MArch Master of Architecture Master of Architecture: Urban Planning & Design 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which urban design principle does the concept of 'eyes on the street,' coined by Jane Jacobs, primarily address?
- Traffic calming through road narrowing
- Natural surveillance and public safety through active street frontages (Correct answer)
- Maximizing retail density on ground floors
- Reducing pedestrian-vehicle conflicts at intersections
Correct answer: Natural surveillance and public safety through active street frontages
Jane Jacobs argued that active ground-floor uses and residents watching the street from windows create natural surveillance that deters crime.
Question 2: In Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), what is the typical recommended walking radius around a transit station?
- 200 feet (60 m)
- 500 feet (150 m)
- 1/4 to 1/2 mile (400–800 m) (Correct answer)
- 1 mile (1.6 km)
Correct answer: 1/4 to 1/2 mile (400–800 m)
TOD guidelines typically designate a quarter- to half-mile radius as the comfortable walking catchment area around transit nodes.
Question 3: What does the term 'urban heat island effect' describe?
- Increased air pollution concentrations in city centers
- Higher ambient temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas (Correct answer)
- Flooding caused by impervious surfaces in cities
- Thermal bridging in high-rise curtain wall systems
Correct answer: Higher ambient temperatures in urban areas compared to surrounding rural areas
The urban heat island effect occurs because dark paved surfaces and lack of vegetation cause cities to absorb and retain more heat than rural areas.
Question 4: Which zoning approach allows multiple land uses—residential, commercial, and civic—within the same district or block?
- Euclidean zoning
- Mixed-use zoning (Correct answer)
- Agricultural zoning
- Single-family residential zoning
Correct answer: Mixed-use zoning
Mixed-use zoning permits a combination of residential, commercial, and civic uses, enabling walkable, vibrant neighborhoods.
Question 5: The 'Five D's' framework for measuring urban form includes Density, Diversity, Design, Destination Accessibility, and what fifth element?
- Demographics
- Distance to transit (Correct answer)
- Development cost
- Drainage infrastructure
Correct answer: Distance to transit
Cervero and Kockelman's Five D's are Density, Diversity, Design, Destination Accessibility, and Distance to transit, all linked to travel behavior.
Question 6: Which planning tool establishes maximum building heights, setbacks, and floor area ratios to regulate the physical form of development?
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Form-Based Code (Correct answer)
- Comprehensive Plan
- Subdivision Plat
Correct answer: Form-Based Code
Form-Based Codes regulate the physical form of buildings and public spaces rather than focusing solely on land use separation.
Question 7: What is a 'complete street' design strategy intended to achieve?
- Maximize vehicle throughput on arterial roads
- Accommodate all users including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers safely (Correct answer)
- Eliminate on-street parking to improve traffic flow
- Standardize street widths across an entire city
Correct answer: Accommodate all users including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers safely
Complete Streets policies design roadways to serve all modes of travel, improving safety and accessibility for every type of user.
MArch Master of Architecture Master of Architecture: Urban Planning & Design 2
Which urban design principle does the concept of 'eyes on the street,' coined by Jane Jacobs, primarily address?