TU/e: Hradec Kralove - Urban Analysis

URBAN ANALYSIS HRADEC KRALOVE MAREK ZACEK

7w565 URBAN ANALYSIS city of HRADEC KRALOVE Marek ZACEK, 0822376 TU Eindhoven, UDP january 2013

3 content 5

introduction

9

history of the city

15

METHODOLOGY

31 MAPS

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32

Social city

34

Symbolic city

36

Physical city

38

Mobile city

40

Green city

43

list of sources

43

list of figures

INTRODUCTION

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Hradec Kralove is a statutory city in Czech Republic, located  the eastern part of Bohemia province. Being the center of civic life for centuries it is now the regional metropolis with population over 100,000 inhabitants.

Due to its historical development and mostly to rational demolition of city ramparts at the end of 19th century followed by visionary urban plan, the city has unique and well-functioning structure.

I chose this city because it is my hometown and I still admire its timeless qualities.

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left: typical silhouette of the city [fig. 1] top right: plan of modernist extension by arch. Gocår [fig. 2] below right: 20th century architecture in modern city [fig. 3]

BRIEF HISTORY

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left: topographic map of the city and its surroundings [fig. 4] top: coat of arm of the town [fig. 5] above: location of the town within Czech Republic [fig. 6]

A pre-historic settlement was strategically located on a solitary hill top at the confluence of the rivers Elbe and Orlice, which is documented by finds from this area dating back to primeval times (Ancient Rome and Slavonic settlements).

The first written reference to Hradec Kralove as a town can be found in 1225, which proves it is one of the oldest towns in Bohemia.

In the early 14th century Hradec Kralove became a royal dowry town and the activities of mainly Queen Elizabeth Richeza left a significant mark all around Hradec Kralove - she initiated the construction of the Gothic Holy Spirit Cathedral. Also the current name evolved from “Queens castle”.

The Renaissance period saw Hradec Kralove influenced by the work of local and foreign craftsmen and also the creation of the second dominating feature of the town – the White Tower.

The town development continued with the arrival of Jesuits. The Baroque style is represented several churches, the episcopal residence and the Plague Column.

During the reign of Maria Theresa and Joseph II, owing to its strategic location the town was rebuilt into a military stronghold. This vast construction strongly affected local morphology - river basins of Elbe and Orlice were moved and simplified; nearby hill was flattened and reused as building material. Star-shaped walls and ramparts enclosed the city and held it for decades. Surrounding villages were pushed away and the areas between fortifications and hill of the Old Town were filled with barracks.

Nevertheless, it was never used and after the nearby Battle of Chlum on July 3, 1866 ending in defeat for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the idea of Hradec Kralove being a stronghold was abandoned.

Structure of the fortifications is still apparent in evenly circular extensions and the earth walls are at several places part of terrain.

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left: historical map of the Austrian fortress, dated 1767 [fig. 7]

The demolition of the city walls enabled the further development connected with building up a modern city. The greatest influence on the development of the modern Hradec Kralove was exerted by the then Mayor František Ulrich.

Large strip of land resulting from flattening of the ramparts was consciously divided and managed. Compact Old Town was maintained and compact city structure was extended towards emerging railway station. Thanks to a highquality master plan a unique modern center was born. These constructions took place almost on a “green field” which enabled evaluation of modernist spirit.

Regulation plans from early decades of 20th century set up layout of pretentious radial boulevards and retained the circular structure on several levels. This framework was then filled with apartment houses, grand public buildings and lot of green elements.

The look of the modern city is maintained and progressive urban design concept, following the modern rules of development control, proved to be still valid.

Since 1962 the historic core has been an urban conservation area surrounded by outstanding modern architecture of the first half of the 20th century.

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left: master-plan for the city by arch. Gocár, dated 1928 [fig. 8]

METHODOLOGY

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Decision process of elaboration of the maps.

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For this task, the maps are elaborated in a scale of 1:6 500 (original on A1 square; downsized to approx. 1:14 000 in this report), representing the area of wider central area in reasonable detail for the presentation.

