HOFILEÑA, ANGELICA MAE B.
AR 451-ARCH41S1
Assignment 3.1. Explication of Perry's Neighborhood Unit
Clarence Arthur Perry is an American planner that came up with the
“neighborhood unit” concept in 1939. He recognizes a gap in the plans of the existing
neighborhoods which were perceived as “island locked” since the neighborhood is
surrounded by active vehicular mobility which threatens the safety of the children and
adults walking to nearby amenities such as playgrounds. It inspired him to generate a
plan which he thinks is more effective and safe for the user since Perry believes that
cities should consist of a collection of smaller units and connect these small units of
neighborhoods to create towns. Cultural uses such as elementary school should be in
the center and surrounded by major roads and commercial establishments such as
shopping centers at the intersection. Perry’s concept aims to establish a concept of
neighborhood, presenting a theory of designing a city into smaller suburban areas,
allowing a five-minute walking distance of approximately 160 acres. Clarence Arthur
Perry’s “The Neighborhood Unit” concept is disseminated to the Regional Plan of New
York along with the surrounding area or district.
The concept generated by Clarence Arthur Perry is significant in urban design
and the field of architecture since his concept became influential in the planning and
implementation of cities in the United States. It is a concept that enlightens the
designers and planners to design towns, cities, and neighborhoods that is safe,
accessible, and would encourage community spirit. His concept prevailed in the 1920s
and 1940s, the centers of neighborhoods were schools. “The Neighborhood Unit”
concept can be applied when adhering to the principles of urban design. It can also be
applied when perceiving urban design as both a product and a process since it
promotes sensory and cognitive relationships between people and their environment
with how the people’s needs, values, and aspirations can be best accommodated and
provided in built forms. Utilization of this concept is beneficial when designing the town's
streets and public spaces since it doesn’t make the area congested. It prioritizes the
safety of the residents through the design feature that eliminates the non-local traffic in
the neighborhood because the commercial spaces are situated at the neighborhood's
entrance.
The first two principles are Center the school and Design internal streets of
The Neighborhood Unit concept adheres to the principle of safety and security of the
urban design. Utilizing curvilinear street design is implemented both for safety and
aesthetic purposes. It is applied in the design of the local and arterial streets which
enhances the safety of the pedestrians. It also adheres to the principle of movement,
linkages, permeability, and accessibility of urban design since it highlights the
walkability of the town’s plan and enables the users to walk comfortably without
crossing a major arterial street. The stated principles of THe Neighborhood Unit concept
are relevant to two of the four attributes of Traditional Neighborhood Development
which are Neighborhood Size and The Street Pattern since the streets are designed to
diffuse automobile traffic and shorten walking distances so the users can walk at an
easy pace and accommodates modes of transportation through expanding the quarter
mile into a half-mile in addition of a transit hub.
The Dedicate at least 10 percent of the neighborhood land area to parks and open
spaces principle of The Neighborhood Unit concept encourages the implementation of
areas for community interaction. Thus, prioritizing public health and considering the
safety and welfare of the occupants. This relates to the urban design concept of
environmental planning. It is a strategic development that accentuates sustainability.
The principle of Implement a wider use of the school facilities can also be related to
it as well as the urban design movement called landscape urbanism. It refers to how the
designers and planners came up with a design strategy when it comes to the design
process, landscape, and territories of planetary urbanization such as metropolitan
areas, rural environments, productive landscapes, and such. It is also relevant to the
Public Open Spaces, one of the four attributes of the Traditional Neighborhood
Development community design concept since it gives priority to open spaces that
encourage community activity and enhance the identity and civic pride of the
neighborhood.
The Neighborhood Unit concept by Clarence Arthur Perry prioritizes the safety of
the occupants and its environment. It plays a vital role in urban design since it
pioneered the implementation of a human-centric, efficient, and sustainable urban
design and urban planning. It is a design that lessens the ecological footprint of the
neighborhood through its walkability design feature. The concept conforms with the
general considerations of urban design namely its urban design structure, function & fit,
character and meaning, order and incident, and accessibility. The order and design of
the plan bring life to the communities since it encourages interaction among the users
and by allowing a mixture of uses while giving priority to the safety of its users. This
concept can be an inspiration in the development and re-development of towns.
