Functions of a city

“There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans.” – Jane Jacobs

The reason, job or purpose for existing can be termed as the function of an area. In urban form this narrates to the purpose of a land use for suburban areas, leisure and commerce. The principal purpose in cities differs, for example Newcastle is now making an effort to be a science city, whereas London is known for its function as a fiscal centre. With this being said, functions can be modified over time, in Newcastle the original function was a coal mining region, which then transformed to heavy industry and manufacturing with ship building and weaponries at the forefront, with technological industries and education dominating presently.

Let’s have a look at the borough of Arima – likely to follow in the footsteps of the city of San Fernando, Arima too may eventually graduate from a borough into a city as the town possess several important functions. Such city functions may include the provision of jobs in industry or service, the use as an entertainment and cultural centre (offers sporting attractions, shopping areas and restaurants), as well as a residential and religious centres and lastly as a major transportation hub. 

Arima plays a significant role for North Eastern Trinidad as the key terrestrial transportation wires are the Churchill Roosevelt Highway (CRH), the Priority Bus Route (PBR) and Eastern Main Road (EMR) which all link Arima to strategic cities and towns of the circuit in this urban wire. The picture above shows the red band maxi taxis on the corner of Green Street, Arima, as they await commuters heading west side.

Moreover, the district of Arima contains significant historical sites which involve the displays of the Caribs and Amerindians within Arima in Santa Rosa Carib Centre and Cleaver woods respectively. In addition to the religious sites, Arima also harbours three major sporting arenas, namely the Santa Rosa Race Track, Arima Velodrome and the Larry Gomes Stadium.

References 

Gamesby, Robert. "Urban Functions." Urban Functions. N.p., n.d. “Date Retrieved” 29 Mar. 2016.

 "Most Recent News." Arima Borough Corporation. “Date Retrieved” 29 Mar. 2016.

The Evolution of Transportation

Photo Courtesy: Glen Beadon

“The auto industry must acknowledge that a rational transportation policy should seek a balance between individual convenience, the efficient use of limited resources, and urban-living values that protect spaciousness, natural beauty, and human-scale mobility.” Stewart Udall

According to Allen Morrison in “The Trams and Trolleybuses of Trinidad and Tobago” the first railway on Trinidad island was a horse-drawn line called the Cipero Tramway, which was constructed in the 1840's by a Scottish planter named William Eccles to transport produce from his sugar plantation to the wharf at San Fernando, 30 miles south of Port of Spain. On March 5^th, 1859, Tramcars had begun transporting commuters along the first four miles of the line, from San Fernando to Sainte Madeleine. By 1864, Steam locomotives replaced the animals and towed the cars to Princes Town. San Fernando and Port of Spain were not linked by railroad up until 1882. The Cipero Tramway was eventually engrossed by the Trinidad Government Railways system, which operated until 1968. Exhibited today on Harris Promenade in San Fernando is TGR’s last steam engine.

Transportation is a fundamental part of urban morphology. In the urban circuit of Port of Spain, we can see how these roadways are used like wires to connect every aspect of the city. Looking at the city in the present day, we can see how the transport networks have evolved. The same way animals had been replaced by steam locomotives, they too had been replaced by open electric cars in 1883. The electric cars were eventually replaced by trolleybuses in 1939 which were then replaced by what we know today as the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) in 1965. This can be seen in the photos above as an Electric Trolleybus once made headlines as a form of transportation prowess in the 1930's but is no longer existent as the new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses and maxi taxis are presently the main public transport mediums on the island.

Accessibility is the foundation of economic expansion in cities. Although urban form and transportation may seem to be detached, they are in fact, in each other's pocket.  In order to access good and services transport is greatly needed, the more efficient, the greater the economic profits. Let’s have a look at the cities of Trinidad; according to buzz.tt, the city of San Fernando is the larger of the two cities in Trinidad and Tobago covering 18.64 km²  whilst the nation’s capital Port of Spain, covers 13.45 km². Over the years, the transportation routes and mediums had to evolve to facilitate the increasing populace as urban form, the arrangement and concentration of land uses, and transportation schemes are the features of cities that govern the ways in which individuals interact with each other.

References·         

City Hall of San Fernando in San Fernando - ID 652." City Hall of San Fernando in San Fernando. 2016 Buzz Media Ltd., “Date Retrieved” 26 Mar. 2016.

 "City Observatory." City Observatory. N.p., 14 Oct. 2014. “Date Retrieved” 26 Mar. 2016.

Morrison, Allen. "THE TRAMWAYS OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO." THE TRAMWAYS OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO. Copyright 2008-2108 Allen Morrison TODOS LOS DERECHOS RESERVADOS, 1 Sept. 2008. “Date Retrieved” 26 Mar. 2016.

 Rode, Philipp, and Graham Floater. "ACCESSIBILITY IN CITIES: TRANSPORT AND URBAN FORM."

 www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/transportation. “Date Retrieved” 26 Mar. 2016.

Services of a city

“In great cities, spaces as well as places are designed and built: walking, witnessing, being in public, are as much part of the design and purpose as is being inside to eat, sleep, make shoes or love or music. The word citizen has to do with cities, and the ideal city is organized around citizenship -- around participation in public life.” -Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking.

