EVOLUTION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN
SETTLEMENTS AND
URBANIZATION
Plan 201-B
TOPIC: EKISTICS
• Introduction to the Science of Human
Settlements
• Principles on the Creation of Human Settlements
• Elements of Human Settlements
• Basic Parts of Composite Human Settlements
• Classification of Human Settlements
• Evolution of Human Settlements
Principles in Creation of Human Settlements
1. Maximization of Man’s potential contacts with the elements of
nature (water/trees)
2. Minimization of Man’s potential contacts with the elements of
nature (water/trees)
3. Mans’ protective space
4. Optimization of the quality of man’s relationship with his
environment. (Nature, Man, Shells, Networks, Society)
5. Optimum synthesis of the other four principles
Elements of Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nature
Man
Society
Shells
Networks
Basic Parts of Composite Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
Homogenous Parts – fields
Central Parts – built-up villages
Circulatory Parts – roads & paths within the fields
Special Parts – monastery contained within the homogenous part
Classification of Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Based on Sizes - Urban or Rural
Based on Location of Settlements – Plains, mountains, coastals
Based on Physical Forms – expression of content, function, and structure
Based on Five Elements of Human Settlements
Based on Functions
Based on Time Dimensions
Based on degree of society’s consciousness involvement in settlements
creation – natural and planned settlements
8. Based on Institutions, legislations and administrations – which society
has created for settlements
Classification of Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By Ekistics Units
By Ekistics Elements
By Ekistics Functions
By Evolutionary Phases
By Factors & Disciplines
1. By Ekistic Units
Four Basic Groups:
a) Minor Shells – Man, room, house
b) Micro-settlements – the traditional town
c) Meso-settlements – b/w traditional town & conurbation (polis)
d) Macro-settlements – largest possible expression: Ecumenopolis
• Physical & Social Units – Man (smallest unit); Space, either personally owned
or shared (2nd unit); Family Home (3rd Unit)
• Social Unit – Group of Homes
1. By Ekistic Units
Ekistics Lograthmic Scale (ELS):
1. Anthropos/Man – 1
2. Room – 2
3. House – 5
4. Hamlet – 40
5. Village – 250
6. Neighbourhood – 1.5K
7. Small Polis – 10K
8. Polis (City) – 75K
9. Small Metropolis – 500k
10. Metropolis – 4M
11. Small Megalopolis – 25M
12. Megalopolis – 150M
13. Small Eperopolis – 750M
14. Eperopolis – 7,500M
15. Ecumenopolis – 50,000M
2. By Elements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nature
Man
Society
Shells
Networks
3. By Functions
Important to understanding of the meaning and role of settlements
1. Reveal nature, specialization, & raison d’etre of settlements
2. Based on activity (economic, social), their performance, or special
role (as dormitories, retirement villages, etc.)
4. By Evolutionary Phases
1. Macro scale – nomadic, agricultural, urban, urban industrial
2. Micro scale – specific area at a limited period of time
5. By Factors & Disciplines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cultural Disciplines
Economics
Sociology
Political Sciences Administration
Technical Disciplines
Ekistics
• Need to have a science of human settlements
(EKISTICS)
• Ekistics was coined by Greek planner,
Constantinos A. Doxiadis (Greek word,“oikos”
(home) and “oiko” (settling down)
• In order to create the cities of the future, we
need to systematically develop a science of
human settlements.
• This science, termed Ekistics, will take into
consideration the principles man takes into
account when building his settlements, as well
as the evolution of human settlements through
history in terms of size and quality.
• The target is to build the city of optimum size,
that is, a city which respects human dimensions.
• Since there is no point in resisting development,
we should try to accommodate technological
evolution and the needs of man within the same
settlement.
Constantinos A. Doxiadis
"Ekistics starts with the
premise that human
settlements are susceptible of
systematic investigation”
INDIVIDUAL
ASSIGNMENT
Song Analysis
https://youtu.be/KwIe
_sjKeAY
• Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired, she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around
• Our house, in the middle of our street
• Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening
And it's usually quite loud
Our mum, she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed
• Father gets up late for work
Mother has to iron his shirt
Then she sends the kids to school
Sees them off with a small kiss (Ah, ah, ah, ah)
She's the one they're going to miss
In lots of ways
• Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our street
• Father wears his Sunday best
I remember way back then
When everything was true and when
We would have such a very good time
Such a fine time, such a happy time
And I remember how we'd play
Simply waste the day away
Then we'd say nothing would come between us
Two dreamers
• Father wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
Brother's got a date to keep
He can't hang around
• Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, was our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, that was where we used to sleep
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house
Elements of Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nature – the neighborhood/ location of their house
Man – Father, mother, the kids, sister, and brother.
Society – the crowd of their house, the kid’s school,
Shells – their house, their castle, the school
Networks – their house in the middle of the street, connection
between their house and the school, the church, and the
workplace. The utilities that powers their house (to iron clothes, to
shower)
Basic Parts of Composite Human Settlements
1. Homogenous Parts – neighborhood/ location of their house
2. Central Parts – their house (being in the middle), where it has
crowds and something is always happening
3. Circulatory Parts – middle of the street
4. Special Parts – the school, the church, the workplace, and how he
describes his house as the castle and the keep.
Classification of Human Settlements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
By Ekistics Units
By Ekistics Elements
By Ekistics Functions
By Evolutionary Phases
By Factors & Disciplines
Classification of Human Settlements
1. By Ekistics Units
a) By the basic group: Their house is a Minor Settlement; and their town is a
Micro-Settlement
b) Units: Individually, they are considered as the smallest unit. The shared
space b/w each of them as the 2nd unit. Their house as the 3rd unit. Their
village/ neighborhood as the 4th or social unit.
c) Ekistics Logarithmic Scale: Anthropos, Room, House, Hamlet, and
Neighborhood
Classification of Human Settlements
2. By Ekistic Elements
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Nature – the neighborhood/ location of their house
Man – Father, mother, the kids, sister, and brother.
Society – the crowd of their house, the kid’s school,
Shells – their house, their castle, the school
Networks – their house in the middle of the street, connection between
their house and the school, the church, and the workplace. The utilities
that powers their house (to iron clothes, to shower)
Classification of Human Settlements
3. By Ekistic Functions
• It’s main function is to house and provide shelter for the family. A place to
sleep, to get a rest, to change clothes and/or iron them, and to hang around.
• It is a social space for the family, and at the same time for the crowd gathering
- that it’s so loud something is always happening.
Classification of Human Settlements
4. By Evolutionary Phases
• The environment I took from the song in a macro scale might have evolved
into an urban area. By stating that their house is in the middle of the street,
states that there multiple residential houses, similar to suburbia. Limited
spaces also have been introduced, like the schools, and the workplace, giving
us a hint that the place has evolved into an urban area.
• In a micro scale, the neighborhood has been introduced to us through the
house’s position in space, close proximity of schools and work places, and
possible a parks/ restaurants to go for dates.
Classification of Human Settlements
5. By Factors & Disciplines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cultural Disciplines
Economics
Sociology
Political Sciences Administration
Technical Disciplines
5. By Factors & Disciplines
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cultural Disciplines
Economics
Sociology
Political Sciences Administration
Technical Disciplines
What you need to do (for presentation next
meeting – 5 students to be called randomly)
Identify the following, based on the song:
• Elements of Human Settlements
• Basic Parts of Composite Human Settlements
• Classification of Human Settlements
• Ekistic Units
• Ekistic Elements
• Ekistic Functions
• Evolutionary Phases
• Factors and Disciplines
Thank you and see you next week!
