Masterthese zur Erlangung des Master of Advanced Studies in Real Estate Developing a framework to assess urban quality An approach validated through three development areas in the city of Zurich Verfasserin: Bianca-Ioana Brici [email protected] Eingereicht bei: Dr. Benedikt Boucsein ETH Zurich / BHSF Architekten Abgabedatum: 18.08.2014 II Table of Contents Table of Contents .............................................................................................................. II List of abbreviations and acronyms ................................................................................ IV List of illustrations ........................................................................................................... V List of tables ................................................................................................................... VI Executive Summary ....................................................................................................... VII 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Research question ................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Goals .................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Theme delimitation .............................................................................................. 3 1.4 Approach .............................................................................................................. 4 2 Terminology ............................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Urbanity ............................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Urban quality ....................................................................................................... 8 3 Case Study: Area development in the city of Zurich ................................................ 11 3.1 Context of the area’s development initiatives .................................................... 11 3.2 Processes and instruments in area development ................................................ 12 3.3 Development areas ............................................................................................. 14 3.3.1 Neu Oerlikon ............................................................................................... 14 3.3.2 Zurich West ................................................................................................. 16 3.3.3 Bahnhof Altstetten - Juch ............................................................................ 17 4 Research .................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Research strategy ............................................................................................... 19 4.1.1 Research methods ........................................................................................ 19 4.1.2 Relevant existing approaches ...................................................................... 20 4.1.3 Challenges in evaluating urban quality ....................................................... 21 4.2 A framework to assess urban quality ................................................................. 23 4.2.1 Centrality ..................................................................................................... 24 4.2.2 Accessibility ................................................................................................ 25 4.2.3 Usability ...................................................................................................... 27 4.2.4 Adaptability ................................................................................................. 28 4.2.5 Appropriation .............................................................................................. 29 III 4.2.6 Diversity ...................................................................................................... 30 4.2.7 Interaction .................................................................................................... 32 4.2.8 Design .......................................................................................................... 33 4.3 Method validation .............................................................................................. 36 4.3.1 Data sampling and procedures in case study evaluation ............................. 36 4.3.2 Case study evaluation .................................................................................. 38 4.3.2.1 Neu Oerlikon ....................................................................................... 38 4.3.2.2 Zurich West ......................................................................................... 41 4.3.2.3 Bahnhof Altstetten - Juch .................................................................... 44 4.3.3 Confrontation urban quality framework - area development goals ............. 47 4.3.3.1 Neu Oerlikon ....................................................................................... 47 4.3.3.2 Zurich West ......................................................................................... 48 4.3.3.3 Bahnhof Altstetten - Juch ................................................................... 49 4.4 Research findings ............................................................................................... 50 4.4.1 General findings .......................................................................................... 50 4.4.2 Findings from the the case study evaluation ............................................... 50 4.4.3 Correlation between the success in reaching urban quality and the strategy description ............................................................................................................... 52 4.4.4 Correlation between the success in reaching urban quality and the development process ............................................................................................... 53 5 Synthesis and recommendations ............................................................................... 54 5.1 Synthesis ............................................................................................................ 54 5.1.1 Recommendations for planers and authorities ............................................ 54 5.1.2 Recommendations for investors and landowners ........................................ 56 5.2 Potential applicability - a method to assist the development processes ............. 57 5.3 Limitations and further research posibilities ...................................................... 58 List of references ............................................................................................................ 59 Internet sources ............................................................................................................... 63 Appendix ........................................................................................................................ 64 IV List of abbreviations and acronyms AfS Amt für Städtebau ARE Bundesamt für Raumentwicklung (english - Federal Office for Spatial Development) BFS Schweizer Bundesamt für Statistik GIS-ZH Geographisches Informationssystem des Kantons Zürich (english- Geographical Information System of Canton Zurich) NFP65 Nationales Forschungsprogramm „Neue urbane Qualität” RES Rräumliche Entwicklungsstrategie SBB Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (english- Swiss Federal Railways) ZZN Zentrum Zurich Nord V List of illustrations Figure 1: Development areas of the city of Zurich..........................................................14 Figure 2: Aerial view of Neu Oerlikon............................................................................15 Figure 3: Aerial view of Zurich West..............................................................................17 Figure 4: Aerial view of Altstetten - Juch.......................................................................18 Figure 5: Evaluation Neu Oerlikon.................................................................................39 Figure 6: Evaluation Zurich West....... ...........................................................................42 Figure 7: Evaluation Altstetten – Juch... ........................................................................45 Figure 8: Case studies evaluation overview....................................................................51 VI List of tables Table 1: Urban quality evaluation framework.................................................................35 Table 2: Urban quality evaluation framework Neu Oerlikon..........................................40 Table 3: Urban quality evaluation framework Zurich West............................................43 Table 4: Urban quality evaluation framework Altstetten – Juch.....................................46 Table 5: Confrontation urban quality evaluation - strategy goals for Neu Oerlikon.......47 Table 6: Confrontation urban quality evaluation - strategy goals for Zurich West.........48 Table 7: Confrontation urban quality evaluation - strategy goals for Altstetten – Juch..49 VII Executive Summary Under city development strategies it is to be understood an urban design tool used by a city administration in order to support the controlled