Thesis: Urban Rural
Not being a native city dweller, the relationship between the city and the countryside is one I am curious about. There has always existed a strong culture of 'escaping' to the countryside in the UK, especially felt in the dense cities, London being a fine example. Letchworth, Hampstead, Welwyn are all examples of the city's attempts to move outwards, and the Green belt was the buffer, existing as a means of controlling the sprawl of the city, partially due to cheaper land and hence house prices, but also because of the better 'quality of life' that one connects with the open land and 'fresh air', though traditionally the countryside was a place for making a living, agriculture, where the workers longed to get to the Big City of light and attractions.
What seems to be the newer trend is the idea of 'bringing the countryside into the city', even the London Plan mentions it. The mayors great spaces presentation day gave some examples of current boroughs following the trend: Sutton, Barking...
In most of my essays this term I have focused on the history of garden cities, and how they affect the way in which we still feel the need for expanses of open space in the city. Take, for example how the whole of the northern area of the Olympic park will be converted into housing within a vast park, complete with river side knolls.
Why do we crave these open spaces? Density of built space plays a key part. Data and how they calculate this. What does this mean in more human terms? A lot to do with how we perceive the space, as being open, being grassy, being natural and rugged.
The more one tries to characterise either, the less clear the definition of both are. How do we distinguish urban from rural? Classifications of land uses are complex, as they are for open land, there is even a figure and methodology for reaching it for Urban and Rural: Rural/Urban Definition and LA Classification.
If we must, how do we, as architects and urban planners, incorporating the country into the city without it seeming a token gesture?
Not being a native city dweller, the relationship between the city and the countryside is one I am curious about. There has always existed a strong culture of 'escaping' to the countryside in the UK, especially felt in the dense cities, London being a fine example. Letchworth, Hampstead, Welwyn are all examples of the city's attempts to move outwards, and the Green belt was the buffer, existing as a means of controlling the sprawl of the city, partially due to cheaper land and hence house prices, but also because of the better 'quality of life' that one connects with the open land and 'fresh air', though traditionally the countryside was a place for making a living, agriculture, where the workers longed to get to the Big City of light and attractions.
What seems to be the newer trend is the idea of 'bringing the countryside into the city', even the London Plan mentions it. The mayors great spaces presentation day gave some examples of current boroughs following the trend: Sutton, Barking...
In most of my essays this term I have focused on the history of garden cities, and how they affect the way in which we still feel the need for expanses of open space in the city. Take, for example how the whole of the northern area of the Olympic park will be converted into housing within a vast park, complete with river side knolls.
Why do we crave these open spaces? Density of built space plays a key part. Data and how they calculate this. What does this mean in more human terms? A lot to do with how we perceive the space, as being open, being grassy, being natural and rugged.
The more one tries to characterise either, the less clear the definition of both are. How do we distinguish urban from rural? Classifications of land uses are complex, as they are for open land, there is even a figure and methodology for reaching it for Urban and Rural: Rural/Urban Definition and LA Classification.
If we must, how do we, as architects and urban planners, incorporating the country into the city without it seeming a token gesture?
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