Seven Urban Models Lecture

Introduction

• Overview of urban models describing city structures.
• Importance of understanding these models for city arrangement and development.
• Models help explain why cities are arranged internally as they are.
• Focus: Central business district, industrial/commercial district, and residential location.

Key Concepts for Exam

1. Strengths and limitations of each model.
2. Impact of transportation innovations on models.
3. Sector relationships and locations.
4. Bid rent theory: Land cost decreases further from CBD.

North American City Models

1. Burgess Concentric Zone Model

• Developed by: Burgess in 1920s.
• City Structure: Uniform concentric circles around CBD.
• Zones:
  • Circle 1: CBD (transportation hub, business HQs)
  • Circle 2: Zone of Transition (industrial centers, low-cost housing)
  • Circle 3: Working-class residential (industrial workers)
  • Circle 4: Middle-class residential (larger homes)
  • Circle 5: Upper-class residential (suburban zone)
• Limitations: Too simplistic; outdated by transportation advances.

2. Hoyt Sector Model

• Developed by: Hoyt in 1939.
• City Structure: Wedge-shaped sectors along transportation routes.
• Focus: Direction and transportation (electric street cars, elevated trains).
• Limitations: Assumes predictable city development.

3. Multiple Nuclei Model

• Developers: Harris and Ullman in 1940s.
• City Structure: Multiple nodes/nuclei of activities.
• Factors:
  • Specialized activities and infrastructure.
  • Economic benefits in specific business districts.
  • Negative industry impacts (pollution) leading to new nodes.
• Limitations: Blending of nuclei over time.

4. Galactic City Model

• Response to: Urban sprawl, car commuting.
• Structure: Decentralized CBD, developed edge cities.
• Features: Connected by highways (e.g., Atlanta Beltway).
• Limitations: Becoming obsolete with internet rise.

Non-North American City Models

5. Latin American Model

• Focus: Former Spanish colonies (e.g., Mexico City).
• Structure: Concentric circles and wedges.
• Zones:
  • CBD with businesses and market.
  • Spine for upper-class housing.
  • Zone of Maturity (middle-class housing).
  • Zone of In Situ Accretion (transitional lower-income housing).
  • Disamenity zones (poorest residents).

6. Southeast Asian Model

• Focus: Colonial influence, water-based trading ports.
• Structure: No central CBD, organized around ports.
• Zones: High-class residential near port, government zone.
• Unique Feature: Market gardening zone (light agriculture).

7. Sub-Saharan African Model

• Structure: Three CBDs: colonial, traditional marketplace, modernizing.
• Zones: Ethnic neighborhoods near industrial/manufacturing zones.
• Outer Circle: Impoverished shanty towns.

Conclusion

• Importance of models in understanding city structures globally.
• Limitations of each model reflect historical and technological contexts.