Vague aspirations kill good design. Shirvani pushed for "operational goals"—measurable targets. Instead of "make downtown beautiful," he asked for "increase pedestrian count by 40% via widened sidewalks."
Hamid Shirvani’s "The Urban Design Process" presents a comprehensive framework for city building, emphasizing the integration of functional, aesthetic, and administrative elements to create cohesive environments. The text introduces eight key elements—including land use, building form, and pedestrian areas—and advocates for performance-based design guidelines to balance regulatory control with architectural creativity. Urban Design Process Hamid Shirvani.pdf
You don't need a PDF to use the method. If you are a community activist or a junior designer, test the "Shirvani Test" on your next project: Vague aspirations kill good design
Vague aspirations kill good design. Shirvani pushed for "operational goals"—measurable targets. Instead of "make downtown beautiful," he asked for "increase pedestrian count by 40% via widened sidewalks."
Hamid Shirvani’s "The Urban Design Process" presents a comprehensive framework for city building, emphasizing the integration of functional, aesthetic, and administrative elements to create cohesive environments. The text introduces eight key elements—including land use, building form, and pedestrian areas—and advocates for performance-based design guidelines to balance regulatory control with architectural creativity.
You don't need a PDF to use the method. If you are a community activist or a junior designer, test the "Shirvani Test" on your next project: