The functions and structure of cities

3. THE FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF CITIES URBAN FUNCTIONS -

Residential: -

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Political: -

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Examples: Mumbai in India, Okinawa in Japan, and Shanghai in China.

Cultural: -

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Some cities grew due to their role in international trade (Liverpool, Bilbao‌)

Industrial -

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Political institutions were set up in national or regional capitals. (Brussels, Strasbourg, New York‌)

Commercial: -

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Places where large numbers of people live.

Some of them have educational importance (Oxford and Salamanca) Others have religious significance (Mecca and Jerusalem)

Tourist: -

Cities with monuments and museums (Venice and Florence).

*But most cities do not have a single function: Rome is a national capital with a residential function, but it is also a commercial city, a place of religious importance and a cultural and tourist destination.

3. THE FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF CITIES THE STRUCTURE OF A CITY - The structure of a city : - It is the way its buildings, roads and open spaces are organised.

- It is influenced by its physical environment.

- The urban layout of a city is connected to its historical development . It is reresented on an urban plan.

-There are three comon types: 1.

Irregular: - Streets are narrow and winding - they are not arrange in any order - this plan is characteristic of Medieval cities.

2.

Grid: - Streets run in straight lines and cross each other at right angles to form a grid pattern.

- This plan was characteristic of ancient Roman cities.

- Later, it became common in new cities in Latin America and North America.

3.

Concentric: - In some cities, streets radiate outwards from a central square.

- other streets cross them to form concentric circles.

3. THE FUNCTIONS AND STRUCTURE OF CITIES 1.

There are some cities with a complex layout, combining different features.

This reflects their expansion over a long period of time:

Historic centre: - This is the original centre of he city.

- Monuments and historic buildings are located.

- In Mediaeval cities the centre have narrow and winding streets.

- In recently developed urban areas , he historic centres have been replaced by a central business district (or CBD).

2. City extensions (or ensanches): - They were built as residential districts in the 19 th century.

- Shops and services are found in city extensions - Blocks of flats are a common type of housing.

3. Suburbs: - They are separate residential areas located on the outskirts of cities.

- They have single-family homes as well as blocks of flats.

- Their green spaces make them attractive places to live in.

- Industrial parks and shopping centres are built near these areas.