Such area includes all major parts of the urbanization: historic inner town, late 19th and early 20th modern city, pre-war residential housing and garden town, post-war prefab blocks and also commercial/industrial zones and meadows and fields following the rivers.

The section of map is the same for all sheets, thus allowing their comparison. The structure of the city is to a large extent regularly radial with legible central point (both in reality and on a plan) and this point was logically chosen as center of the square cutout. This layout also helps focusing and determination in terms of MacEachren’s figure-ground distinction.

Due to the expected purpose of the maps, the depicted area is not necessarily processed as gap-less surface; rather the buildings and street network serves as a reference background and intended phenomenons are highlighted upon that.

previous left: base-map and area used for assignment [fig. 9] previous right: base-map and area used for assignment on orthophoto map [fig. 10]

Based on the task, five different sheets are elaborated: - city as a Social space - city as a Symbolic space - city as a Physical space - city as a Mobile space - city as a Green space For each of the phenomenons, I set up a tree of relevant categories and items, then divided into 3 basic figure states: POINTS, LINES and SURFACES. Single items are then assigned visual appearance according to their nature and supporting clearness of the map. Scale of lines and surfaces is relevant to real size, point symbols are scaled according to their importance and appearance on the map. Simple geometrical figures are used rather than complex images to be better distinguished [MacEachren] and coherent in the whole. Text labels are avoided with the intention of keeping the informations visual and universal.

Colors are used to be associative with specific phenomenons and optimized in terms of Brewer’s color pallets.

Items to be depicted are named and sorted into figures (tables below) and assigned visual value.

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civic amenities, social attractors inner city parks compact centre

CITY AS A SOCIAL SPACE

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left: SOCIAL SPACE - content of the map and legend [fig. 11]

Map of Hradec Kralove as a Social space shows various city functions and their spread over the land. With basically only real center, ranging from central station through modern extension towards historic town, the civic life follows similar pattern.

This map depicts the concentration and presence of these urban qualities rather than their categorization. Therefore are these visualized by one point symbol varying by size and colour. Apart from some associative colours (red for healthcare, blue for water) other are chosen to utilize maximal contrast.

Surfaces are used for depicting of [1] compact city centre, [2] inner city parks as urban quality and [3] the confluencing river as the key element of this social settlement.

Final map and its evaluation is on the page 32.

point locally experienced distantly experienced

line

surface

nodes traffic paths urban units tall landmarks axes fronts

distantly visible landmarks local landmarks, nodes main axes of sight local axes of sight distantly visible fronts main paths inner compact city area city area

CITY AS A SYMBOLIC SPACE

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left top: SYMBOLIC SPACE - categorization of items [fig. 12] left bottom: SYMBOLIC SPACE - content of the map and legend [fig. 13]

Map of Hradec Kralove as a Symbolic space is primarily based on Kevin Lynch’s method of recreating the image of city experience.

Nevertheless there are some differences made: this town is specific by regular radial structure with its center located on a single hill. Therefore more than anywhere else long-distance views come into action, often merged with main access roads. Actually, the whole traffic network poses such clear figure, that it is the leading mean of orientation.

Relevant and actually present items are divided into categories, whether they act on [1] local and physical basis or [2] distant, visual basis. This categorization is in the table.

Point elements are represented by stars of two levels (distant landmarks being more important on the whole city level); visual fronts (typically rows of high-rise apartment buildings) as lines of the same colour. Also visual axes are of two kinds. Importance of the distant sights, as well as its broader nature, are represented by shape of the line.

Area of the inner city and adjacent quarters is hatched in two levels of gray, showing the shape of urbanization and also highlighting large green areas touching the very center.

Final map and its evaluation is on the page 34.

private built unbuilt enclosed unbuilt

semi-private

semi-public

public

CITY AS A PHYSICAL SPACE

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left top: PHYSICAL SPACE - categorization of items [fig. 14] left bottom: PHYSICAL SPACE - content of the map and legend [fig. 15]

Map of Hradec Kralove as a Physical space is depicts how the city and space inside is experienced in terms of accessibility - both physical and virtual (visual).

