Key Features and Benefits of Compact Settlement
The cultural and demographic changes in the urban areas as well as the increasing population of the world has called for new thinking in the planning and development of new cities.
Compact settlement is one of the most used strategies of combating urban sprawl.
But unlike large metropolitan areas that are spread over vast territories, compact settlements, on the contrary, imply maximal density in land usage.
These are communities intended to help people live closer to basic amenities and facilities, with a reduced carbon footprint and more lively neighbourhoods within walking distance.
In this paper, we aim to identify synthesises including the meaning of compact settlement, key attributes of compact settlement, and advantages of instituting compact settlement.
What is Compact Settlement?
Compact settlement, or compact urban development, is a concept of population agglomeration freed from the traditional city-edge limitations relative to density, compatibility of functions, interconnectivity and accessibility.
This approach often incorporates such major characteristics as multi-story buildings, public transport, and friendly streets for pedestrians, and slight usage of individual automobile transportation.
In desirable objectives, we aim at the minimal consumption of the country’s land yet achieving optimum service provision including education, health and shopping.
This approach is not only limited to the large cities, but can apply for small towns and neighborhoods also
Key Features of Compact Settlements
Compact settlement is not the same with that of the conventional parceling of land into developments and housing units have unique characteristics that enhance density, functional and accessibility.
1. Mixed-Use Development:
Concentrated development often include living, business and playing zones in one area.
Such a layout supports the “work, live, play” concept in which one can conveniently commute to his or her workplace as well as other daily essential needs and recreational facilities without having to cover long distances.
2. High-Density Housing:
To avoid spreading out or sprawling over large fields, compact communities include apartments, condominiums, and row houses in an effort to house more people in a confined space.
3. Accessible Public Transportation:
It importantly provides the population with an opportunity to move around without having to own or use individual means of transport which are common in well-established towns.
Public transport, buses, trains, cycling, and fully pedestrian-accessible neighborhoods or towns enable people to function better in their environmental settings.
4. Green Spaces and Public Amenities:
Public green areas are incorporated into dense living environments, giving inhabitants places to play, gather and exercise.
5. Environmental Benefits of Compact Settlements
The small urban structure has a number of environmental benefits, which are crucial for modern city, which seeks to minimize their ecological footprint and develop a sustainable model of urban development.
6. Reduced Land Consumption:
Reducing the floor area ratio, that is, vertical development and higher density, compact settlements utilize far much lesser land than large disperse structures.
The so mentioned conservation of land also plays an important role in maintaining the natural resource such as non-irrigated land, agricultural land, and other vegetation on the edge of most cities.
7. Lower Carbon Emissions:
Possible to reduce car use by ensuring that most services, workplaces, and play areas are located within compact settlements.
Indeed, physical activity achieved when individuals engage in walking, cycling or choosing to be chauffeur driven by public transport has a way of reducing emission of greenhouse gases therefore making such compact settlements more sustainable.
8. Efficient Use of Resources:
Population is closely put together with infrastructure enhancing supply of water, electricity, and disposal of wastes.
Common roof and party walls in multi-housing units, for example, reduce the amount of energy required in generating heating and cooling, thus saving costs.
Social and Economic Benefits of Compact Settlements
Urban designs in compact settlement are meant to better the quality of the people living there and promote unity.
However, the subjectivist model proposed here has certain clear economic benefits compared to this development model.
1. Enhanced Community Engagement:
Presence of crowded areas within the home that are shared promotes intimate contact with the neighbors.
Human ‘gatherings’ points may include community buildings, parks and plazas through which the compact built form settlements can achieve the objectives of allowing meeting points for residents and or participating in activities.
2. Reduced Transportation Costs:
Daily amenities and services within close proximity mean the residents use little on vehicle commuting and repair.
This can be a great way of having a reduction on expensive charges particularly to low and middle class families.
3. Efficient Use of Public Services:
Dense population regions also enable cities to deliver many important services including transport, rescue services and rubbish disposal, at a cheaper and more efficient way.
Compact Settlement and the Future of Urban Planning
With many cities embracing sustainable development goals, compact settlement is now becoming popular as one of the best planning models for future human settlement.
This model has been developed to deal with multiple problems, including a lack of homes and increased cost of living, detrimental impact on the environment, and social exclusion.
Small cities force the larger cities to consider the landscape in a new way and embrace humane urban planning environment.
Compact settlement serves as a solution to cities in responding to the phenomenon of climate change in that it is an approach to emission reduction and encouragement of adaptable populations.
The fact that compact settlements can be easily covered on foot or by bike is also beneficial for the residents’ health.
Some of this global cities are already planning in compact settlement principles, including green roof, per capita renewable energy sources, and developments for pedestrian centrality including Copenhagen, Port Land and Singapore.
Conclusion: The Promise of Compact Settlements
Compact settlements does not only apply to housing schemes; it is a paradigm change in how downtowns should be designed, sustainable, efficient and engaging.
Due to the fact that compact settlements focus people, services, and amenities in small areas, it becomes possible to live healthy, rather affordable, and environmentally courteous lives.
While addressing such immediate issues as emissions reduction and transportation expenses, compact settlement also addresses some of the major societal needs, such as social contact maintenance, in a positive manner and supports the principles of sustainable urban development.
And with the world becoming increasingly urbanised, compact form settlements present a useful solution to the housing deficit, as well as the overall management of populations, community and city resilience and sustainable cities for all.
These are some of the compact settlement principles which when adopted assist the society to shift to a paradigm that will lead to improving upon the quality of urban spaces in the societies with more livable and sustainable places to live in.
Also read: Rental Housing in Informal Settlements