Abstract:

Several theories have been developed for the design of urban spaces throughout the history. Urban design theories are based on different concepts. In this paper, three studies are examined: Urban Space (1979) of Rob Krier, A Pattern Language (1977) of Christopher Alexander, and The Social Logic of Space (1984) of Bill Hillier. First, the outlines of the studies are presented. Then they are examined in terms of how they explain the concept of urban space and how they analyze the urban space. Finally, they are discussed in terms of epistemological paradigms. Krier emphasizes historicism and interprets urban space through typological and morphological point of view and analyses. Alexander, providing a structuralist perspective, evaluates urban space through functional relations and needs. Hillier could be considered a post-positivist as he constructs a mathematical and geometrical representation of space and builds social connections upon this representation.   

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