Defining Urban Sites - Andrea Kahn
Urbanity is a fairly straight-forward term to the general public. It is the city, intricately gridded, mapped with the utmost accuracy, and completely closed off and away from the rural countryside. But what defines the boundaries of a city? And must there always be a boundary when it comes to an urban site? Andrea Kahn addresses these questions and challenges other theories concerning city planning in her essay "Defining Urban Sites."
Kahn provides an interesting point on the definition of urban; "In design discourse, the qualifier "urban" attaches to the concept of site to no significant effect. This should not be the case. When representing urban sites...designers draw on concepts, terminologies, and graphic conventions that pertain to all kinds of sites, in general" (281). Simply attaching the word "urban" to an idea or design is not enough to qualify it as such. Kahn stresses the importance of understanding all types of sites, and how each kind interconnects and relates to each other. Urbanity should not be seen only as a bordered city district, and Khan further shows this through examples in history.
Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of Milan, circa 16th century, and the ideal Renaissance plan of Palmanuova by an anonymous designer in 1713, are compared relative to the term "urban" and what defines a border. The Palmanuova plan is seen floating alone in an empty space, enclosed in its own world. There seems to be no connections to anything outside of its walls, and exists as an intricate, flower-like shape of carefully mapped streets and buildings. Da Vinci's sketches of Milan, on the other hand, define his observant and messy style while deviating from the Palmanuova plan's style. The Milan plan seems to exist in a visual language meant only for da Vinci, while a perspective of the city is drawn below the Milan city plan, almost breaching its walls. Kahn describes da Vinci's sketches as is follows; "Its boundaries remain porous, its figure incomplete" (284).
Unlike the Palmanuova design, which appears solidified and set, da Vinci's Milan sketches are open, allowing the opportunity for growth/change if need be. It is a known fact that cities are constantly growing, and it is essential to address possible additions and changes to a city and its components. Kahn continues to describe da Vinci's planning methods; "In Leonardo's image no border divides site from situation. Rather than equating boundary with a line of separation, this sketch encourages viewers to ask how and urban site is linked to its outside" (284). The point here is that the urban site can, in fact, be linked to the outside. It is essential in all cases of urban sites, and that there is no need for such harsh borders to be defined.
Urbanity certainly does not live up to the stereotypes that are often applied to its definition. It functions as a complex system, as Andrea Kahn explains, but is also fluid and open to change. Urban sites are not defined by borders or lines of separation, but thrive on connections to other sites, whether they are urban or rural.