It is possible to measure, evaluate, and mathematically predict
shelter capacity options and the intensity alternatives they represent for
specified land areas. This brief essay is intended to outline an approach that
can permit us to pursue the knowledge we must acquire to survive on a planet
with limits we are expected to decipher.
Shelter capacity is a function of the building design
category chosen and design specification values assigned to its forecast
template. The building height, mass, pavement, open space, and gross building
area resulting from these decisions produce a measurable
level of intensity,
intrusion, and dominance. This is the pattern and texture urban designers refer
to as urban composition. The result can be occupied by any building code
conforming activity.
We are all aware that some of these historic physical
patterns have been threats to our health, safety, and welfare; and that some
continue to this day. Improvements have been made, but we remain unable to
consistently lead shelter patterns toward correlated capacity, intensity, and
activity objectives that will achieve pre-defined physical, social,
psychological, environmental, and economic objectives. There has simply been no
ability to accurately define shelter capacity and intensity objectives for activities
that can be correlated to produce an urban design plan with economic
development objectives.
Activity groups, currently called land use classifications,
occupy building design categories. Gross building area in square feet defines
the scope of an activity project. Gross building area divided by the buildable
acres occupied produces a measurement of the shelter capacity planned or
present. Shelter capacity divided by 43,560 and multiplied by the impervious
cover percentage present is a measure of the physical intensity implied. Physical
intensity is often magnified by the level of occupant activity present; and the
combination of capacity and activity has many undefined implications.
Profit and public revenue per buildable acre are measures of
the yield from the combination of capacity, activity, and intensity present in
a project or jurisdiction. In other words, the relationship of average yield to
average expense per acre defines the success of both public and private
investment in any defined area. The future will depend on improving our ability
to predict the shelter capacity of land, the intensity limits that must be
respected, and the occupant activity assortment needed to shelter and sustain
growing populations within geographic limits that can protect their quality and
source of life.
This capability will begin with a building classification
system based on the fundamentals of shelter planning. The building design
categories involved are listed in Table 1 as the titles of chapters 2-7. The
master equations noted in this table below each chapter title depend on the
values given and derived in the template noted to the left of each equation.
The objective of each template is based on the proposition noted to the right
of the master equation. In all cases, the goal of each equation is to begin the
journey toward a determination of the gross building area, shelter capacity,
intensity, intrusion, and dominance options implied by the values or
measurements entered against the topics in a forecast model related to the
building design category under consideration.
A forecast model produces shelter capacity options based on the
range of floor quantity options entered. The results are translated by the
equations in a model’s Implications Module to find the intensity, intrusion,
and dominance implied by each option. At this point evaluation can begin. A
leadership language can evolve and knowledge can be acquired that is equal to
the design direction and correlation required. Until then, we will continue to
observe symptoms that threaten our health, safety, and quality of life; the
quality of life for all other species; and the source of life that we have
taken for granted without adequate foresight for too long.
CONCLUSION
I will not go into further detail that has been covered in
my essays and books. I’ll simply close with something I’ve previously written to
address the fundamental question behind this essay.
“…I hope I have shown
that it is entirely possible to mathematically correlate land consumption with
gross building area capacity, activity, economic potential, and quality of life
within limited geographic areas when the leadership topics for each building
design category classification are comprehensively defined and correlated with
the algorithms, value decisions, and master equations required. The goal is to
constructively define a limited Built Domain without excessive and continuing
reliance on annexation. I think we all understand at some level of
comprehension that limits are required. It remains to define them with a
language that can lead us to consistently positive results.
I have contributed the
conceptual framework and technical information needed to continue this
discussion in my book, “The Equations of Urban Design”. It is available on
Amazon.com but the title may have been an unfortunate choice since the book is
not consumed with equations. They are simply the foundation on which the
conceptual, predictive, measurement, and evaluation format for analytical diagnosis and knowledge formation is based. I have
also published over 190 essays regarding this topic on my blog www.wmhosack.blogspot.com and posted the more recent on Linked-In.
The blog has been visited by over 32,000 readers.
There is a lot of work
to be done to reach the only goal that matters. Symbiotic survival is not an
option. It is a mandate that will not be met until the habitat we build ceases
to be a threat to ourselves, our companions on the planet, and our source of
life – the Natural Domain.”
Walter M. Hosack: February, 2023
PS: The following is a list of abbreviations used in the
“Propositions” column of Table 1. A complete list of abbreviations used in all
equations can be found in the chapters of my book.
APTMOD= apartment
module
AVGBLOT= average
buildable lot area
AVGHOME= average home area
AVGLOT= average lot area
BCA= building cover area (footprint)
BLA= buildable land area
BLOT= buildable lot area
CORE= core area for building and parking area
DU= dwelling unit
EHOME= existing home area
(f)= floor quantity
GBA= gross building area
GLA= gross land area
GPGA= gross parking garage area
HOME= home area
(l)= parking garage level quantity
LOT= lot area
NDU= number of dwelling units
TH= townhouse
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