urban open space plaza and square

2. • One of the most important elements of
city design is the square or plaza.
• It is the most important way of
designing a good setting for public and
commercial buildings in cities.
A square or A Plaza

3. The Square
“Is an open space available for civic purposes which is
surrounded by important thoroughfares ”

4. The Plaza
An open space available for civic purposes and commercial
activities and usually attached to an important building.

5. Sometimes both the words square and Plaza
Are used to describe the same open space which is framed by buildings
and designed to provide successful setting for them.

6. A square or A plaza :
• Is an open area commonly found in the heart of a town used
for community gatherings.
• Other names for town square are civic center , city square,
urban square, market square , public square, plaza, piazza,
and “Maydan“ or “Saha”.

7. St Mark’s Square, Venice St Peter’s Square, Rome
Examples of squares
Are examples of unique squares in the relationship between space,
the surrounding buildings and the dome of the sky.

8. Most town squares are:
• Hardscapes suitable for open markets, music concerts, political rallies,
and other events that require firm ground.
• At the center of the square there is often a fountain, well monument, or
statue.
A square or A plaza :

9. FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE

10. There are two main methods of categorizing squares – by
function and by form.
FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE
Activity ina square is important for its
vitalityand,
therefore, also for its visualattraction.

11. FUNCTION AND THE SQUARE
Alberti tells us that ‘. . . there ought to be several squares laid out in
differentparts of thecity.
The types of spaces needed in a city are:
• The setting for a civic building.
• The principal meeting places
• Places for great ceremonial occasions
• Spaces for entertainment around buildings such as theatres,
cinemas, restaurants and cafes
• Spaces for shopping, shopping street, arcades and markets
• Spaces around which offices are grouped
• Spaces around which residential accommodation is arranged
and, finally
• The spaces associated with urban traffic junctions.

12. The setting for religious buildings

13. Spaces for ceremonial occasions

15. Spaces for shopping, shopping streets

16. Open markets

17. Open markets

18. Cafes and restaurants

19. Spaces in front of office buildings

20. Spaces surrounding residential buildings

21. The spaces associated with urban
traffic junctions

22. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE

23. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
There are many ways to classify the form of square:
For example:
They can be classified according to regularity to:
Regular shape squares:
Which take the form of Circle – square- rectangle-
triangle…..

24. Regular shape squares:
• Represent clear urban image for the observer.
• Vendome square- Paris
Vendome square Paris Regular shape square

25. The form of the square
Free shape squares:
• Which take the form of irregular polygon…..
Free shape squares

26. The form of the square
For example:
They can be classified according to the axis of symmetry to:
Squares with one symmetric axis:
St Peter’s square Rome: where there is one longitudinal
symmetric axis emphasizes the existence of the church.

27. The form of the square
For example:
They can be classified according to the axis of symmetry to:
Squares with two symmetric axes:
Vendome square in Paris has two symmetric axes .
The existence of multiple axes weaken the focus on specific
direction.

28. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
• One of the most
important theories in
classifying the form of
the square was outlined
by Paul Zucker.
• He mentioned five types
of the square :
1. the closed square
2. the dominated square
3. the nuclear square
4. groupedsquares
5. and the amorphoussquare

29. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
1. The closed square: where the
space is self-contained.
• In Closed squares there
are a complete enclosure
where the square is
surrounded by buildings
from all sides and
interrupted only by the
streets leading to it.

30. place des vosges, Paris, France
• Complete sense of enclosure
• Geometrical shape

31. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
2. the dominated square: where
the space is directed towards the
main element.
• The main element: can be
a building such as a
church- a palace – a town
hall – a theater…….

32. Notre Dame cathedral, Paris

33. • The main element: can be a fountain or statue…
fontana de trevi- Rome

34. • The main element: can be a void or natural element…
maria theresien strasse- innsbruck- Austria

35. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
2. the dominated square: where
the space is directed towards the
main building.
• The direction of a main street
which opens into the square
creates the axis to the main
element
Piazza del popolo square, Rome

36. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
3. the nuclear square: where
space is formed around a
center or nucleus
• The nucleus can be an
obelisk- a fountain or a
monument.
• The element is strong enough
to attract the attention.

37. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
3. the nuclear square: where
space is formed around a
center or nucleus

38. Nelson's column London

39. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
4. grouped squares: where spatial
units are combined together to
form larger compositions.
• Each unit “separated square”
represents a self sufficient unit
and a part of a larger
composition.

40. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
• Types of grouped squares:
• A. straight axis form:
• When a group of squares
different in size and form
arranged in one direction it
creates a straight axis form
Imperial fora, Rome

41. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
• Types of grouped squares:
• B. Non axial organization:
• When a smaller square opens
into a larger square with one of
each sides this forms non axial
organization
Piazza and piazetta , Venice

42. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
• Types of grouped squares:
• C. Multiple spaces surrounding
one building.
• A group of three or more
squares of different shapes
surround one dominant building
palazzo podesta square, Italy

43. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
• Types of grouped squares:
• D. Adjacent squares:
• Two individual squares located
beside each other and are
separated by buildings or streets
piazza d'erbe Italy

44. THE FORM OF THE SQUARE
5. The amorphous square: is
formless or having no
specific shape
• It doesn’t have the same
aesthetic values as the other
forms of squares.

45. THANKS