Urban Form & Characteristics (AQA A Level Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Factors in Urban Forms
Urban form is the physical characteristics of a city, and considers:
Size
Shape
Population density
Land-use patterns
Early urban areas were established in particular places because:
Access to natural resources - wood, stone and water supplies (drinking and fishing etc.)
Fertile soil for food production
Defensible - on top of hill etc.
Over time, the urban form changed to centres of production, trade and commerce influenced by physical and human factors
Physical |
Topography - Physical features influence growth of cities - steep slopes can be difficult to build on but provide excellent views and exclusivity (Hollywood etc.) or segregation for poorer housing (slums of Mexico City). Vast, flat plains encourages low density building due to space. Resources - Lakes, rivers and seas limits urban growth (Chicago, Southampton etc.) or encourages growth along its course and coast (London, Los Angeles etc.). City cores (retail and business) are centred around the waterfront and ports, rather than centralised (Liverpool, Cardiff, and Toronto). Natural resources lead to production and growth of urban areas - coal (Cardiff), wood (Chicago), steel (Sheffield) Ground type - Some types of land are easier to build on than others. Chicago is built on swampland and was raised above the ground, allowing expansion and growth. Venice is also built on swampland, but canals are used as roads and growth is limited. |
|---|---|
Human | Planning - Can be planned or unplanned. Many LDE cities expand due to informal settlements (slums) such as Mumbai or Mexico City, whereas, London or Singapore are very much planned to include open spaces, leisure facilities and infrastructure. Planning is needed to manage population increase along with their needs and demands for mobility and housing. Governments can block or encourage development and political policies influence success or failure of the urban form. Infrastructure - Rise in technology requires electronic infrastructure and work hubs in centres or science parks on urban fringes. New developments follow access routes (motorways etc.) but also form linear growth as a result (Southampton). Value of land - Urban cores usually have the highest land value and are considered the most profitable by retail and the food industry. Land value decreases outwards due to availability of space for development. However, 'shocks' in the economy (pandemics, recession, outward migration etc.) can change the desirability and therefore, the land value of urban areas. |
Characteristics of Mega/World Cities
Megacities have rapid growth and slow planning systems, creating a chaotic urban form
The form varies from city to city over time and space, but there are some generalisations:
Urban sprawl and fringe developments
High density living
Segregation
Automotive bias - car, lorries and roads etc.
Environmental issues
Ageing infrastructure
Redevelopment and renewal
Urban intensification - high rise buildings
Contrast Between HDE and LDE Megacities
Characteristic | HDE | LDE |
|---|---|---|
CBD | Central zone of retail, businesses and entertainment | Central zone of shops, businesses and entertainment |
Land Value | High in city centre and decreases with distance | High in city centre and decreases with distance |
Housing | Housing value increases with distance from the centre Housing is high density, high rise, with wages unable to keep up with rents and costs Many areas of poverty, segregation and ethnic minorities Whilst land value is lower in rural and semi-rural areas, houses are usually well spaced, larger, newer and more expensive. This attracts families, the wealthy and high wage earners, keeping areas exclusive and high priced. Housing estates are constructed with higher density living but with gardens and good access routes. Prices are still high, but can be more affordable than closer to inner city | Housing value decreases with distance Housing is high density, but there is also high cost, luxury housing to accommodate wealthy immigrants and business executives There are usually zones of medium-cost housing which may have begun as informal but gradually been improved through government planning and grants Low-cost housing on outskirts/fringes of the city with informal housing and limited (if any) access to services - water and power Poverty, informal employment with low-wages are common. Poorer migrants tend to settle here |
Urban Fringe | Science parks, retail parks, super and hypermarkets along with light industry are constructed here. Land is cheaper and has good access to other parts of the country | Industrial areas are built along transport links and centred around informal settlements to attract high turn over of cheap labour |
Different Urban Forms
Urban Form Characteristics
Urban Form | Background | Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
Pre-Industrial | Unaffected by industrial development Lower socio-economic groups surround the urban elite | Centre is dominated by historic buildings with elite residential zones Delineation between residential and commercial districts is blurred |
Industrial Cities | Similar activities and people are grouped together Clear pathway of building arrangement due to land value decrease from centre to periphery | CBD is central Zoning of housing and industry Manufacturing based industry |
Post-Industrial | Urban mosaic Many smaller zones and no central CBD Social polarisation | Multi-nodal structure CBD is less dominant Service sector dominant |
Automotive Bias | Public transport development is integral in planning between housing and transport hubs Suburbanisation increased decentralisation from the 1950s along with increased road use | Major road networks Housing centred around rail and bus routes Movement of industry and retail to fringes |
African Cities | Grown from colonial past with little industrialisation Rapid growth recently has forced changes to older established zones and peripheral growth Lack of resources and planning, urban form is chaotic | Political, cultural and historic dominant CBD Industry is centred around transport routes Middle class housing on periphery with good road networks Marginal land is dominate by informal housing |
Socialist Cities | Based on a classless ideology of everyone lives in the same type of housing regardless of location, wealth and employment Block housing is provided near to employment and services CBD is administrative and politically dominant | CBD is imposing with prestigious buildings, central squares and police presence Homogenous blocks of high-rise flats Neighbourhoods have low order, local services Districts see high order good services and entertainment |
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