System city——Infrastructure and the space of flows

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au/doi/10.1002/ad.1614/pdf

City can be defined as the system and infrastructure is the collective term for the systems and space of flows. The city is complex, which is interrupted by different overlay system, like green space, blue space, urban form, public infrastructure, terrain. Moreover, the flows can be defined as cycling, pedestrian, and vehicle movement. The different system and flows interact with each other, which formatting the platform for public lives. In other ways, city is similar as the human body, which should constantly replace their cells and produce waste, eager for the energy.

In the article, the city growth is compared to termites nest and it`s construction based on the bottom-up rules. Through observation, the growth of city boundaries is expended irrationally, which is similar to cell culture. The development of city network is limited by the spatial inhomogeneities, natural barriers and environmental templates. The direction of town or neighborhood development is to connecting the other city center, becoming a part of city.

In broad terms, a road segment is formed, then grows and expands to connect different local ‘centres’, or neighbourhoods, by linking them in the most effi cient way and therefore reducing costs.

"Increased density of streets may lead to a rational distribution of traffic loads and efficient transportation systems."

By observing and establishing the modal of the flow, it is possible to improve the system——city from the small scale.

The article criticizes the top-bottom planning idea and supports the idea of "contextualism". The city is considered as the creature and disagrees forcibly to plan or grow it. This creature should be raised by rational guidance.