On Site: How To Define An Urban Site

Kahn’s way of explaining defining urban sites is well-balanced and thorough for students who study architecture. Although physical boundary is the easiest method to define & segment an urban site, an urban site is spatial networks that deal with both physical as well as nonphysical phenomena. It is assembled in a dynamic, multi-scalar way to function and meet various dimensions for consideration.

According to Kahn, there are five concepts for urban site thinking; mobile ground, site reach, site construction, unbound sites, and urban constellation. In my opinion, the five concepts should be brought down to one; thinking an urban site as a complex being in motion. A city needs to be studied, analyzed, and understood in order to be an urban site as a progressive creature in which other creatures live. It has a scale and contexts.
Even if an urban site wants to be fixed static, it cannot be because people and their lives are changing and dynamic. (Of course, there is a degree in changes and dynamicity. All urban sites are in spectrum of motion)

Kahn mentioned “urban site can be both a city and limited sites within it”. It is quite interesting to view an existence which can be itself and a smaller part of itself. This phrase already implies an understandable boundary for an urban site. A question might arise from this statement. Why can an urban site not be bigger than itself? I think it can, but it needs time and situation for this to happen. For an example, the city of Atlanta has not stopped its expansion from its birth. So, it is bigger than it was. The future Atlanta could be a lot bigger than what it is now. In case of Houston, it is much difficult to define the city as an urban site. It is easy to understand where it is, but it is not a simple task to define it as a site in terms of interactions and developments.


I want to ask why urban sites chosen by people after defining one. An urban site is no longer a new, exotic term as so many cities in the world are the centers for human activities including socializing, working, and entertaining. As much as it has been a vital living environment for humans, it has caused serious environmental problems. Nevertheless, people desire urban sites. I happen to be one of people who were born and raised in urban areas, and I love cities. Therefore, I decided to pick an urban site for my thesis.