2019 Volume 23.2
Editorial comment
ISUF and Urban Morphology: 25 years on and counting
Articles
Why study urban morphology? The views of ISUF members
M. Barke {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 1.7MB
]
ABSTRACT: This paper reports on a survey of ISUF members who were
requested to provide succinct answers to the question ‘why is urban
morphology an important object of study?’ A meaningful response rate was
obtained and, using content analysis, seven major themes were identified.
The views expressed on these are presented. It is concluded that there are
several important and varied justifications for the study of urban morphology
but that any unity of the field is derived from the nature of the subject matter
itself rather than from the approach taken to its study.
Towards a socio-ecological spatial morphology: integrating elements of urban morphology and landscape ecology
L. Marcus, M. Berghauser Pont and S. Barthel {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 2.4MB
]
ABSTRACT: The recent shift towards greater emphasis on biodiversity and
urban ecosystems has increased the need for greater understanding of
the green areas in cities as ecological environments. However, landscape
ecology and urban morphology have yet to be integrated into a joint field. In
this paper steps are taken towards developing an integrated socio-ecological
urban morphology based on developments in each field. Such a morphology
can inform professional practice in urban design. Comparisons of the
different objects of description in the two fields are made and their different
means of description – notably the patches, corridors and the matrix in
landscape ecology, and the streets, plots and buildings in urban morphology.
This provides a basis for a joint description in which these elements together
form a configuration of patches.
Referential types as clues for housing design
G. Ledent and S. Komossa {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 4.8MB
]
ABSTRACT: A place or city can be characterized by a particular housing type –
a ‘referential housing type’. It is usually embodied in the housing form that
was widely produced in the golden age of a region. It may be conceived as an
inseparable combination of spatial and socio-cultural features. Such a type
sheds light on the socio-cultural character of a particular place. It enables
a better understanding of the other housing forms in the place. These other
forms can be comprehended in relation to the referential type. Bearing in
mind that the ‘genius loci’ is a key to designing new projects, referential types
can function in two ways: through a contemporary interpretation of their
spatial features, or through the creation of new spatial features that are able
to support the socio-cultural inner logic informed by the referential types.
The concept of referential types is illustrated in Brussels and Amsterdam.
Paradigmatic examples with identical conventions allowing for objective
comparisons are explored.
The legacy of Roman and Greek urban planning in the cities of today
B. Gauthiez {+}Abstract [Full paper, PDF, 22MB
]
ABSTRACT: The cities of the Roman Empire were characterized in particular
by their chequerboard plans. Studying the plans of the same cities today,
the Roman streets are only rarely recognizable. By systematic comparison
of archaeological plans with those of today, and using satellite imagery as
a tool, it is possible to map the degree of persistence of the Roman or Greek
plan. The level of survival of the ancient plans is variable: it is high for
example in northern Italy and around Naples, but generally low elsewhere,
as in England and Egypt. But the process of loss and survival can be
counter-intuitive.
Viewpoints
Architectural applications based on morphological analysis G. Strappa
Heritage and townscape conservation: perspectives from urban morphology and planning practice M. I. W. Hopkins
A view from the giants’ shoulders – a reply to Slater’s critique (2019) J. Haslam
Morphology as metaphor: facts and fairy stories T. R. Slater
Mind the gap I. Samuels
[Viewpoints, PDF
]
Reports
International Conference on Cities and Change, Darmstadt, Germany, 2019
ISUF President’s Report
Twenty-Sixth International Seminar on Urban Form, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2019
ISUF Council Meeting, Nicosia, Cyprus, 2019
Portuguese-language Network of Urban Morphology (PNUM): Report 2018/19
[Reports, PDF
]
Book reviews
V. Oliveira (ed.) (2019) J.W.R. Whitehand and the historico-geographical approach to urban morphology P. Gauthier
M. Batty (2018) Inventing future cities J. Gil
L. D'Acci (2019) The mathematics of urban morphology M. Berghauser Pont
L. Vaughan (2019) Mapping society: the spatial dimensions of social cartography A. V. Moudon
[Book reviews, PDF
]
Book notes
[Book notes, PDF
]
Notes and notices
- New Editor
- Revista de Morfologia Urbana
- ISUF 2020: Cities in the twenty-first century
- Fifth ISUFitaly Conference, Rome, Italy, 20–23 February 2020
- Gian Luigi Maffei (1942–2019)