Urban design has become an indispensable part of our lives with accelerated urbanization and increasing population. The tendency to shape the environment we live in has been seen for ages when we see the traces of collective life. However, people carried out these actions instinctively rather than consciously. The most common method used in the planning of cities is naturally trial and error.
The data we have today saves us from resorting to trial and error while taking design steps. With our sociological orientations, detailed satellite images, density analysis, and simulation facilities, we can now say that we have taken much more decisive urban design steps. Still, the design of a city, like any initiative, can result in a major fiasco. Therefore, we will try to list some of the basic principles of urban design in this article.
Future Approaches
Nowadays, residents of some old and big cities often talk about the lack of sewage systems. However, this situation is not seen in some equally ancient towns. It is essential to predict the future when designing cities that have been living spaces that have been actively used for ages. And it is clear that in the cities with the above infrastructure problems, the urban design plans do not see far enough.
Urban design has to think and shape not only the present but also the future. Studies such as population infographics and energy use estimate guide urban design at this point. Otherwise, the implementations will remain only as modifications implemented to save the day.
Energy Efficiency
Successful urban design should make energy efficiency one of its most important issues. In this age where we live with the reality of global warming, using the energy we have most efficiently is a way to secure ourselves and our debt to future generations. Therefore, today’s urban designers should turn to clean energy systems. Likewise, the entire infrastructure should be designed with energy efficiency in mind.
Community Actions
Urban design must reflect the values of the society it addresses and respect the life of the community. It is unrealistic to think that these habits of organizations that have acquired certain practices with the influence of culture for centuries will only change with design. Even examples of urban design that did not adopt these city dwellers’ habits throughout history are unsuccessful.
Easy Access
For the urban design plan to work in real life, people must have easy access to their basic needs. In this sense, attributing functions to specific regions and causing grouping in them is an outdated approach.
For example, gathering all shopping areas in the city center will prevent city dwellers staying outside from quickly accessing their needs. At the same time, there will be constant congestion in the space reserved for shopping. This accumulation may cause some security problems in that region, as well as increase energy use.
Urban design has to provide every inhabitant of the city with access to basic needs within a short distance.