Ortsplanung als praktische Geographie

Abstract

Local planning as the first level in the hierarchy of town and country planning offers a new and large field of activity to the geographer in close contact with the architect. In the development plans of towns and parishes which must be revised at regular intervals particular attention should be given to areas of new settlement which must be properly fitted into the region both as regards site and function. This holds true especially when it is intended to create new focal points in areas where so far settlement has grown in a haphazard fashion. Genuine new planning is found where manufacturing industry has made its appearance in so far purely agricultural communities of suitable transport location so that residential areas for the labour force have to be designated within reasonable distance from the place of work. A further task of local planning can also be seen in the creation of self-contained neighbourhoods of 800 to 2000 people in towns of smaller size. Within the framework of specific settlement planning, certain types of layout were developed particularly after the last war; they are either characterised by streets widening at the ends to allow for turning of vehicles, or by groundplans resembling those of a green village. In the function of these housing units there is, however, no discernable change.