Cities provide many services such as hospitals, parks, housing, transportation routes, police and fire. In the photos above, the old Arima police station is standing alongside the modern station.  In 2011, a budget allocation of $1.6 billion had been given to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service which was used for construction projects in 2012.  Although many of the old stations were demolished, the old Arima Station still stands, showing the clear difference in time and form of place then and now. From the pictures above once can see huge differences between the two buildings. The old building consisted of wooden shutters and iron doors while the modern building has glass windows and doors. The newly constructed  stations provides a two-storey building with additional space for offices and upgraded property rooms with the installation of shelving and racking storage.

As the population in towns and cities continue to grow so too must the services in order to facilitate demands. The planning of construction and refurbishment of services within a city is an integral part in the study of urban morphology.

According to Denyse Renne in"Police Service Gets $1.6b Share", twenty million dollars was used for the purchasing of vehicles and equipment, which included marked sedans and sport utility vehicles "required to adequately support the operations and facilitate the implementation of the 21st century policing initiative

 References 

Ministry of National Security. n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.

Renne, Denyse. "Police Service Gets $1.6b Share." Trinidad Express Newspapers:. N.p., 12 Oct. 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.

The ecological footprint of a city

                                                   

“One thing is sure. The earth is now more cultivated and developed than ever before. There is more farming with pure force, swamps are drying up, and cities are springing up on unprecedented scale. We’ve become a burden to our planet. Resources are becoming scarce, and soon nature will no longer be able to satisfy our needs.” Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus, Roman theologian, 200 AD

  Studies recorded in the journal Psychological Science has shown that living in greener spaces possess significant positive effects. According to BBC News, Dr Mathew White and his research team at the European Centre for the Environment and Human Health examined data from a national survey that followed more than 5,000 UK households and 10,000 adults between 1991 and 2008 as they moved house around the country. It was found that the individuals reported less mental distress and higher life satisfaction when they were living in greener spaces. These findings could aid in informing urban planners and have an overall impact on society.

In the paper “Ecological footprints and appropriated carrying capacity: what urban economics leaves out” by William E. Rees, Rees uses the concepts of human carrying capacity and natural capital to debate that prevailing economic assumptions in regards to urbanization and the sustainability of cities must be reviewed in light of global ecological change. 

The picture above shows a green space within the Central Business District of Arima. This park connects small retail shops, a sporting centre and market to each other. in the background the market can be seen to the left and the well-known Arima Velodrome is situated at the right. Green spaces like this are beneficial to our environment as they act as an air filter, purifying the air around us whilst providing shade and lowering temperatures in urbanized areas. 

References

"Green Spaces Boosts Wellbeing of Urban Dwellers - Study." BBC News. BBC, 22 Apr. 2013. “Date Retrieved” 16 Mar. 2016.

Rees, W. E. "Ecological Footprints and Appropriated Carrying Capacity: What Urban Economics Leaves out." Environment and Urbanization 4.2 (1992): 121-30. “Date Retrieved” 16 Mar. 2016.

"Twenty-five of the Best Urbanism Quotes." This Big City Twentyfive of the Best Urbanism Quotes Comments. N.p., 19 July 2011. “Date Retrieved” 16 Mar. 2016.

City Hall- San Fernando

San Fernando City Hall June 1995 | Photograph: Courtesy Geoffrey MacLean

The City Hall of San Fernando is located at the corner of Harris Promenade and Penitence Street. In 1834, at this same location a wooden structure was built and called the Town Hall. Ninety six years later in 1930 a foundation stone was laid by the Governor, Sir Alfred Claud Hollis and a new building constructed in 1931. The design of the building, which consists of three floors, is neo-Classical in design, distinguished and symmetrical in form (MacLean 2010). The structure today has not changed much; the design remains the same however the colour of the building has changed. Over the years, the original building has been extended to cater for the San Fernando City Council's expanding functions.

The location of the City Hall is ideal as San Fernando developed quickly and earned the title of the “Industrial Capital” of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the headquarters of San Fernando’s administration called the San Fernando City Corporation. They are responsible for the cleaning and maintaining of the city as well as small construction such as pavements building and fixing of the promenade as shown in the previous post.  City Hall is also the base for the mayor, currently Kazim Hosein.

A City Hall is essential in a city to maintain the quality and daily running of a city. The municipal corporations of a city provide emergency services to residents of the city such as fire, police and medical services. They maintain parks and open spaces such as the Harris promenade, provide public transport and are responsible for public works such as sewer systems, streetlights and construction projects.

References:

Lawrence, George. eHow. http://www.ehow.com/list_6507735_functions-city-government_.html (accessed 2016).

MacLean, Geoffrey. Citizens for Conservation Trinidad & Tobago. 2010. http://citizensforconservationtt.org/main/index.php/builtherit/builtcolonial/106-san-fernando-city-hall (accessed 2015).

