City Efficient

Group : 2

Broad Acer City

Neighbourhood Unit
Radburn Town, USA

Jugal Bhatt | Samriddhi Jain | Sharmi Ra

Structure of Presentation

1.0 Larger Idea

Understanding the word City Efficiency.

2.0 Conceptual Models : Context, Key Principles, Relevance, Adaptation

• Broad Acer City
• Neighborhood Unit

3.0 Case Study : Radburn Town, USA

4.0 Key Learnings or Observations

The Concept of City Efficient

The ability of a city of maximizing its own output (well-being) given a set of inputs or minimizing the use of its own resources
(inputs) to obtain a given output.
- As per IGI Global Publication

The Efficiency Movement was a major movement in the United States, Britain and other industrial nations in the early 20th
century that sought to identify and eliminate waste in all areas of the economy and society.

- As Per Daniel T. Rodgers, Atlantic Crossings: Social Politics in a Progressive Age (2000)

Key Words : Light, Air, Ventilation, Self Sufficient, Calmness, good quality of life
Broad Acer City by Frank Lloyd Wright
A Sub-Urban Utopia
Year : 1932-1959
After the Era of Industrialisation
Year : 1840

To Fulfil Housing Demand

After the industrial revolution to fulfil
the demand of housing, mass
production of housing typologies
started to came into reality.

Mass production of community housing somewhere in America after industrialization.

Image Source : http://nmrsdws.blogspot.com

Radiant City by Le Corbusier
Year : 1924 - 1932

Envisioning the Future Growth

After the failing to promote and to tackle
the future density introduced the concept
of densification by going vertical, that
provides smaller footprint and more on
ground open spaces.

The model explaining the concept of vertical housing.

Image Source : http://nmrsdws.blogspot.com

Reaction : Broad Acer City by Frank Lloyd Wright
Year : 1932-1959

Reaction : A Utopian Concept

Wright observed that cities are lacking
in the essential elements like space,
light, air and silence.

So in the era of vertical expansion wright

comes up with the concept of horizontal
expansion and qualitative life with
owning a land in city’s sub-urbs.

Broad acer city with the various utopian ideas.

Image Source : http://nmrsdws.blogspot.com

The Reaction Against the Pressing Concerns
Lack of Space, Light, Air and Silence Inside the City

Key Principle

 Multi Centered : Decentralization

 Low Density :Horizontal Expansion

 Auto Mobile Oriented

 Located outside the city limit : Suburbs

(An Urban Sprawl)

Image Source : http://nmrsdws.blogspot.com

Goals & Objectives

Goals : Qualitative Neighbourhood

To Provide Community ;

 More Light

 More Freedom

 More General Spatial Freedom ,

.

Objectives : Self Sufficient

A family can own land and built their own
house in their own way possible.

Self Sufficiency : communities can grow

their own food.

Frank Lloyd Wright with his conceptual model.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Understanding the Theory
Amalgamation of various scales of amenities.

Proposed Area : 2,560 Acers

Density Per Acer : 05 Person / Family

Area Per Family : 01 Acer

Plot Ownership : From Federal Land

Reserve to Private Ownership

Proposed Amenities :

 Residential units with farm

 Residential units without farm
 Industrial Housing
 Schools
 Design and Cultural Institutes
 Public Parks
 Recreational Water Front Zones
 Small to Large Scale Industries

The distribution focuses open creating ideal civilization form the community, which will be helpful to create self sufficient city.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Broad Acer City : Master Plan

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Master Plan : Clear Segregation of three Scales – Industrial Fringes
Job centre for the Utopian Suburb.

Imagined as a sub urban fringe, in which

INDUSTRIAL FRINGES
amalgamation of out houses, medium to
larges scale, industries and reservoirs .are
imagined as per the demand.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Master Plan : Clear Segregation of three Scales – Amenity at Periphery
Lack of Space, Light, Air and Silence Inside the City

AMENITY RING

Imagined as a sub urban periphery,

INDUSTRIAL FRINGES amenities like schools, clinics, parks and
commercial are located along this ring.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Master Plan : Clear Segregation of three Scales – Residential Units at Core
Lack of Space, Light, Air and Silence Inside the City

RESIDENT RING

AMENITY RING

Imagined as a sub urban core, largely

INDUSTRIAL FRINGES
dominated by the residential units and
small parcels of farm lands owned by the
each family.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Method of Organisation
Lack of Space, Light, Air and Silence Inside the City

``
150 Mile

Each living unit at the core,

Given the opportunity to decorate their

one acer with nature an their own way.

Units are organized in a manner that every

one get the basic services within 150miles of
radius.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Efficiency : 1 – Efficient division of block s due to Grid Iron Road Network Patten
Grid-Iron line of rad network

Hierarchy of Roads
Arterial Road

Sub-Arterial Roads

Here. Internal Roads

Road Network Air Strips

Clear Line of road network and its hierarchal division helps to establish better connectivity network to Sub-urban blocks.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Efficiency : 2 – Distribution of Amenities on Approachable Proximity
The Radius of 150 Miles is enough to get their daily needs.

