interim review - rules of an urban block

For the individual review I presented a mind map which represented the reading on urban blocks which I had done over the past weeks. The mind map was assembled with a number of cards, each with an image from a project or scheme I had researched. The schemes I had looked at to this point are:
- Spitalfield scheme, Richard MacCormac
- Unite d'habitation, Le Corbusier
- Borneo Sporenburg, West 8
- Welwyn Garden City, Ebeneezer Howard and Raymond Unwin
- IJburg, Felix Claus, Frits Van Dongen and Tony Schaap


I also include images of my work from the Tower Houses and Nolli projects. Images were accompanied with a section of text which noted a rule or observation from each scheme. By having these all on the wall together I was able to make connections between schemes and derive common rules and and observations such as:


1. A variety of architects were included in the design of the overall scheme
    - Borneo Sporenburg
     - IJburg
     - Spitalfields


2. A percentage of internal floor space should be dedicated to introverted gardens or patios
     - Borneo Sporenburg
     - Unite d'habitation


Below are the two main points that were risen in the review and my response to them:


- How will you define an "Urban Block"? i.e. how do you limit where you are looking?
     For early research I feel it is important to look at the broader context as well the exact issue. Therefore my research so far has looked at both examples of urban blocks and larger schemes. These larger schemes have either influenced the formation of urban blocks with the city or have established a set criteria by which the individual blocks are to be designed.


I do however think that at this stage it is important to set a definition for a urban block as this will not only aid the research but will also help to narrow the problem and the possible outcomes for the year. I will consider this over the coming week and will set a definition by close of play on friday.


- Where is this going?
    At this stage my intention is that from my research I will derive a set of rules for designing an urban block and then use these rules to design an urban block(s). By establishing a set of rules and allowing these to dictate the design of an urban block I think much of the interest in this would be in allowing these rules to be exposed to a variety of environments and discovering the various solutions produced by the same set of rules.