4. NYC’s Principles of Good Urban Design
NYC Department of City Planning, Division of Urban Design
Urban Design Fellowship, Summer 2022
Supervisor: Eugenia Di Girolamo
Collaborator: Melissa Gutiérrez Soto
Now published on the NYC Department of City Planning’s website as part of the agency’s Principles of Good Urban Design, these illustrations convey key characteristics of well-designed neighborhoods in New York City. The principles are meant to serve simultaneously as a guide to development teams seeking sign-off from the department as well as an informative tool for everyday New Yorkers. Rather than representing precise locations, the illustrations are amalgamations that evoke the scale and built characteristics of various neighborhoods across the five boroughs, including Astoria, the West Village, Forest Hills, Crown Heights, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. The four principles are as follows (with relevant text pasted below each illustration):
Enhance People’s Daily Lives:
Everyone should feel safe and comfortable moving around New York City and enjoying its many open spaces. Good design can contribute to a more inclusive, enjoyable experience of everyday life in a city that fosters a sense of pride and belonging. This principle speaks to:
- Accessibility and Safety
- Mobility and Connectivity
- Comfort and Beauty
- Quality and Durability
Care for a Neighborhood’s History, Culture, and Identity:
People make our neighborhoods and the buildings, parks and streets are their backdrop. Good design respects the histories, identities, and cultures that have shaped and continue to shape the city’s many diverse neighborhoods. This principle speaks to:
- Community and Diversity
- Existing Networks and Uses
- Natural Features and Resources
- Building Features and Form
Embrace the City’s Dynamism:
New York City is an unparalleled, dynamic, and vibrant world capital. Whether it is the iconic landmarks admired around the world, the bustling commercial districts driving innovation, the vibrant parks that everyone can enjoy, or the rhythm of apartment buildings that define a neighborhood – "New Yorkness” looks different in every neighborhood. Good urban design can challenge preconceptions, advance progress, and open new ideas. This principle speaks to:
- Innovation and Creativity
- Flexibility and Variety
- Old and New
- Resourcefulness and Tenacity
Confront Society’s Greatest Challenges:
New York City must secure its future against many challenges, from the climate crisis to social inequity. We must make design choices that help us build a safer, stronger, fairer, more resilient city for generations to come. This principle speaks to:
- Sustainability and Adaptability
- Equity and Opportunity
- Health and Well-being
- Diversity and Mutual Understanding