San Fernando General Hospital

The San Fernando General Hospital is an old institution that has evolved over the years. It was known as the “coolie hospital” because it was built to satisfy the needs of the East Indian indentured laborers during the time of indentureship. At the time the government was given a mandate that a hospital be provided for sugar workers with four beds to every forty indentured labourers working on estates in and in close proximity to the hospital. The original hospital was carved from an 1864 army barracks and by the end of the 19^th century it has expanded to twenty two wards.

After many complaints by the East Indian people the name of the hospital changed to the San Fernando Colonial Hospital and then to San Fernando General Hospital when medical services were upgraded. It was only 1891 that female wards were introduced and there were no emergency transport vehicles. In 1955 several extensions were made to the hospital which consisted of a helipad for emergency landing of helicopters. The San Fernando General Hospital as it stands today is the “lone government institution occupying more land space than any other facility offered by government.” (Daily Express 2011)

The San Fernando General Hospital saw these improvements as the city developed, requiring the services of a hospital. This was an ideal situation for a hospital as it is located to centre of the city thus making it accessible to citizens, and the roads located in the here are of better quality than rural areas. As the years passed more development on the hospital took place. One such development that occurred was the Teaching Hospital next to the San Fernando General Hospital. The image below shows the newly constructed building on the right and the old hospital to the left with a walkway connecting both.

Harris Promenade- San Fernando

San Fernando is the second largest city in Trinidad located in the south western portion of the island with a population of approximately 62,000. It has rich history dating back to the 1780’s when the Spanish governor of Trinidad, Jose Maria Chacon, granted the area to a settler to establish a sugar estate, on the condition that a portion is set aside to establish a town. In 1792 a small settlement was formed and the governor declared it as the town of San Fernando. It continued to grow and by the year 1846, obtained a town council. The status then rose from a town to a borough in 1853 where Robert Johnstone became the first mayor of San Fernando.

San Fernando continued to develop over the years and by 1899 permission was granted to run telephone lines, plans for a library approved in 1913 where construction began in 1917 and a connection of the railway between San Fernando and Siparia took place in 1913. In 1919 San Fernando received electricity for the first time, 28 years after Port of Spain pushing development even further. Development was slow but constant throughout the years until the “oil boom” in the 1970’s and 1980’s which led to an increased growth.

The picture above shows the Harris promenade which was named after the governor of Trinidad 1846-1850. It is located in the heart of the city where it is a hub for recreational activities and relaxation. The trees planted give a peaceful ambiance and many people use it to take a break from the daily hustles. According to (Al-Hagla and S. 2010) promenades are major constituents of entertainment tourism cities and their contribution to livability adds value to the entertainment qualities these cities have.

The promenade was constructed in such a way that it is easily accessed by the public as it located in the heart of the city. The colours used for the benches are vibrant thus attracting people to visit the area. The trees planted keep the promenade cool and provide shade reducing a phenomenon known as the “heat island” effect. This involves the higher temperatures of urban areas than surrounding rural areas.

The monument in the picture above is of Marcus Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and prominent member of the pan African movement and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. Upon or visit to the promenade on Saturday 2^nd of April work was being done as shown in the picture below. They are currently trying to improve the promenade and caution tape surrounds a great portion of the promenade. 

References:

Al-Hagla, and Khalid S. "The Role of the Liveable Promenade in Revitalizing an Entertainment Tourism City: The Case of Sharm El-Shaikh, Egypt." International Journal of Architectural Research, 2010.

Biography.com Editors. Biography.com. http://www.biography.com/people/marcus-garvey-9307319 (accessed 2016).

cityseeker. 2016. http://trinidad-and-tobago.cityseekr.com/venue/288494-harris-promenade.

Trinidad and Tobago Newsday . http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,169412.html.

TriniView.com. 2007. http://www.triniview.com/san_fernando/040507.html (accessed 2015).

udecott. 2016. http://udecott.com/projects/harris-promenade-development/

Reflection

Summary and Reflection

From observations and reflections of cities made over the past two months, we realised that a city is dynamic. There is no one model or definition that can exactly fit a city as they all possess their own unique characteristics. Throughout the blog we highlighted and showcased the morphology of cities within Trinidad.  

     WeBlogTriniThings 
     http://weblogtrinithings.blogspot.com/

In Urban wire, the benefits of green spaces in urban areas were looked at. Likewise, In WeBlogTriniThings, Woodford Square which is located in the city of Port of Spain was highlighted. The authors focussed on the history and beauty of the space as well as its social and mental benefits.

        Architecture through Time

        http://triniurbanarchitecture.blogspot.com/

Looking at Rana and Shariel’s blog one of their posts, (Nicholas Tower) stood out the most to us. It spoke about the Nicholas Tower being the fifth tallest building in Independence Square and how building designs have changed over time to an “an entirely modernized technological world”. This could be related to urban morphology as change is evident from just looking at the buildings in Port of Spain. 
   TT Urban Scapes

   http://urbanscapesandspaces.tumblr.com/

Simone and Jewell’s blog post on globalization in the city was well written and researched. They mentioned how globalization results in better telecommunication, more modes of transport and the reduction in cost. These factors aid in the development of an urban area and thus relates to our blog on urban morphology