LEARNING UNIT 5
Changing Urban Form
5.1 INTRODUCTION
In many parts of the world the overall form of larger metropolitan areas has evolved from a relatively
straightforward, monocentric structure to a ‘galactic’ sprawl with a polycentric structure – fragmented
and multimodal – characterizes by surrounding new urban spaces and settings that include edge
cities and boomburbs (Knox & McCarthy, 2014:231).
PRAGUE.
Photo: André C Horn
Our focus …
Following on the growth phases of urban communities to date and some basic
growth principles, Learning Unit 5 considers a few generalised models reflecting the
change of urban form over time (5.3.1). However, cities did not develop uniformly
over the world and regional differences do occur (5.3.2). Finally, an opportunity for
the consolidation of our understanding of terminology is provided.
5.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES AND READING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After working through the prescribed study material for this Learning Unit, you
should be able to:
• Appreciate and discuss the changes of urban form
• Identify the differences between cities in different parts of the world
• Consolidate your grasp of the terminology used in this module
, READING
• In order to achieve the above outcomes you are required to read the
recommended reading material.
• For further enrichment, you can also read: Pacione, M. 2009. Urban Geography.
London and New York: Routledge. (Chapters 4, 5 and 7).
• You can also do further searches on the internet to enrich your knowledge.
5.3 LEARNING CONTENT
5.3.1 Changing urban form
The history of and events that took place over the past century had a huge impact on
the form and internal arrangement (morphology) of cities. This section of Learning
Unit 5 brings together a number of models form different parts of the textbook
in an effort to provide you with a compatible overview of changing urban forms.
• The early-industrial city – Sjoberg’s model – (pre-1900)
ACTIVITY
(1) Make a rough annotated drawing of Sjoberg’s model of the pre-industrial
city and explain the four main characteristics of this city type.
Sjoberg’s model
Drawing: Characteristics:
• The concentric city model – Burgess model (c.1925) – From about the 1920s the
ideas of the Chicago school of human ecology became influential. According to
this group, changes in cities and urban society were analogous to those found in
Changing Urban Form
5.1 INTRODUCTION
In many parts of the world the overall form of larger metropolitan areas has evolved from a relatively
straightforward, monocentric structure to a ‘galactic’ sprawl with a polycentric structure – fragmented
and multimodal – characterizes by surrounding new urban spaces and settings that include edge
cities and boomburbs (Knox & McCarthy, 2014:231).
PRAGUE.
Photo: André C Horn
Our focus …
Following on the growth phases of urban communities to date and some basic
growth principles, Learning Unit 5 considers a few generalised models reflecting the
change of urban form over time (5.3.1). However, cities did not develop uniformly
over the world and regional differences do occur (5.3.2). Finally, an opportunity for
the consolidation of our understanding of terminology is provided.
5.2 LEARNING OUTCOMES AND READING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
After working through the prescribed study material for this Learning Unit, you
should be able to:
• Appreciate and discuss the changes of urban form
• Identify the differences between cities in different parts of the world
• Consolidate your grasp of the terminology used in this module
, READING
• In order to achieve the above outcomes you are required to read the
recommended reading material.
• For further enrichment, you can also read: Pacione, M. 2009. Urban Geography.
London and New York: Routledge. (Chapters 4, 5 and 7).
• You can also do further searches on the internet to enrich your knowledge.
5.3 LEARNING CONTENT
5.3.1 Changing urban form
The history of and events that took place over the past century had a huge impact on
the form and internal arrangement (morphology) of cities. This section of Learning
Unit 5 brings together a number of models form different parts of the textbook
in an effort to provide you with a compatible overview of changing urban forms.
• The early-industrial city – Sjoberg’s model – (pre-1900)
ACTIVITY
(1) Make a rough annotated drawing of Sjoberg’s model of the pre-industrial
city and explain the four main characteristics of this city type.
Sjoberg’s model
Drawing: Characteristics:
• The concentric city model – Burgess model (c.1925) – From about the 1920s the
ideas of the Chicago school of human ecology became influential. According to
this group, changes in cities and urban society were analogous to those found in
