Summary
Highlights
The bid-rent theory explains that land becomes cheaper as you move further from the Central Business District (CBD). This affects the spatial layout of settlements, leading to taller, denser buildings near the CBD and more dispersed, horizontal development further out. High-density areas have higher land demand and prices, while manufacturing and residential zones seek cheaper land further from the core.
Based on 1920s Chicago, this model features a CBD at the center, surrounded by rings: a zone of transition (older homes, industries, lower-income residents), working-class homes, better residences (newer, more dispersed homes), and a commuter zone. This model is becoming outdated due to globalization, economic changes, urban renewal, and gentrification.
This model emphasizes transportation routes, with cities developing in wedges or sectors. Economic activities cluster along these routes, allowing for quick access and efficient shipping. However, advancements in transportation and the rise of edge cities have lessened the CBD's traditional importance, making this model also dated.
Created in 1945, this model reflects technological and transportation advancements, featuring multiple CBDs. Different activities and services gravitate to specific nodes, attracting certain groups and repelling others. For example, industrial jobs attract those workers, while corporate jobs attract different residents.
Developed in the 1960s, this model describes post-industrial cities with service-based economies. It accounts for improved transportation and people living farther from the city center, connected by robust infrastructure like Beltways. Edge cities are a key feature, exemplified by Atlanta's urban structure.
This model shows the impact of European colonization, with cities centered around a Central Plaza/CBD and a grid pattern. A spine of wealthy residents and commercial activity extends from the CBD, often leading to a mall. Peripheral areas include middle- and low-income housing and disamenity zones with extreme poverty, often lacking basic infrastructure and featuring informal settlements (favelas) formed by rapid urbanization.
Influenced by European colonization, this model has three distinct CBDs: a colonial CBD (historic core, mixed-use, grid pattern), a traditional CBD (low-rise, mixed formal/informal activity), and an informal CBD (markets). Ethnic neighborhoods, often with squatter areas and limited access to services, are common. Shanty towns and squatter settlements expand on the outskirts due to urbanization and economic opportunities.
This model lacks a traditional CBD and is centered around a port due to geography, historical trading posts, and rapid urbanization. Alien commercial zones, often special economic zones, stem from the port. Government zones are located nearby to oversee commerce. Residential areas are often mixed, with suburban areas next to squatter settlements, and agricultural/industrial production on the city's periphery.