History and Development Of Settlement Planning

Factors That Played an Important Role in The Growth of Early Civilizations

Early Civilization

Rivers were an important part of the existence of civilization and growth. It acts in the following ways:

Sumerian cities (1200BC-3000 BC)

• Protective and Compact
• Buildings were developed Horizontal
• Markets were situated near the center and residences were placed all around.
• Development was symmetrical taking the river as a central axis.
• Transportation was done by water.
• Houses were mostly made of timber
• Skyline was majorily highlighted by Ziggurats which were 8 stories high.

Egyptian Cities

• River Nile used for navigation
• Towns were mainly used for the slaves and artisans to make pyramids
• The rooms of houses were arranged around a common courtyard
• Buildings were made of sun-dried bricks
• The narrow lanes served as open drains and walkways
• Walls surrounded the cities for protection against the floods of the river Nile.
• Dwellings were of different sizes.
• The most important dwellings were placed in the upper right corner of the town.
• The roofs of the houses were made of reeds covered with mud plaster.
• A ventilating device ”Mulguf” was used on the roof.
• Examples: Memphis, Jhebes, etc.

Greek Cities

7th century BC: Nobles were rulers and Athens came under rule of tyrants

5th century BC: Democracy took roots in Athens

• Greek Town were in three physical parts –
  1. One for God
  2. One for Administration
  3. One for Dwelling Houses
• The city plan served all three classes:
  1. Craftsmen
  2. Worker
  3. Soldiers
• Temples were built on the Acropolis:
• Greek cities characteristics
  1. Wandering and Unpaved lanes
  2. No drainage or sanitation system.
  3. Water was obtained from local wells
  4. The wastes were disposed of on the streets
  5. There were no palaces.
  6. Common Assembly palace known as PNYX and irregularly shaped marketplace or Agora.
  7. Rooms were surrounded by courtyards having windowless facades.
• 5th century BC -Hippodamus an architect from Miletus applied a grid iron pattern of road layout which became an important part of Urban Planning.

Roman Cities

6th Century BC – 5 AD

• Less creative than Greeks but the Buildings were Larged Scaled.
• Development:
  1. Water Supply System
  2. Drainage System
  3. Aqua Ducts
  4. Public Buildings like Basth were more Developed.
• Romans founded their towns mainly on three occasions:
  • When the town became the colonial centre
  • When it was made local Capital
  • When it became an imperial residence
• Towns were made based on: religious needs, Defense needs, and technical considerations.
• Roman Towns were divided mainly into three categories:
  1. Colonia -High-ranking Cities
  2. Oppidia-Towns which were conquered
  3. Castrum-Military camp towns

Medieval Cities

5th Century AD

• Shifted Capital to Byzantium(Constantinople)
• 7th century: Rise of Islam -Muslim Towns were characterized by gardens, fountains and topiary.
• After fall of the Roman Empire led to the formation of independent cities with a population of 4000-12000
• The Cities:
  • Founded on Irregular terrain for security
  • Irregular pattern of roads to confuse invaders
• The Buildings
  • Buildings were mainly of two floors where the ground floor served as for storage workshop and kitchen while 1st floor acted as rooms for sleeping and living space. Roof material was non-combustible to safeguard from fire.

Neo-Classical or Renaissance

It started in the 14th century AD lasted up to 17th century AD

• Maximum Population of 5,00,000 people
• No sewage System.
• The distance between the two towns was 20-30 miles
• The printing press and GunPowder were invented in the 15th century
• New Towns :
  • Versailles in France
  • Canberra, Australia
  • Washington DC, USA
  • London UK
• Old Medieval towns-
  • Piazza of St. Marks, Venice
  • Piazza of St. Petres
  • Piazza of Popolo, Rome
  • Place des Victores, Paris
• In the Renaissance period, Design shifted from enclosed Architecture to open Space.

Baroque City

• Axial city Of Planning which was introduced by Lorenzo Bernini during the Renaissance Period
• Napoleon III when came to power in 1853, the city was congested with slums and Paris’s condition was deteriorating.
• Main features of Baroque Planning:
  • Avenues
  • Fountains
  • Axis
  • Geometry

Conclusion

In the Medieval period, the focus was primarily on the mass and grandeur of buildings, reflecting a sense of strength and permanence. During the Renaissance, the emphasis shifted towards space, with architecture aiming for balance, proportion, and harmony. In the Baroque period, there was a combination of both mass and space, with architects focusing on dynamic forms, dramatic use of light, and movement to create a sense of awe and grandeur. This progression illustrates how architectural priorities evolved, blending different elements to reflect the cultural and artistic shifts of each era.