Site Planning and Urban Design Flashcards
6 cards from real Architecture and Design practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Site Planning and Urban Design flashcards as text
What is the primary purpose of a 'buffer zone' in land use planning?
Answer: To provide a transitional area between incompatible land uses
Buffer zones are transitional areas between incompatible uses (such as industrial and residential) that reduce conflicts through landscaping, berms, or less intensive uses.
In urban design, 'figure-ground' diagrams show:
Answer: The relationship between built mass (figure) and open space (ground)
Figure-ground maps illustrate the relationship between building footprints (solid) and open space/streets (void), revealing urban fabric patterns.
What is 'mixed-use development'?
Answer: A development that incorporates multiple uses such as residential, retail, and office within the same project or building
Mixed-use development integrates multiple land uses — commonly residential, retail, office, and civic — either vertically in the same building or horizontally on the same site.
The concept of 'eyes on the street,' coined by Jane Jacobs, refers to:
Answer: Natural surveillance provided by residents, workers, and passersby interacting with street life
Jane Jacobs argued that active street life and building windows facing public space create natural surveillance that deters crime and promotes safety.
What is a 'form-based code'?
Answer: A zoning code that regulates building form and placement rather than land use categories
Form-based codes regulate the physical form of buildings (massing, facade, setbacks, height) to create desired urban character, rather than focusing primarily on land use.
In sustainable site design, 'bioswales' are used primarily to:
Answer: Slow, filter, and infiltrate stormwater runoff using vegetation and soil
Bioswales are vegetated, shallow channels that slow and filter stormwater runoff, allowing infiltration and reducing pollutant loads in receiving waters.