In class this
week we talked about urban forms. Urban areas are more like continuums where they
contain diverse areas such as rural, villages, towns, secondary cities and
larger cities. As a result of the diverse areas, there is a bid rent curve. This
curve shows that as the distant from the inner city increases, the rent or cost
for housing decreases. Since you are further away from the city, you are able
to get more land as well. Having cheaper prices or lower rent and more land is
a trade off from being in the accessible location. Studies have shown that
mostly retail stores are located in the inner city, followed by industry or commercial,
then apartments, and finally single homes.
There is also a
Zone of Concentric Model that contains 5different zones. Zone 1 is CBD which is
mainly commercial, social and business hubs; Zone 2 is factories where there
are manufacturing and distribution operations close to CBD and labor pools; Zone
3 and 4 are transition and working class zones; and Zone 5 is the commuter
zone.
We
also talked about ecology, more specifically, urban ecology. Urban ecology is a
subfield of ecology which deals with the interactions of plants, animals and
humans with each other and with their environment in urban or urbanizing
settings. By looking at the relations between plants, animals and humans, we
hope to create healthier and better managed communities.
I think the second chart you posted is quite interesting because it looks like a finite design. It's pretty indicative of how much the structure of cities has changed over time. If Chicago was constructed the way it is in your second design, it would be flooded with traffic, congestion, and it would be an all around inconvenient area to reside in. But, as our cities have changed over time, the downtown (loop) areas have moved from just presiding in the center of the city to off to the left, right, and below the core. These subcenters decrease congestion and make transportation more efficient.....
ReplyDeleteIt makes sense that as one moves out from the city-center the amount of land increases and the cost of living decreases; it's just a matter of how close or far away one wants to be from the amenities that a city has to offer. If your business, school or family members live within the city, then it would probably make more sense for that person to sacrifice a big house in the suburbs for an apartment in the city close to the things that s/he need and want. It is also important for people to think about their interactions and relationships with the environment and what sort of impact they want or are willing to make on the earth. With respect to living out of the city-center there is concern over the effects of car emissions and use of fossil fuels, but when people live within the city-center there is congestion and crowds of people to deal with.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting how these models prove the theory behind the poverty trap. How is one impoverished being, with a lack of transportation to and from the city, able to (a) move outside the city limits where transportation is minimal (in the US) and (b) afford to live in the city center or around such center? Where do these models leave the poor?
ReplyDeleteThe first chart is so true. When you look at houses in New York, cost of houses decreases rapidly as you move out farther from New York city. Before you go into Manhattan, there are many factories, too.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to know that in 1920 Chicago is in this kind of loop model. However, as time goes, when the city is developing, people definitely will find out that this is not a very good model. Due to the expander of downtown, every zone will be influenced. Personally, I think this kind of model will finally be changed.
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