Summary of the Article about Theories of Urban Design - Essay Example

Perhaps the biggest challenge to architects, urban planners, and landscape architects is to redesign these lost spaces to cohere with the environment and promote social relationships.

There are various causes for cities have lost space. The most difficult to tackle is the increased dependence on automobiles. Streets are no longer for pedestrian use (Trancik, 1986). Residents do not care to admire communal areas such as parks anymore. Another cause is the attitude brought by the Modern Movement. Elevators and technology caused high-rise buildings to discourage people to engage in a communal existence centered on the street. Also, due to zoning, buildings were constructed considering the only function and ignoring human behavior.

The privatization of public places does not help. Buildings are designed to attract attention without taking into account the spaces around them. Due to this general disregard for the appearance of the city as a whole, minimal investments are reserved for public places (Trancik, 1986). Changes in land use endlessly produce wasted spaces such as vacated buildings, abandoned properties, and obsolete facilities. Probably the biggest dilemma causing lost spaces is the reluctance and lack of ability to control the physical structure of the city.

Lost space disrupts the overall continuity of city form. These spaces are inexpensive and are centrally located giving them enormous potential for redevelopment. Redesigning lost space will generate social benefits which impact more than just economic gain. Rules must be set taking into consideration historic patterns and the evolution of modern space. Understanding and skills have to be developed so that future constructions would better support societal interactions.