Definitions & Perceptions  Design: is a skill, quite possibly an art, and also has its scientific, technical aspects. The process of imaging something which does not exist has its difficulties as well as its highlights. To learn how to design is as much as an opportunity to practice, to reflect and to criticize, then practice some more, than learning in a more formal sense Design involves synthesizing ideas and transforming that synthesis into three dimensional form

Definitions & Perceptions The middle line between Architecture & Urban Planning: Big architecture & less than full-blown urban planning Some urban designers see urban planning as a subset of urban design Urban design (as practiced by the master builders) is an ancient profession which has shaped towns and cities over the centuries in many different cultures and continents landscape architecture: concerns both with the soft landscape, that is greenery, vegetation and water and also with the hard, that is the design and treatment of open spaces using hard surfaces such as granite, paving and elements such as street furniture Urban design: concerns with the physical form of cities, buildings and the space between them It is the process of giving physical design direction to urban growth, conservation, change

Definitions & Perceptions Urban design as: everything to do with planning that is not covered by urban planning domain The role of urban designer: the setting of any major new development is of great importance to town planners, transport planners and urban designers The urban designer would be thinking about: the design of the scheme itself, its layout, the relationships between buildings and space within the scheme and related access and circulation patterns, how it works as a scheme, and the design implication of its potential for growth and its future impact on the structure and layout of neighbouring areas, its visual appearance.

Definitions & Perceptions Urban design means: the relationship between different buildings; the relationship between buildings and streets, squares, parks and other spaces which make up the public domain; the nature and quality of the public domain itself; the relationship of one part of a village, town, or city with other parts; and the patterns of movement and activity which are thereby established; the relationships between all the elements of the built and unbuilt space

Who are the real urban designers? 1- Professionals: The question of who is allowed to be called an urban designer and on what basis of what qualifications? Educational needs Professional organizations & publishable journals related to urban design Local authorities & their urban design departments

Who are the real urban designers? 2- Community groups: There has been considerable interest from community groups, minorities, and residents ’ groups to participate in urban design issues, because they affect the quality and feels of areas in which people live The value of bottom up involvement within urban design process like many non-professionals want to have a say over the shape and form of their built environment leads us to the user-oriented approach Such participatory approach is going to make urban design to be better and more human or not? Community participation cannot replace the role of the urban designer but rather it acts as an education for understanding UD & a means to take decisions out of politician and officials and have a say or voice

Who are the real urban designers? 3- Other professionals: Architects City/urban planners Transportation engineers Landscape architects