Urban and Rural Settlements: Understanding City Morphology and Urban Planning

1.1 The Concept of a City

Human settlement refers to the distribution of the population over a territory, which can be either rural or urban.

a) Rural Settlement:

• Characterized by a low number of inhabitants and low population density. The specific criteria for what constitutes a rural settlement can vary depending on the region. For example, in Norway, a city can have as few as 200 inhabitants.
• Typically features low-rise buildings that can be either concentrated or dispersed.
• The primary economic activities are related to the primary sector, which involves obtaining natural resources.
• Life in rural settlements is often characterized by close social ties and a strong sense of community belonging.
• Examples of rural settlements include villages and hamlets.

b) Urban Settlement:

• Characterized by a large number of inhabitants, although the exact threshold for an urban settlement varies. For instance, it's over 10,000 inhabitants in Spain and over 30,000 in Japan.
• Features tall buildings in close proximity to one another, as well as public spaces.
• The main economic activities are related to the secondary and services sectors, including trade, healthcare, education, and banking.
• Life in urban settlements is generally characterized by less intense personal relationships, faster pace, and greater mobility.
• Examples of urban settlements include towns and cities.

1.4 The Morphology of Cities

This concept refers to the factors that influence a city's external form. These factors are interrelated:

• Location/Situation: The physical elements of the location and any pre-existing planning before construction.
• Distribution of Urban Elements: The arrangement of streets, buildings, and green spaces.
• Urban Plan: The representation of the city's structure. There are four main urban plans:

1. Orthogonal Plan/Grid/Chequerboard:

• Streets intersect at right angles, dividing the space into blocks.
• Originated in Hellenistic Greece (Hippodamus of Miletus) and Rome (based on castra), but widely used during the 19th century.
• Example: New York (USA)

2. Linear Plan:

• Can be planned or a result of spontaneous growth.
• The city is organized along a main road, with buildings distributed around it.
• Easier to identify in small towns.
• Example: Castrojeriz (Burgos, Spain)

3. Radial Plan:

• Characterized by a central core from which several roads extend outward like spokes of a wheel.
• These roads are intersected by other streets, forming concentric rings.
• Example: Palmanova, Italy

4. Irregular Plan:

• Results from a lack of planning.
• Characterized by a complex and disorderly network of streets, roads, and squares with no defined shape and dead ends.
• Example: Toledo, Spain