Each plot, district or zone is classified for physical character - [1] built, [2] unbuilt but enclosed by buildings and [3] unbuilt. Second dimension are four levels of usage regime - [A] private, [B] semi-private, [C] semi-public and [D] public. Intersection of those creates 12 values and 5 of them, relevant for this map, are then assigned shades of gray-scale and depicted.

Percent of coverage in different areas then shows variations in structure and character of those.

Loosely based on the principal of Nolli’s map, some changes were introduced: widening of scale to 5 grades and also working only with building blocks and plots and not with separate buildings. I chose not to do so mostly because of the scale of this map. Differencing function of parter and higher floors in mixed-use city houses would require its own method, colliding with purpose of the rest of the map.

Five shades of gray are evenly distributed from black to white to ensure maximal possible contrast. Patterns are avoided as they would interfere with other figures in such scale.

Final map and its evaluation is on the page 36.

point

line

surface

roads parking lots

auto-mobility

park + ride critical points car-restricted zones urban - stops

public transport

urban - stops walking distance transfer urban / distant / P+R distant - stops bike paths

bicycle transport

bike-friendly roads bike parking / transfer car / public transport / distant transfer car / public transport transfer public transport / distant transfer public transport stop car park bicycle path / bicycle friendly road motorway / main road walking distance from PT stop

CITY AS A MOBILE SPACE

Map depicting the city as a Mobile space is focused on the layer of functional mobility. Due to the scale of the map and the intent, the scope is simplified [A] onto main flows and routes and [B] transportation flows (rather than tourism etc.). Each item is evaluated for the real importance in reality - therefore are for example included public transport stops and not actual lines.

Items are divided into 3 basic categories: [1] individual car transport, [2] public transport - urban and long-distant and [3] bicycle transport. Pedestrian transport is not included as a basic category due to is interconnection with other means. Significant pedestrian patterns are depicted in other maps.

Accessible walking distance is 250 m (just over 3 minutes); over this distance it is reasonable to combine more transport means available in such city.

Items to be depicted are named and sorted into figures (the table on the left) and assigned visual value.

After initial items setup, further changes (and reductions) were made - in favour of readability of the map and also factual presence in the city.

Abandoned items are marked gray in the table.

Final map and its evaluation is on the page 38.

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left top: MOBILE SPACE - categorization of items [fig. 16] left bottom: MOBILE SPACE - content of the map and legend [fig. 17]

point

line

surface public parks meadows

greenery

alleys significant trees general city green

public park areas open land, meadow areas (semi) private partially green areas tree alley lines

CITY AS A GREEN SPACE

Map depicting the city as a Green space is focused on the layer of city green. Due to terrain conditions, city’s historical development and generous modernistic planning, natural greenery is present throughout the whole city in various forms: tree alleys following main roads, public parks, housing areas with (visually accessible) gardens and also broad meadows along rivers reaching close to the center.

Nature of these elements and scale of map leads to depicting of mainly surfaces and less lines. Initially I wanted also to include significant single trees, contributing to image of several public buildings in the center, as points. These were however cut down in last years and this category thus remains empty.

Colours used are logically shades of green in different values. Parks, heavily used and maintained, are the most intense. Meadows and open land, usually located in the outer city and less used, are lighter. General greenery in form of garden town etc. is the lightest and also discontinuously hatched, as it is discontinuous also in reality.

Final map and its evaluation is on the page 40.

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left top: GREEN SPACE - categorization of items [fig. 18] left bottom: GREEN SPACE - content of the map and legend [fig. 19]

MAPS

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Five maps elaborated, downsized from original 1:6 500 to approx. 1:14 000; with legend and evaluation of the expected expression of each depiction.

Map of Hradec Kralove as a Social space shows various city functions and their spread over the land. With basically only real center, ranging from central station through modern extension towards historic town, the civic life follows similar pattern.

CITY AS A SOCIAL SPACE

civic amenities, social attractors inner city parks compact centre

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Map of Hradec Kralove as a symbolic space shows its main orientation points and elements, which define circulation through the town and gained experience.

This town is specific by regular radial structure with its center located on a single hill. Therefore more than anywhere else long-distance views come into action, often merged with main access roads. Actually, the whole traffic network poses such clear figure, that it is the leading mean of orientation - ring with radials determining sectors.

