The Elements of Urban Form

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the different elements of urban form . The presentation of these different elements follows an order of increasing resolution of urban form. It starts with a description and explanation of the different urban tissues that we can find in our cities . It then increases the resolution and moves to the natural context and to the system of public spaces that constitutes each urban tissue , analysing both the spaces for circulation and for permanence. The chapter moves then to the urban plots which are, in our cities, the physical expression of individual property and, as such, distinct from the public or collective space . Once again increasing the level of resolution, the chapter moves to the buildings that constitute the urban tissue of a city including, not only exceptional buildings but also, current buildings .