Controlling the physical shape of buildings, their scale, height, setbacks, and how they relate to the surrounding spaces. Circulation and Parking:
Unlike traditional architectural design, urban design requires a long-term approach to development. Shirvani highlights the importance of:
Repurposing vehicular space for micromobility lane infrastructure and EV networks. Green Infrastructure & Sponge Cities
: The scale, shape, and physical appearance of buildings within the urban fabric.
Shirvani breaks down the urban design process into : urban design process hamid shirvanipdf work
This article explores the core tenets of Shirvani’s urban design process, the components (or "determinants") he identified, and why his PDF work remains a go-to reference decades later.
: Establishing the spatial distribution of residential, commercial, and civic activities to form the economic and functional foundation of any urban community.
Shirvani treats urban design as a dynamic, argumentative process that relies on a specific sequence to achieve workable solutions: Academia.edu Identify Problems & Opportunities:
: Standardizing commercial billboards, wayfinding systems, and public street furniture. This reduces visual pollution while creating a legible city identity. Controlling the physical shape of buildings, their scale,
: Dedicated paths and sidewalks that prioritize human-scale movement and safety.
The urban design process : Shirvani, Hamid - Internet Archive
Signage is the city's visual communication system, encompassing everything from street names and traffic signs to commercial billboards and wayfinding kiosks. While often an afterthought, Shirvani recognized its profound impact on the legibility and character of a place. Well-designed signage is essential for creating a coherent and navigable city. Poor signage—cluttered, oversized, or conflicting—creates visual chaos and undermines the quality of the public realm. This element involves balancing the need for information and commerce with the aesthetic and functional quality of the streetscape. Clear and consistent signage is part of creating a "legible" city.
: All landscape, hardscape, parks, and recreational areas that provide relief from built-up environments. Green Infrastructure & Sponge Cities : The scale,
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Before any design takes place, comprehensive data must be gathered. This includes: