Urban Planning & Design

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AP Human Geography › Urban Planning & Design

Questions 1 - 10
1

The American City Beautiful movement emerged from the __________ nineteenth-century Europe.

Beaux arts movement in

Impressionist movement in

Baroque style of

Transcendental movement of

Urban Expansion movement of

Explanation

The American City Beautiful movement emerged from the “Beaux arts movement” of nineteenth-century Europe. The “Beaux arts movement” emphasized wide-open spaces and national monuments and was particularly influential in Paris. The American City Beautiful movement was an American adaptation of this European ideal.

2

Which of these European capitals is often referred to as the quintessential European-style “Medieval city?”

Prague

Madrid

Paris

Berlin

Athens

Explanation

Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is a city that very much fits the style of the prototypical Medieval city. It has ornate cathedrals and lavish churches, narrow and winding streets, imposing buildings and architecture, and remnants of defensive fortifications. In terms of it's urban planning and it's aesthetic design features Prague perfectly fits the mould of a European Medieval city.

3

Which of these men designed the modern Brazilian capital of Brasilia?

Oscar Niemeyer.

Frank Lloyd Wright

Edward W. Soja

Daniel Burnham

Edmund Bacon

Explanation

The Brazilian capital city “Brasilia” was designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Brasilia is a city designed in the style of modern architecture.

4

Urban environments inspired by postmodern architecture primarily differ from urban environments inspired by modern architecture in that __________.

they incorporate more aesthetically pleasing buildings

they focus on economic efficiency and human convenience

they feature a greater emphasis on futuristic and industrious designs

they feature smaller neighborhoods and more wide-open spaces

None of these answers are accurate.

Explanation

Urban environments that are inspired by postmodern architecture tend to incorporate more aesthetically pleasing buildings than those inspired by modern architecture. Postmodern architecture decries the modern architectural emphasis on efficiency and industry; instead postmodern architecture tries to design buildings that are visually pleasing to human beings and provide modern humans with a link to their past.

5

The area in which an individual moves about within a city in any given day is known as that individual’s __________.

action space

area of contact

travel shape

movement zone

zone of control

Explanation

An “action space” is the area of a city in which an individual, or a group of individuals, move about within any given day. In a large city this might include where the individual lives, where they work, where they stop to pick up coffee, the subway station they take to get home, and so on.

6

Which South American city is considered a prototypical example of a city inspired by the modern architecture movement of the twentieth century?

Brasilia

Manaus

Salvador

Santiago

Recife

Explanation

Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, was designed and built in the mid-twentieth century. With its imposing geometric glass buildings and concrete structures it is the prototypical example of a city inspired by the modern architecture movement.

7

This city’s wide streets and national monuments are prototypical of the “Beaux arts movement.”

Paris

Barcelona

Edinburgh

Amsterdam

Copenhagen

Explanation

The “Beaux arts movement” was most influential in Paris, and other cities greatly influenced by French culture. Paris’ wide boulevards and prominent national monuments are classic examples of the “Beaux arts movement” which was so popular in nineteenth century European architecture.

8

Which of these is not one of the five categories that Lynch considers as having an impact on an individual’s perception of a city?

Parks

Nodes

Landmarks

Districts

Paths

Explanation

In collecting research for his seminal work Image of the City (1960), Kevin Lynch determined that there were five main categories that affect an individual’s perception of the city that they live in. Those five main categories were paths, districts, nodes, landmarks, and edges. “Parks” would probably fit under the category of landmarks.

9

Which of these is not a feature of a city whose design was inspired by the “Beaux arts movement?”

All of these are features of a city inspired by the “Beaux arts movement.”

None of these are features of a city inspired by the “Beaux arts movement.”

Wide open streets and avenues

Prominent national monuments

Expansive recreational areas

Explanation

The “Beaux arts movement” was prominent in European urban architecture in the nineteenth century. Particularly in Paris, and other cities greatly influenced by French culture. A city whose design was inspired by this movement would feature expansive recreational areas, prominent national monuments, and wide-open streets and avenues.

10

This architectural movement emerged in opposition to modern architecture.

Postmodern

Baroque

Transcendental

Transmodern

Poststructural

Explanation

The modern architectural movement emphasized efficiency and disregarded anything deemed frivolous or unnecessary. This movement dominated for much of the second-half of the twentieth century. Postmodern architecture has emerged in recent years in opposition to modern architecture. It tries to recapture architectural themes from before the modern period and incorporates aesthetically-pleasing buildings.

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