Long-distance visual axes spread around the central church tower; local axes are to be found mostly in the modernistic expansions.

The two confluencing rivers act as important element, nevertheless not very efficient for determining directions (due to their irregularities).

CITY AS A SYMBOLIC SPACE

distantly visible landmarks local landmarks, nodes main axes of sight local axes of sight distantly visible fronts main paths inner compact city area city area

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Map of Hradec Kralove as a Physical space depicts how the city and space inside is experienced in terms of accessibility - both physical and virtual (visual).

Each plot, district or zone is classified for physical character - [1] built, [2] unbuilt but enclosed by buildings and [3] unbuilt. Second dimension are four levels of usage regime - [A] private, [B] semiprivate, [C] semi-public and [D] public. Intersection of those creates 12 values and 5 of them, relevant for this map, are then assigned shades of gray scale and depicted.

Percent of coverage in different areas then shows variations in structure and character of those. Difference is visible for example between south-western garden city with relative small public space and south-eastern block houses areas with practically no private space at all.

CITY AS A PHYSICAL SPACE

built area enclosed semi-public area open private area open semi-public area open public area

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Map of Hradec Kralove as a mobile space shows main traffic flows and changing points in the city.

Individual car transport is concentrated in the 2nd ring and radial motorways to various directions; traffic in individual segments and the city center is spread over smaller streets.

Public transport is well servicing the whole urbanized area with stops close enough to each other and interconnected with other means: central train and bus station in the northwest and several P+R around the town.

Bicycle paths and create fine mesh all over the area, partially following the main car flows (with dedicated lanes), partially utilizing the river banks and filled with network of small streets offering undisturbed bicycle traffic.

CITY AS A MOBILE SPACE

car / public transport / distant transfer car / public transport transfer public transport / distant transfer public transport stop car park bicycle path / bicycle friendly road motorway / main road walking distance from PT stop

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Map depicting the city as a Green space is focused on the layer of city green. Due to terrain conditions, city’s historical development and generous modernistic planning, natural greenery is present throughout the whole city in unusually high amount. It is present in various forms: tree alleys following main roads, public parks, housing areas with (visually accessible) gardens and also broad meadows along rivers reaching close to the center.

The elements are depicted as surfaces (either more intense and continuous or rather general and diffuse) and lines. Single trees, significant at the whole city level, are currently not present.

CITY AS A GREEN SPACE

public park areas open land, meadow areas (semi) private partially green areas tree alley lines

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list of sources

A. MacEachren: How Maps Work [Guilford Press, New York; 2004]

M. Monmonier: How to Lie with Maps [The University of Chicago Press, London, 1996]

http://hradeckralove.org http://mapy.geology.cz http://forum.valka.cz http://www.uzemneplany.sk

list of figures [fig. 1]

typical silhouette of the city

[fig. 2]

plan of modernist extension by arch. Gocár [retrieved from http://hradeckralove.org]

[fig. 3]

20th century architecture in modern city

[fig. 4]

topographic map of the city and surroundings [retrieved from http://mapy.geology.cz]

[fig. 5]

coat of arm of the town [retrieved from http://mapy.geology.cz]

[fig. 6]

location of the town within Czech Republic

[fig. 7]

historical map of the Austrian fortress, dated 1767 [retrieved from http://forum.valka.cz]

[fig. 8]

master-plan for the city by arch. Gocár, dated 1928 [retrieved from http://www.uzemneplany.sk]

[fig. 9]

base-map and area used for assignment

[fig. 10]

base-map and area used for assignment on orthophoto map

[fig. 11]

SOCIAL SPACE - content of the map and legend

[fig. 12]

SYMBOLIC SPACE - categorization of items

[fig. 13]

SYMBOLIC SPACE - content of the map and legend

[fig. 14]

PHYSICAL SPACE - categorization of items

[fig. 15]

PHYSICAL SPACE - content of the map and legend

[fig. 16]

MOBILE SPACE - categorization of items

[fig. 17]

MOBILE SPACE - content of the map and legend

[fig. 18]

GREEN SPACE - categorization of items

[fig. 19]

GREEN SPACE - content of the map and legend