A Quick and Dirty Urban Design Methodology

Tom Bosschaert
 I. Analysis of Problem
II. Synthesis
III. Solution Development
IV. Evaluation of Solution

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem
II. Synthesis
III. Solution Development
IV. Evaluation of Solution

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem
II. Synthesis
III. Solution Development
IV. Evaluation of Solution

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem

Map client & involved parties

Develop design goal (problem formulation)
List of (testable) requirements
Site & Literature research
Research on different scales (national, regional, local)

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem
Traffic oriented approach
Client = Developer
Site south-east of center

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem

Design goal:
To create a new development on the site that, besides a livable
and commercially viable development, will reduce traffic and
related pollution issues of the city of Boston.

Requirements:
I. Design livable development (quantify?)
II. Design Economically viable development
III. Reduce traffic use around area and city of Boston by a sizeable amount (%?)
IV. Reduce pollution on the site compared to standard development by x%

An Urban Design Methodology

 I. Analysis of Problem
Energy Usage Per Capita

8
Tonnes of Oil Per Person Per Year

USA
USA Japan UK Austria Italy

8.3 Tonnes of Oil

Per Person Per Year
Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem

50%
19% Employed 70%
50% Cars Cars
Employed

Boston
Tokyo 0.5 Mil
12.4 Mil

8.300 TOPPPY

70%
Energy
Density

4.400 p/km2

Car
of people in Boston own a

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 I. Analysis of Problem

000 Jobs
2 40 .
0 Inhbit
00

an
27.

ts
Boston
y
da
p/
s
ist
ur
To

00
0
0.
Center
10

ay
p/d
s
ter
mu
om
0C
00

0.
24

Boston City main traffic flow

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis

Synthesise research into understandable and usable data

Compiling, visualizing & correlating data
Research backgrounds on individual and combined issues
Apply synthesized data to problem and investigate related issues
Research similar issues & solutions around the world
Define areas for design development

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Synthesise research into understandable and usable data
Compiling, visualizing & correlating data
Research backgrounds on individual and combined issues
Required Land
Massachusetts Energy Usage

Energy Distribution
Crop Land

Boston
World US Massachusetts

Required
70%
Existing

30% - Residential
15% 3.2%
30%
18%
21%
17%
21%

17%
36%
29% - Traffic
29%

Residential

World

US
17%
Decrease Residential Now
40%
2050
51%

& Traffic Energy

W to
or l tm
dP . 0 00
ower 00
Usage 10.0

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Synthesise research into understandable and usable data
Compiling, visualizing & correlating data
Research backgrounds on individual and combined issues

Energy and Land Usage

50%
50% 19% Employed 70%
50% 30% 30% 50% Cars 50% Cars Cars
60%
Employed Cars Cars Employed Employed
Employed

Boston
London Amsterdam Barcelona Tokyo 0.5 Mil
7.1 Mil 1.1 Mil 1.6 Mil 12.4 Mil

Energy & Density

No need for cars

Residential Energy down Density UP

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Apply synthesized data to problem and investigate related issues
0 .0 00 Job
2 4 s
Commuter Flux 00
Inhbit

an
27.0

ts
y
da
p/
s
ist
ur
To
00
0
0.
10

0 Inhbit
0

17.5

an
ts
ay
p/d
s
ter
mu
om po
tential
0C
00

0.
24

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Synthesise research into understandable and usable data
Research backgrounds on individual and combined issues

Density & Energy

Dissatisfaction

Energy

Density

17.000 inh/km 2

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Research similar issues & solutions around the world
Commute by Bike:

38% 2%
20%
Cars

32% 58%
Commute Commute

70%
Cars

50% 50%
65% Employed 65% Employed
Jobs Jobs

Copenhagen Boston
0.5 Mil 0.5 Mil

8000 pp/km2 8.34 TBO

8 TBO

5600 pp/km2
4000 pp/km2 4600 pp/km2
4 TBO
3.64 TBO

Population Energy Population Energy

Density Usage Density Usage

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Research similar issues & solutions around the world

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Research similar issues & solutions around the world
20%
Cars

32%
Commute

50%
65% Employed
Jobs

Copenhagen
0.5 Mil

8000 pp/km2
8 TBO

5600 pp/km2
4000 pp/km2
4 TBO
3.64 TBO

Population Energy
Density Usage

Copenhagen
Copenhagen City Center

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Research similar issues & solutions around the world

Pedestrian Policy
7%
Cars

40%
Employed
60%
Jobs

Antwerp
0.5 Mil

Antwerp
Antwerp City Center

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 II. Synthesis Define areas for design development

Reduce daily traffic flux by providing high density residential

Promote work at home and live/work buildings
Pedestrianize (car-less) and promote public transport
Extend subway network
Create partial self-sustainable region

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development
Develop ideas that address all listed issues
Rinse & Repeat several times
Combine best ideas
Go to evaluation stage & redo process
Woo client

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development
Program Shift
Residential 46%

Given
Offices 26%

Retail 15%

Hotel 11%

Proposed

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development

High density Reclaim road space:

- Reduction of roads

- Buildings Over Roads

Space Gained:

150.000 ft 2

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development

High density
Green Rooves

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development

High density
Green Rooves
Car-less development
Autodate

Access Control

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 III. Solution Development

High density
Green Rooves
Car-less development
Self-sufficiency
Public Transportation extensions

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 IV. Solution Evaluation

Test combined solutions against stated goal & requirements

Effect

Effect

Effect
Cost

Cost

Cost
Solution A Solution B Solution C

Boston City
An Urban Design Methodology
 IV. Solution Evaluation

There is never just one approach, or solution. Keep thinking.

Largest savings made early in the process (size, program, etc)
Maximize your territory and expand the designs influence
Proper Research = Proper Solutions, Bad Research = Flying Blind
A solution for one place is often not effective somewhere else
Reduction of energy use before sustainable energy generation
Work within economic realities and use them to your advantage
Politicians are your best friend. Unfortunately.

Foundations of a design approach

An Urban Design Methodology