that are associated with labor unions would constantly mount pressure on government to favor pro-labor movements.
Social Influences on Government Process in Maylands
Social concept deals with the social relationship that exists in society. Some social relationships are objective while others are subjective. The social contexts such as school and the family within which individuals are found provide guidelines on how to ensure cohesive co-existence. For instance, schools and overall government rehabilitation centers though are centers of instilling discipline, have varied rules and regulations (Saffell & Basehart, 2009).
Moreover, social contexts provide guidelines to the government on how to formulate and implement policies that can be used as guiding principles. Bardes et al, (2009) cite that this is based on the fact that various agents of socialization such as media dictate the type of information that the public receives. Various agents of socialization have the capacity to decide on what to disseminate to the general public based on their ratings. This makes it put the government into task of critically reviewing its policies and processes for them to find value in the social arena.
Social contexts have an opinion influence on government policies, decisions, legislature, and general management. These people first constitute the school and family who act as informal opinion leaders. The second category is composed of the formal opinion leaders who include the president, congress representatives, and religious leaders. These individuals often define political issues with an aim of redirecting discussion on policy issues to favor them.
Economic Influences on Government Process in Maylands
Economic concept revolves around finances. Finance can either impose positive or negative implications on government processes (Schmidt, et al., 2008). This is based on the fact that all processes that occur in government require finance right from their initiation to execution stage. Therefore all budgets made for any government process are at the mercy of economic status of nations (Friedman, 2000).
Programs, projects, policies, and all other government processes have to first draw their budget and present it to the treasury before they can take off. This implies that, government process can only be enacted based on the financial status of the treasury (Bardes et al, 2009). In an event of financial constrain, only processes that are deemed urgent and critical will get the first priority in terms of financial allocation.
In most cases financial pressures make the government be reluctant to initiate new ideas due to the fear that such processes might fail because of lack of finance. Moreover, some processes might also be delayed because of lack of finances to acquire relevant facilities that are required in the project (Saffell & Basehart, 2009). However, when a country’s economy is strong, various processes will be conceived and implemented. This is based on the fact that the government will manage to buy or higher the expertise and facilities which are required to execute such processes.
Economics also determines the operation of various policies which govern tariff rates and trade quotas (Saffell & Basehart, 2009). These concepts provide guidance on whether a country is viable for international trade or not. Similarly, economics examines the economic level of a nation thereby allowing it to enact policies addressing poverty, economic growth, and structural change (Ekin, 1987).
Conclusion
In conclusion, urban design is a process that has led to tremendous expansion of towns. Despite the many negative consequences of urbanization, it is wrong to assume that they outlay the positive results. With the rapid growth of towns, in both developed and developing countries the living standards of people have really improved. The applied anthropologist can really be of much help in urban planning if they fully concentrate on issues that affect the urban centers. Urbanization cannot be controlled but can be managed.
Recommendation
The mayor should initiate development projects to counter the effects of these developments in Maylands. Housing should therefore be improved and new residential areas set up to woo people into the city. Social services such as recreation parks need to be improved to retain and attract tourists. In general, projects to improve the quality of life in the City have to be initiated. Such developments will enable the mayor to score highly in the eye of the public and improve his chances of re-election. However, there will be need for extra expenditure to finance these projects. More revenues will have to be solicited for by means that may not endear the mayor to the people. Increasing taxes and fines on offenses are some of these means. Increasing taxes may not auger well with the citizens leading them to vote out the mayor.
The supply of water and electricity should be improved as well as the time is taken to approve plan of building by the town planner. If Maylands wants to attract more people, it should check thoroughly beforehand whether there is proper availability of proper housing and type of houses they have and whether the there is enough security. The planner should also consider the offering services such as working street lights to improve services to the people.
Residents should be enlisted to take charge of powerful institutions in their neighborhoods. The residents should be involved in determination of goals and objectives and implementation of programs in a participatory manner to help improve suburb infrastructure. This may have a sole aim of providing better housing or rebuilding a collapsed school or hospital.
The mayor should focus on strengthening the capacity of residents, their associations, and their ability to work together to improve services. They should also focus on fostering and sustaining neighborhood change in Maylands. Residents’ involvement is also strengthened since it depends on the relationship amongst the residents.
Reference List
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