MOHAMED SATHAK A. J.

ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

------------------------- URBAN DESIGN – STUDY – CHECKLIST FOR STUDY AND ANALYSIS ----------------------

On A Broader Scale - Urban design study attributes include:

Macro Level: Image of the City

• Natural setting • Axial planning • Urban pattern and form• Ridgelines • Gateways • Infrastructure
• Functional districts• Conservation • Land use and activities • District character and amenities
Intermediate Level: Buildings and Space
• Composition • Massing and heights • Design and architecture • Landmarks • Urban place and city
squares • Open space and parks • Streets and street pattern • Sidewalks and pedestrian • View corridors
linkages • Connectivity and integration
Micro Level: User Environment
• Human scale • Transition • Harmony • Streetscape • Street furnishing • Advertisements and signage
• Materials, colour, and textures

In detail For Study of the selected zone: Look for

1. History, Evolution and Heritage (if any)
a. Study of its built and natural Heritage, and their inter-relationship.
b. Understanding the node structure and its evolution.
c. Study of the node morphology
i. Evolution
ii. Timeline
iii. Growth pattern(with reasons)
iv. Nodal developments
v. Landmarks
vi. Hierarchy of developments
2. Node Profile - Culture & Context
a. Socio-Cultural profile of the selected area
b. Economic Profile, Incl. Production Activities, Tourism and Other Major Services.
c. Cultural practices and their relation with Urban Pattern/ Built Forms/ Public Spaces.
i. Religion/People/Occupation/Lifestyle
ii. Demography/economy
iii. Land use => goals
 Building – Commercial/Public/Private/Semipublic/Residential/Institutional/Vacant

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |
MOHAMED SATHAK A. J. ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

3. Urban Eco-System
a. Geographical settings at Regional level
b. Environmental Impacts
c. Urban development impact on ecology
d. Pollution – cause & reason
i. Pollution mapping
e. Environment & topography
i. Urban climate
ii. Urban form & environment
 Open space & built form
 Micro climate
 Street form
iii. Vegetation & landscape
iv. Natural hazard zone? Cyclone/quake
v. Manmade hazard?
f. Natural Resources’ identification

4. Built Environment –Morphology

a. Identification of Character Districts.
b. Study of built form typologies.
c. Understanding of the vernacular and contemporary Urban Development Patterns
d. Study of Typical Street characters and built Public Spaces
i. Chronological map
ii. Character
iii. Built/unbuilt/open spaces
iv. Building conditions
v. Building – street relationship/scale
vi. Street layout
vii. Color&character
viii. Materials used
e. Paths –node-axis
f. Edge
g. Visual character & skyline study
h. Grain & texture

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |
MOHAMED SATHAK A. J. ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

5. Infrastructure
a. Social Infrastructure
b. Physical Infrastructure
i. Hard
Road / highway
MRTS
Railways
Canals/ferry
Airport
Seaport
Electric power
Natural gas
Petroleum pipeline
Drinking water supply
Electric vehicles
Sewerage/sewage
Irrigation system
Flood control
Postal service
Telephone /cable/internet
ii. Soft
Bank
Industrial park
Agriculture
Forest
Fisheries
Emergency
 Police
 Fire
 Ambulance
 Military
Healthcare
Educational
Social welfare
Recreation
Sport
Museum
c. Infrastructure through ages
Water supply
Electricity
Drainage
Sewerage
Burial & cremation grounds
Socio-cultural facilities and facilities For occasional festival activities

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |
MOHAMED SATHAK A. J. ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

6. Modes of transportation
a. Evolution – timeline
b. Connectivity
Rail network – underground metro
Waterways
Airways
c. Network & Nodes(study & analysis)
d. Interchange node & links
e. Traffic flow
f. Existing street layout
g. Conflicts/Parking/Non-Cohesiveness/Intersections
h. Issues
i. Design intervention(Proposal stage)
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6. Civics
a. Study of the urban development scenario (and its transformation), incl. real estate management,
development financing and relevant planning policies.
Activity chart(day cycle)
i. Commercial activities
ii. Informal activities-hawkers/street vendors
iii. Administrative
iv. Educational
v. Residential
vi. Transportation
vii. Cultural
viii. Other minor activites
Activity survey
i. Density distribution diagram =>off time/peak time / holidays
Activity mapping-(occur around)
i. Trees
ii. Street corner
iii. Pavements
iv. Shade
Identify – analyse – issues – solutions/proposals
j. Guideline documents for the city and specific area.

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |
MOHAMED SATHAK A. J. ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

The following checklist could be used in Analysis of the Study attributes:

Macro Level
Natural
1. Key attributes / components of the natural setting
2. Direct and indirect impacts on physical and visual quality of natural landscape, cultural or
socio-economic assets
3. Compatibility with natural and landscaping setting
Man-made
1. Urban context
a. Contribution to the cityscape in terms of adding legibility and creating high-quality
city environment
b. Visual impact and suitability of landmark feature
c. Suitability and visibility of visual features
d. Compatibility with landscape and development pattern
e. Compatibility with overall height profile and massing
f. Contribution to the local character
g. Compatibility with heritage setting

Intermediate Level
Natural
1. Direct and indirect impacts on physical and visual qualities of natural landscape
Man-made
1. Location suitability
2. Relationship with the visual corridors
3. Impact on penetration of light and air
4. Compatibility with street pattern
5. Visual impact and suitability of landmark feature
6. Compatibility with overall height profile and massing
7. • Compatibility with local heritage
8. • Impact on the surroundings

Micro Level
Natural
1. Functional appropriateness in relation to natural environment
2. Response to natural landscape in local context
Man-made
1. Contextual and functional appropriateness at street level
2. Contribution to pedestrian-friendly environment
3. Human scale and quality enhancement
4. Creation of spatial feeling

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |
MOHAMED SATHAK A. J. ACADEMY OF ARCHITECTURE
Approved by Council of Architecture & affiliated to Anna University, Chennai
34, Old Mahabalipuram Road, IT Highway, Egattur – 603103

For Analysis in detail:

Spatial Analysis

The spatial analysis consists of two plans.

First the Regional Spatial Analysis Plan will identify the community context at 400 and 800 meter radius
from the site. This plan should include the following:
a. Regional Landmarks
b. Nodes (i.e. Shopping Areas, Community Centres, Employment Areas, Public Spaces, Transit Hubs)
c. Neighborhood or City Gateways and Focal Points
d. Major Transportation and Transit Routes
e. Significant Regional View Corridors and Vistas
f. The surrounding urban fabric

Second, the Site Spatial Analysis Plan will provide information on the immediate context of the site. The
following items should be considered:
a. Topography;
b. Surrounding Official Plan and Zoning Designations
c. Photographs of the site and surrounding area
d. View corridors and vistas to and from the site;
e. Composition of surrounding and neighboring character and land uses;
f. General analysis of the urban pattern (streets and blocks) in the immediate area (include figure-
ground analysis of surrounding area);
g. Accessibility and Connectivity patterns (automobile, cycling, pedestrian, transit etc.) to and around
the site;
h. Landscaping in the area;
i. Opportunities for tree preservation;
j. Edges, Paths, Barriers, Gateways, Landmarks, Nodes (i.e. focal points, parks, activity areas) within and
around the vicinity of the site.

Proceed with the other analysis similarly…………

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|Batch-2015-2020| Sem – IX | section-C | Architectural Design-VI AR 6712 | July-Nov-2019 | MSAJAA |