Living Blocks

Urban morphology, the special attention is given to how the physical form of a city changes over time and to how different cities compare to each other.

A Canadian city called Mississauga is trying to create a more vibrant and pedestrian-friendly downtown, but the large scale of block patterns identified the key problem, which to compare with other major cities in the world.

"Because great cities have short blocks and lively sidewalks, Mississauga wants a downtown grid that lures pedestrians – and Amacon's Parkside Village will help launch the vision", an article "Beyond Desity" which has been publiched in Newspaper Toronto Star.

and the diagrams above demostrate:

• MISSISSAUGA: “Long blocks and virtually empty sidewalks”
• BARCELONA: “La Ramblas is the main north-south promenade”
• COPENHAGEN: “City features a car-free zone called the Stroget”
• LONDON: “The Mayfair and Soho districts south of Oxford St”
• NEW YORK: “Midtown Manhattan south of Central Park”
• PARIS: “Streets were designed by Georges-Eugne Haussmann”
• ROME: “East of the Tiber River bend that points to the Vatican”
• SAN FRANCISCO: “Market St splits the central city into two grids”
• TORONTO: “Between Queen and College Sts east of Bathurst”

more info @ Spacing Toronto