Topic > Concentric Zone Analysis - 1306

Introduction Since the development of modern cities, geographers have broken down city maps into simple planning models to facilitate land use studies. However, as technology and transportation have made significant advances, many cities have begun to change their urban form and land use. In this essay I will present and compare the Concentric Zone model with the Multi Core model and their relevance for the modern and postmodern city. Concentric Zone ModelOne of the first urban development models created was the Concentric Zone model. It was based on the city of Chicago in the 1920s, while it was a modern industrial city focused on manufactured goods and manufacturing. Most people at that time still depended on public transportation as the availability of private cars was not common. It is a model in which the zones are divided by concentric circles. (Bunyi, J. 2010)Figure 1: Concentric Zone Model (SSC Leichhardt Geography Blog, 2011)The zones are divided with the Central Business District (CBD) in the centre, where most businesses are located as it has a of transport developed to accommodate commuters. Since this area is highly accessible, many businesses and restaurants are built in the area. The industrial estate is located outside the CBD, to take advantage of nearby transport hubs, as well as the adjacent job market. The transition zone is home to the majority of the working class as it is close to factories, reducing transportation costs. Living standards in this area are generally poor due to pollution and population. (Pacione, M. 2005) The consolidated residential area was dominated by the working class who managed to move away from the previous area. This region is reasonably close to the CBD but quite distant… middle of the paper… the CBD being redeveloped into a mixed-use precinct shows how concentric zone model cities can evolve into a Multi Core model city. (East Perth Redevelopment Authority, 2007) Conclusion A concentric city model differs from a multi-core city model in that it functions differently economically and socially. The first is based on industrial cities, heavily dependent on manufactured goods and exports, where the wealthy can afford to stay as far away from factories and the CBD as possible. The latter better explains a postmodern society in which the economy is diversified and has multiple growth centers, with greater emphasis on services and consumption than manufacturing and production. Therefore, it has its own high-class residential areas close to the CBD as the redevelopment of industrial areas provides a desirable area with high living standards and low commuting costs.