Urban Design is the process of shaping a city’s physical form. Urban Design focuses on “the third dimension” - the physical expression of the elements that make up a city - in contrast to “urban planning,” which tends to focus on the two-dimensional spatial arrangements of buildings, uses, and functions. In this regard, Urban Design can be regarded as a process that melds urban planning with architecture and landscape architecture.
Urban Design takes a holistic approach towards all the physical elements that make up a city. The principal elements that Urban Design examines include: parks, open space, and other places that people may gather; streets, sidewalks, and walkways; bridges and water bodies; historical features; trees and landscaping; and lighting and signage. Urban Design shapes these elements in ways that create urban environments that are functional, attractive, comfortable, animated, stimulating, and safe.
And, while Urban Design looks at the physical nature of things, its principal goal is to elevate the human experience of urban spaces.