Distribution of Amenities
Local and Dedicated Commercials

Recreation Zones

Here. Parks and Gardens

Amenity Blocks Hospitals and Clinics

The closer proximity to services in all direction allow people to reside themselves as per their priorities.

Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com

Efficiency : 3 – Mak ing Self Sufficient Neighbourhoods
Agriculture farms located at the core as well as at the periphery.

Aspect : 1 - Agriculture Farms

Small Agriculture Farms

Large Agriculture Fields

Here. Farm within the Acer of Plot

Farm Lands Farms on the Hill Side

In the planning model farms are distributed as a amenity and t as a tool to make community self sufficient :
“Grow your own food”
Image Source : http://www.hasta-standrews.com
Relevance in Current Urban Context

01. 02. 03. 04. 05.

Concept of Sub-urban living, Owning a piece of land Concept of Self Sufficient Planned neighbourhood Automobile
away from the fast city life. in city and right to develop it, Neighbourhood or respecting the current Oriented
as per need Community. urban scenarios. Neighbourhoods
Neighbourhood Unit by Clarence Perry
Year : 1920

“In a sense every great city is a conglomeration of small communities.”

- Clarence Perry
Context and Origin
Year : 1920

Rapid industrialization
after WW-I
Growth of cities
Migration of rural to cities
Housing shortage

Need to segregate
automobile and pedestrian
“The automobile was a disrupting
menace to city life in the U.S.A.” (Stein
C. New towns for America. p. 41)

Pedestrians faced risk while crossing

the streets.
Increasing automobile accidents.

Need for open space

Gardens and open space were
converted to hardscape for car parking.

1930s. Pedestrian crowds and traffic on 5th avenue NYC.

Image Source : H. Armstrong Roberts, 1939

Neighbourhood Unit
Year : 1920’s

Context and Origin

 Need for Pedestrian nature, Need for
recreation, education and social
gathering

 Recreating the experience of

neighborhood

 Experience at Forest Hills Garden

 Neighborhood

Well established cases of neighborhoods

Image Source : http://kewgardenshistory.com/

Neighbourhood Unit
Decoding a Single Unit

• Total area - 160 acres

5000 - 6000

10 families per acre

1000 – 2000 pupil

< 1/4th of a mile

Image Source : Work by Chi Chang Wang

Neighbourhood Unit
Goals and Objectives

Shops Shops Shops

Church
School

Goals and Objectives

Shops  Self Sustained Neighborhood unit

Well contained Amenities within

Shops Shops
Neighbourhood Unit
Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives

 Self Sustained Housing unit – Amenities

 Pedestrianization

 Walkable distances to services

Neighbourhood Unit
Goals and Objectives

Goals and Objectives

 Self Sustained Housing unit – Amenities

 Pedestrianization

 Socio Cultural life- Better Quality of

living

 Open spaces for Gathering

Neighbourhood Unit
Concept

Shops
Application of Theory
Self Sustained Housing unit – Amenities
Parks

 Segregated Land Use

Church
 Clustered Common amenities – Central
Position
Community School, Church, Community hall
Centre
 Scattered amenities
School Shops along periphery – Restricts
outsiders inside
Neighbourhood Unit
Goals and Objectives

1/4th of a mile

Application of Theory
Shops
Self Sustained Housing unit – Amenities

Parks Pedestrianization

 Connectivity
Church
 Safety

Community Major vehicular traffic restricted to

Centre arterial roads

School Only residential users and

movement within
Neighbourhood Unit
Goals and Objectives

Shops

Parks
Application of Theory
Self Sustained Housing unit – Amenities
Church
Pedestrianization

Community Socio Cultural Life – Better quality of living

Centre
 10% dedicated - Green open spaces
School
 Less density – 10 families/acre
Neighbourhood Unit
As a System

Application of Theory
Neighborhood unit
 As proposed by CA Perry

Central Business district  Prototypes to form a system

Neighbourhood Unit
Implemented Example

7 – 8 Mins

Caoyang Village, Shangai

Image Source : Google Earth

Neighbourhood Unit
Implemented

1/4th Mile
1/4th Mile
1/4th Mile

Caoyang Village, Shangai

1/4th Mile

Image Source : Google Earth

Neighbourhood Unit
Relevance and Key take away

+
Walkable sizes Accessible
1/4th – ½ mile Amenities

+ + +

Creating a system Pedestrianisation

+
Housing Units Way forward

Elements of Comfort
Walkable networks + 10% Green
Safety
Case Study : Radburn Town, USA by Clarence Stein & Henry Wright
Town for Motor Age
(1929)

Image source: Chas. F. Doherty, New York, 1929

Suburban settlement
Located in Fair lawn, New Jersey 12 miles from
New York city- Easily commutable

Based on theory of Neighborhood unit

Image source: Chas. F. Doherty, New York, 1929

Radburn : Master Plan

149 acres

166 people/acre 25000 people

430 Single houses

90 Row houses

54 Semi-detached houses

4.5 DU/acre 93 Apartments

Image Source : Pinterest

Elements of Radburn Plan

Superblock s
• The high-density clustering of
housing around commonly held
parkland

Image Source : Pinterest

Elements of Radburn Plan

Superblocks
• the high-density clustering of
housing around commonly held
parkland

Specialized roads planned for

one use only
• differentiating between movement,
Service
collection, service, parking, and
Collector visiting
Through street
Highway
Image Source : Pinterest
Elements of Radburn Plan

Superblocks
• the high-density clustering of
housing around commonly held
parkland

Specialized roads planned for

one use only
• differentiating between movement,
collection, service, parking, and
visiting

Park as back bone of

neighborhood
• Large open areas in the center of
superblocks, joined together as a
continuous park.

