Practising the Science of Urban Form

Urban Morphology

A very broad conceptual diagram of the epistemology of the field of urban morphology is provided as a first step to illustrating the potential connections between different schools of thought. A study of the methods of generating knowledge in this field shows that there are many conceptual and methodological practices that are shared. This shared epistemology can become a basis for comparing the kinds of theories and knowledge generated by different schools of thought. The methods used, the bases for judging their validity, and the scope of enquiries are considered. A systematic definition of the elements that morphologists use for their interpretations is proposed.

Urban Morphology, 2015

A very broad conceptual diagram of the epistemology of the field of urban morphology is provided as a first step to illustrating the potential connections between different schools of thought. A study of the methods of generating knowledge in this field shows that there are many conceptual and methodological practices that are shared. This shared epistemology can become a basis for comparing the kinds of theories and knowledge generated by different schools of thought. The methods used, the bases for judging their validity, and the scope of enquiries are considered. A systematic definition of the elements that morphologists use for their interpretations is proposed.

2015

Rapid urban population is widely known as the main inducement of growing cities in terms of quantity and variety in form. However, the city expansion entails physical challenges and it has profound impacts on the issue of urban morphology. It raises global awareness beyond the urbanism and includes sociology, psychology, economics as well as environmental studies due to the implications of broadness. The accentuation on morphological studies is on the grounds of fabric segregation in cities of developing countries where the patterns of modern developments are usually not in good agreement with traditional part. Causing several concerns, it urges morphological studies to attain urban fabric integrity. Therefore, this research aims to study morphology in respect to the form and subsequently proposes a framework of to-be-investigated indices. This study looks for identifying modules and excerpts of traditional core of cities in order to be fostered in future development and to make ach...

function as neighbourhood centres and identifying routes and pathways immediately around them that seem to have poor connectivity; and examining clusters of activity spaces or other places that should have a high degree of interconnection.

Iconarp International J. of Architecture and Planning

This paper provides a comprehensive review of the research field of urban morphology: the study of urban form. Urban morphology is a growing field of cross-disciplinary research, attracting worldwide interest among scholars in architecture, geography and planning. It aims to decipher the physical form, the urban landscape or townscape of complex contemporary cities. This paper discusses the evolution of urban morphology, from its conceptual foundations in research on the physical form of urban areas. Interestingly, the roots of urban morphology can be traced back to different disciplines in different countries. This discussion will cast light on various research perspectives of urban morphology, as well as discussing similarities and differences between the geographical and the architectural approaches to urban form studies. This is followed by a closer look at the theories developed by Gianfranco Caniggia and MRG Conzen. Their work has been an inspiration for many practitioners and researchers, including Whitehand, Maffei, and Moudon to name a few. Finally, a schematic diagram is presented, which reflects the heightened activity of research on physical form that is currently occurring in several disciplines simultaneously, and showing the relationships between research traditions and authors. As the formation and development of the urban landscape becomes ever more diverse, it is necessary to revisit and use

2024

Urban Compendium collects interesting texts on urban morphology, provides a theoretical summary, and then applies this knowledge through direct experimentation on specific cases study. The compendium offers fundamental insights into urban development and clarifies the interconnections among various segments of urban settlements. The pamphlet is organized into two sections. The first is theoretical, aimed at providing insights into urban morphology by exploring different viewpoints to understand its complexity. The second section focuses on Swedish cities along the Bothnia Gulf, including Haparanda, Luleå, Piteå, and Skellefteå. These cities are analyzed as case studies to apply urban morphology concepts such as historical development, figure-ground analysis, tissue study, examination of public spaces, and the landscape of production. The exercises aim to dissect the influences shaping these cities and to offer an initial understanding of the patterns that define the Swedish coastal Arctic region.

2023

This article provides a comprehensive review of urban morphology schools, with a focus on the English, Italian, and French schools of thought. The analysis follows standard academic methods, identifying central themes and important considerations while integrating current insights and knowledge in the field. By presenting a transparent and systematic study aligned with academic standards, this article contributes to the expansion of knowledge in urban morphology and provides a clear framework for future research. The English School, rooted in the work of Otto Schluter and popularized by MRG Conzen, emphasizes the study of the urban landscape and its impact on the city-making process. The Italian School, pioneered by Saverio Muratori and Gianfranco Caniggia, focuses on the morphology of existing cities and the relationship between buildings and urban form. The French School, founded by Philippe Panerai, Jean Castex, and Jean Charles Depaule, combines design theory and city-building theory, incorporating ideas from sociologists and architectural historians. The article highlights the contributions of these schools and their relevance in understanding urban from analysis. Finally, a comparison is made among these schools, along with providing criticism to enhance our understanding of them.

Michael Conzen's keynote address at last year's ISUF conference in Delft triggered a vibrant discussion on what urban morphology is about. The trigger was the definition of urban morphology that Conzen gave in his address: 'urban morphology is the study of the built form of cities, and it seeks to explain the layout and spatial composition of urban structures and open spaces, their material character and symbolic meaning, in light of the forces that have created, expanded, diversified, and transformed them' (Conzen, 2012). That urban morphology deals with the built form of cities is probably an acceptable starting point for most purposes within the discipline, but such a statement should not be misunderstood as circumscribing the proper scientific object of urban morphology. What urban morphology strives to disclose is not the built form of cities as such, but the 'genesis' or 'engendering process' of this form. Yet there is a puzzle in the claim that urban morphology is concerned with 'morphogenetic processes' when the built form of cities is generally considered to be the result of human agency. This is the crux of the matter. Does the shaping process of cities include both human agency and a kind of causal (or structural) determinism, which remains to be explained? If so, urban design could no longer be considered as an expression of 'free will' but should be explored as a transaction with a range of 'natural laws' of which at present we fail to be fully aware. If it is the business of some more general study such as urban history or urban geography to understand the whole interaction of human agency and morphogenetic processes, we suggest that it is the task of urban morphology to specialize in the analysis of morphogenetic processes. In so doing, urban morphology would assume the role of an auxiliary discipline to urban history or geography. It would not tell us the whole story about the ways in which cities became what they are, but it would shed very specific light on some structural conditions for the creation and transformation of built forms.

The Urban Book Series, 2018

Aims and Scope The Urban Book Series is a resource for urban studies and geography research worldwide. It provides a unique and innovative resource for the latest developments in the field, nurturing a comprehensive and encompassing publication venue for urban studies, urban geography, planning and regional development. The series publishes peer-reviewed volumes related to urbanization, sustainability, urban environments, sustainable urbanism, governance, globalization, urban and sustainable development, spatial and area studies, urban management, urban infrastructure, urban dynamics, green cities and urban landscapes. It also invites research which documents urbanization processes and urban dynamics on a national, regional and local level, welcoming case studies, as well as comparative and applied research. The series will appeal to urbanists, geographers, planners, engineers, architects, policy makers, and to all of those interested in a wide-ranging overview of contemporary urban studies and innovations in the field. It accepts monographs, edited volumes and textbooks.