The concept of morphological regions and the method of morphological regionalization was identified within the historico-geographical approach to urban morphology by M.R.G Conzen in the second half of the twentieth century. A morphological region is a spatial grouping of form ensembles based on geographical similarities. Morphological regionalization is the mapping process of morphological regions. Morphological regions are identified based on the tripartite division of the urban landscape. Namely, they are introduced through ground plan (including streets, plots, and block plan of buildings), building fabric, land and building utilization. These regions are not static phenomena. They are fluid and liable to change in extent and in their internal character. Morphological regions are about spatial variation and boundaries. For researchers, a region is principally a tool for understanding spatial variations between areas with recognized boundaries. For practitioners, boundaries are a major means of distinguishing areas to which different policies apply. Morphological regions are generally designated hierarchically. There are three types of hierarchy employed for the identification of morphological regions:
(1) The hierarchy of form complexes: the ‘town plan’ contains both ‘building fabric’ and ‘land utilization’; in turn, ‘building fabric’ contains that part of ‘land utilization’ that lies within it.
(2) Historical stratification of the urban landscape, reflecting the distinctive residues of past periods, gives rise to a hierarchy of morphological regions.
(3) The hierarchy of form persistence: the town plan is the most persistent; building fabric is less persistent and the land and building utilization is even less persistent over time. This means that major weight is attributed to the town plan; building fabric is the contributor to the intermediate and lowest ranks; and the land and building utilization contributes to the intermediate rank of morphological regions.
This concept of morphological region and the method of morphological regionalization has a strong role in the following applications:
i. the assessment of urban character and its enhancement
ii. a framework for a more sensitive conservation area delimitation
iii. demonstrates the way in which an understanding of urban areas as historico-geographical entities can strengthen the theoretical basis of conservation
iv. heritage protection and management
v. character preservation and enhancement
vi. contributes to the continuity of local history, cultural tradition, and identity in the urban landscape forms
vii. provides opportunities for the development of urban landscape
viii. defines a context for urban design in terms of the range of characteristic settlement types, and their various components of urban form at different levels of scale
ix. achieves urban spatial continuity and integrity of new structures with surroundings
Main Resources
Conzen MRG (1960) Alnwick, Northumberland: a study in town-plan analysis. Inst Br Geogr Spec. Publ. Lond (27)
Conzen MRG (1988) Morphogenesis, morphological regions and secular human agency in the historical townscape as exemplified by Ludlow. In: Conzen MP (ed) Thinking about urban form: papers on urban morphology 1932–1998. Peter Lang, pp 116–142
Whitehand JWR (2009) The structure of urban landscapes: strengthening research and practice. Urban Morphol 13(1):5–27
