Modern City Planning - Report Example

Cause: Modern Planning Introduction The idea of modern planning s back to 1850s when concerns arose from the disorder that resulted from the industrial revolution that was taken place by then. United Nations Human Settlements Programme reports that, before then, urban planning was not taken with a lot of seriousness since the population was not a huge as it is today (3). In addition, industries had not sprawled to the level it is today, which means that there were few vehicles, which could not cause traffic jams within the cities. However, since the mid 19th century, architects realized that as the population continued to expand, more people would be drawn to the cities, more commercial houses had been developed, industries built and more vehicles plied the city. With more vehicle traffick came a lot of traffic jams. Planning from then onwards had to factor in such contingencies as eminent in many cities around the world today. Some of the urban cities that were developed based on the modern urban planning strategies and principles include the city plan of Chicago (1909), the Linear city (1930), the Original extension of Barcelona (1859-1860), the renovation of Paris (1853-1867), the Magnitogorsk (1930) and Ville Radieuse (1933) just to name but a few. This paper will discuss the key concepts, ideologies, and physical principles employed in the city plan for Chicago (1909), Linear city (1909) and Frankfurt (1927-1928). It will also compare and contrast the three urban, cities planning ideologies, concepts and physical principles. Daniel Burnham, City Plan for Chicago (1909). The Plan of Chicago is among the most famous and documented modern urban, city plans that factored in the modern concepts, ideologies, and physical principles. The plan is famously known as the Burnham Plan after its founding author Daniel H. Burnham. Burnham’s idea was to design a city that is beautiful that factor in the needs and aspirations of Chicagoans. As a result, he designed the city consisting of parks and wide avenues to ease the traffic flow and movement of people within the town. The design of the avenue is said to resemble the French Baroque tradition. It is also reported that the city was planned based on the principle of streets, parks, and buildings by putting in place an effective transport system that promotes ease traffic flow in the city and ensuring that there are enough parks used for recreation for the people of Chicagoans (Smith 11). In Burnham’s endeavor to ensure that the city is beautiful and cater for the needs of its people, he undertook the initiative of making improvements to the lakefront through reclamation. Burnham was of the opinion that the lakefront belongs to the public as seen in his documentation. His ideology leads the expansion of the park located along the lake. This offers a good environment for public recreation to the Chicagoan residents. In addition, the plan also led to the expansion of the harbor facilities along the lake (Smith 13). The planning was also based on the principle of regional highway system, which gave way for the expansion of the city center, estimated at approximately 120 km. The planning of the city also involved improving the railway terminals to ease transport of commuters and transit of goods from and into the city. What is evident in the plan was the consolidation of the six intercity railway terminuses within the city. It is noted the consolidation of the railroads contributed to the business expansion in other districts within the state (Smith 13). The concept also involved systematic arrangement of Chicago streets with the aim of easing traffic movement within the town. It is reported that Burnham had foreseen the possibility of population increase in the town, which would most likely result in an increase, of vehicles within the town. As such, he documented a plan that considers that ensure the streets are systematically arranged to help ease traffic. The plan recommended the expansion certain major roads within the city such as Michigan avenues, Roosevelt Congress Parkway, and Wacker Drive. These programs certainly helped ease traffic congestion in Chicago city more than before (Smith 15). Ernst May, Siedlung Römerstadt, Frankfurt (1927–1928). Frankfurt is a Germany that is also widely documented as having been transformed through modern city planning. The city is one among those which were destroyed during world war one. As such, in order to bring it back to its glory and beauty, Landman, the mayor of the town in the 1920s picked architect Ernst May and Siedlung Römerstadt to do the planning of the city (Mullin 3). Before his appointment as the planner architect of Frankfurt, May was a great admirer of Theodor Fischer, the architect who designed military cemeteries. May’s concept in planning the city was based on the concept aimed at stimulating and establishing a social environment. In this regard, May’s concept was aimed at making Frankfurt a beautiful city that mirrors the needs of the residents of Frankfurt instead of their attitudes. As a result, he employed the concept of living, commonly known as wohnkultur. This refers to a people concept and not a democratic approach, which other used in their planning (Mullin 7). Due to his admiration of Fishers architectural works, most of the concepts he used in planning of the Frankfurt were borrowed from Fisher. In this regard, he designed in a spacious manner that allows for adequate sunlight, gardening, and airflow. He accomplished this by ensuring that the town is spacious with enough streets that allow for enough light and air in the city. He also ensured that there are enough parks for recreation to resident of Frankfurt. However, since the city center could not cutter for all the needs of the community, May and his colleagues decided to construct schools, community centers, churches, shops, gardens, playing ground and working places. In addition, he ensured that there is enough space for lawyers, artisans, and medical professionals (Mullin 8). Ildefons Cerda, Original Extension Plan for Barcelona (1859–1860). Barcelona is notable one of the most beautiful and eye-catching cities in the world attracting large pool of tourists from all over the world. However, its beauty came into being after the great extension master plan by Ildefons Cerda, which began in 1960s. One of his plans was to ensure that the streets are adequately extended to be at least 35 meters so as to reduce the traffic jams in the city. To ensure that the plan is effectively implemented, Cerda proposed the establishment of a private enterprise of private owners of the land adjacent to the city to allow for the extension plan (Aibar and Bijker 7). Carda applied the concept of hierarchy against regularity in which ensured straight streets spread in a standard geometrical grid with a 90-degree intersection. As a result, all the blocks in the city were to be octagon in share as evident to date. Carda reportedly used regular distribution pattern so as to avoid privileged building zones. In addition, his hierarchal extension plan involved extension from Passeig de Gracia’s axis to create leisure space for people in the city Aibar and Bijker 7). What is evident in all the three city planning is that the concept was aimed at decongesting the cities so as to ease the flow of traffic by ensuring that buildings are spaciously built, streets are widened, and pedestrian paths are constructed within the city. In addition, the three city plans were based on the idea of establishing parks where residents can take leisure. Nevertheless, some differences were also evident from especially regarding the physical principle. For instance, the planning of Frankfurt was mainly based on creating a city that reflects the needs of the residents (Mullin 7). In this case, may and his colleague ensured that there schools, hospitals, community facilities, parks, churches and shops among others. This ensured that the community not only benefit from the ease of traffic congestions but also from the social facilities. This is different from the principles applied in the planning of the city of Chicago and the extension of Barcelona in which the main principle was to ensure enough space exists to ease congestion and offer recreational grounds. Conclusion It is apparent that the modern city planning has transformed the physical and feel of cities around the globe. This is because it has helped decongest cities, which has eased the flow of traffic in the cities. In addition, it has remarkably helped in ensuring that there are enough social amenities such as hospitals, churches, parks, and community centers in the city as is evident in the city of Chicago, Frankfurt and Barcelona. Work Cited Aibar, Eduardo & Bijker, Wiebe. Constructing a City: The Cerda Plan for the Extension of Barcelona. Technology, & Human Values, Vol. 22, No. 1, 1997, pp. 3-30. Mullin, John R. City Planning in Frankfurt Germany, 1925-1932: A Study in Practical Utopianism: Journal of Urban History, Michigan State University. Vol. 4, No. 1, November 1997. Pp.3-27. Smith, Carl. The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2006 Print. United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Global Repot on Human Settlements: Planning Sustainable Cities. 2009. Pp. 2-11. Read More