Urban morphology as design tool

Abstract

This paper accounts for the adaptation of morphological concepts originally developed in the context of old urban forms to the reality of New World towns, particularly the planned new towns founded in twentieth-century Brazil. The study refers to urban fringe belts, morphological region, morphological frame, building type and typological process, and presents a practical experience, in which these concepts were applied in a planning exercise aiming to create a new neighbourhood in a consolidated urban setting. The urban fringe belt concept was correlated with Landscape Ecology in order to explore its ecological potential and, aware of its inexorability in the urban dynamics, suggest its integrated approach in the city planning.

Keywords:
New towns. Urban design. Morphological concepts. English school. Italian school