Image Source : Pinterest

Elements of Radburn Plan

Superblocks
• the high-density clustering of
housing around commonly held
parkland

Specialized roads planned for

one use only
• differentiating between movement,
collection, service, parking, and
visiting

Park as backbone of neighborhood

• Large open areas in the center of
superblocks, joined together as a
continuous park.

Separation of pedestrian &

motorist
• Walk paths at different levels-
Pedestrian underpass and overpass
Cul de sacs
Motorised street
Image Source : Pinterest
Elements of Radburn Plan

Superblocks
• the high-density clustering of
housing around commonly held
parkland

Specialized roads planned for

one use only
• differentiating between movement,
collection, service, parking, and
visiting

Park as backbone of neighborhood

• Large open areas in the center of
superblocks, joined together as a
continuous park.

Separation of pedestrian & motorist

• Walk paths at different levels-
underpass and overpass
Living space

Service rooms Houses turned around

• Living and sleeping rooms facing
toward gardens and parks; service
rooms toward access roads.
Housing cluster around cul-de-sac. Typical House plan

Image Source : Clarence Stein, Towards new towns for America

Key Principles

Self-contained settlement
• providing playgrounds, schools,
theaters, public buildings, stores and
religious buildings all together

Create harmony b/w pedestrian

and motorists
• Hierarchy of street network to
separate automobiles and
pedestrians

Promote environmental
considerations
• Conserve open space
• Arrange buildings to give sunlight,
air and a tolerable outlook

These principles contribute to

efficiency of town.

Radburn garden homes Brochure. Organization of Neighborhood Unit

Image Source : Rockefeller Archive Center

Efficiency

Recreational
field

1. Self-Contained neighborhood
 All amenities within one mile radius.

 Three neighborhoods within

 Each having elementary school
at center and a shopping
complex

 Equidistant recreational field

Image Source : Clarence Stein, Towards new towns for America

Efficiency

1. Self-Contained neighborhood
 All amenities within one mile radius.

 Three neighborhoods within

 Each having elementary school
at center and a shopping
complex
 Equidistant recreational field

 Equidistant main educational center

Image Source : Clarence Stein, Towards new towns for America

Efficiency

2. Efficient circulation system

• The system allows pedestrian to
proceed on foot to school, stores or
church without crossing a street
used by automobiles.

Pedestrian underpass connecting two superblocks

Image Source : H. Armstrong Roberts, 1939

Efficiency

3. Environment
 The arrangement of cluster results
in each house getting
Direct sunlight
Direct access to green space

Image Source : H. M. Goudappel and J. A. Perlot, Verkeer en stad [Gravenhage, Netherlands, 1965]
Reaction to the plan

1. No private green space

 The entire green belt was shared
by the community.
 No personal lawns for residents.

Front of the houses in Abbeydale, Gloucester, England

Image Source : wikipedia

Reaction to the plan

2. Less use of pedestrian access

 Vehicles became more convenient
 People use back of the houses and
the vehicles, not pedestrian access.

Image Source : Michael David Martin, Returning to Radburn, Landscape journal

Reaction to the plan

3. Low accessibility to park

 Social exclusion
 Driveways became more of
community space.
 More people and children walking and
playing in driveways than on the
actual greenways.

Image Source : Michael David Martin, Returning to Radburn, Landscape journal

Reaction to the plan

4. Increasing crime rates

 At Skelmersdale, UK and The
Meadows, Nottingham, problems
of antisocial behaviour and crime in
the area blamed by residents.
 Unobserved rear parking gave
areas prone to crime.

The Meadows, Nottingham

Image Source : Clem Rutter, Rochester, Kent.

Key Learnings or Tak e Away : To Achieve Efficiency

01. 02. 03.

4.0 Mt. 9.0 Mt. 12.0 Mt.

01. Efficient segregation of 02. Efficient system of circulation :

functional layers : Residential, pedestrian friendly, auto-mobile
Commercial, Institutional, Industrial oriented or combine approach.
etc.
Key Learnings or Tak e Away : To Achieve Efficiency

03. Developing self sufficient 04. Self Sufficient Neighborhood :

modules considering better Provision of basic infrastructure
sunlight, ventilation, safety and and amenities in close proximity
comfort. and approachable distances
 Thank You

Jugal Bhatt | Samriddhi Jain | Sharmi Ra