form-based codes

The emergence of form-based codes (FBCs), along with the familiar and near-universal rejection of conventional zoning, is a complex story, and more interesting than might first be supposed. The Codes Study generally does not track developer-driven form-based codes. The socio-economic context of form-based codes has shown positive FBC impacts on physical and environmental well-being What form-based codes try to, is notifying morphological features for keeping the identity of urban fabrics along the ages. This mission is important especially for valuable fabrics of contemporary cities. Nowadays these fabrics are causing damage in front of losing their identity, more than every other time. The problem is to find the method of getting morphological patterns that are integrated and the whole of the city. But they changed to an inappropriate thing. Therefore infill and renovation development in historical fabrics especially, need to follow the principles according to form features and place against solid and unimaginable codes. 

This article aims to design the genealogical method that is able to cover the problem of deriving the urban patterns and typo-morphologies to a systematic and categorized style in form-based codes logic. The structure of this research has been made in three levels. First of all, it has provided a genealogical map from historical fabric based on Ghajar era’s maps before modernistic actions and surgery the city fabric. Then surveying the patterns at architectural units with the usage of typo-morphological relation between built spaces and open space. At last, it has taken the access link pattern for open spaces at the hierarchy of centers and squares. 

 The outcome of this essay is to concentrate on the study of form bares two utilitarian tools. First, a typo-morphological matrix that shows the relation between mass and space for each parcel with its pass. For illustrating the relation of mass and space it is used two species of matrices are. It is seen in matric type one patterns of mass and space and matrix type two hierarchical accessibility between mass and space. Second, a graph of structural relations that presents the way of distribution of nodes and squares in contrast to dynamic passes and roots. In addition to presenting the schematic position of nodes, it guides the logic of the relations that these nodes have with the lower or upper level of other nodes.

Eventually urban morphs be able to decompose and autopsy in different dimensions and scales with categorizing analytical data that come from the genealogical study about typologies of urban form and lead to deriving form-based codes and principles based on features of place identity. The Codes Study also tracks major initiatives and guidelines that may assist in the formulation of form-based codes.

Form-based codes, as a relatively new approach, support the rules of urban planning and design with the aim of achieving efficient public spaces with a location-based approach. In fact, this approach, by considering the contextual characteristics of the urban environment and its landscape, creates codes with the help of planner and designer thinking, which is based on how different types of urban forms are placed in different places. These codes can achieve the best possible layout in order to meet human needs by predicting the environment created by controlling and adjusting the forms. Today, in our country, due to the complexities of urban design, in the field of creating balance and interaction between land use, urban form and location, the need for this approach is felt more than ever. This article has been compiled with the aim of becoming more familiar with the process of production and regulation of urban design codes with emphasis on local, cultural, social and historical conditions. Therefore, it has tried to discuss the approach of form-based codes through the concept, process and its components and briefly address some of the challenges facing this concept.

The purpose of this study is to identify the theoretical foundations of different approaches to urban codes and to examine their applicability in contemporary Iranian city, using descriptive and analytical-comparative method with documentary studies. Theoretical bases of the research were used to explain the role of urban codes and to compare different approaches, by introducing the components of place, city as a sustainable place and placemaking. The study of the developments showed that, comprehensive planning theory aimed at creating order in traditional cities put "function" on the basis of the urban codes, but its inefficiency initially led to the creation of flexible zoning techniques and Since 1960s with Complexity theory and the design of the two approaches of relation- based and norm-based, the new urbanism theory with the Form-based approach, and the evolutionary theory with a hybrid approach, were critically criticized. Comparison of different approaches shows that, given the lack of an integrated approach to the city and public and private spaces in the contemporary Iranian city,choosing the theory of New urbanism and prioritizing 'form' over 'function' in the form-based approach as a holistic approach to public and private spaces, with a clear structure and a participatory process, has transformed it into a tool of placemaking and realization of sustainable development, while creating flexibility in function codes. It has the potential to provide a suitable form of "Urf"-custom- as a supporter of urban codes in the contemporary Iranian city and the quality of the public spaces can be made more achievable and less susceptible to private abuse.

Zoning, which is considered as an approach to guide urban development, was brought up in the early twentieth century. Although the rules resulting from zoning have had positive consequences, there have a number of drawbacks such as urban sprawl, urban fabric disposal, inner city travel increase etc. In the meantime, appropriate forms for development and connection between public and private spaces have been disregarded due to consumedly concerning land use. The form-based code is an approach which was presented for solving this issue. The present study is regarded as applied research due to its external purpose, and as descriptive research due to its internal purpose. The transact approach has been applied in order to organize the case study, and data collection has been done through interviews, questionnaires and participatory meetings. According to the research purpose, which is to codify rules for urban development of the case study, namely district two of the city of Babolsar, the district was at first divided into T-zones on the basis of the defined criteria. Then, the Rules and Regulations were developed by analyzing large-scale and small-scale elements of the case study, and also by investigating the application of visioning findings by the rural-to-urban transect approach. Based on the results of the analyses, three zones (T3, T4 and T5) were defined in district two of Babolsar; The Rules and Regulating plan, which is a detailed equivalent to the Illustrative one, has been presented according to these T-zones. The results of the present study indicate the fundamental differences between traditional zoning methods and form-based code, most notably are as follows. Attention to future developments according to requirements; which explains that the emphasis of the form-based code method is to determine the important and influential generalities in the form and shape of the environment by using these rules. Accordingly, suggestions will be made in the form codes of the proposed foundation for future developments and the characteristics of these developments. For example, due to existing features, shortcomings and potential ones, the type of possible development is identified in the upcoming plans (traditional development, business center development, transport-centric development). Zoning mode; which emphasizes on the zoning of the city based on existing and proposed accesses in the zoning of Babolsar city, as discovered in its detailed plan. Accordingly, the city is divided into 3 districts and these areas into 11 neighborhoods. In the proposed zoning of this area, based on the form-based codes, factors such as population density, construction, residential, open space, usage, etc. are considered. In fact, emphasis has been placed on the zoning formation based on the extent and severity of the urban areas, so that the proposed laws and regulations for the zones are more coherent and coordinated and the possibility of realization is provided. Preparing the terms; which include the common zoning rules that are in fact the output of comprehensive and detailed plan, while the rules for zoning the form of its foundation in the form of a project are sat and developed. It defines the criteria according to the cognition performed in the three phases of the region. In this plan, there is no need to take a long time such as what happens in preparing a comprehensive plan, and detailed plan. The average time for the process of preparing, approving and communicating both comprehensive and detailed plans of the city was about 4 years, because studies of both plans are based on the status quo, and normally the presentation of a project with more than one year of existence is inadequate. Group participation; which includes attention to participation in the formulation of rules and regulations in form-based codes. While in the standard terms and conditions emphasizing that the writing of the rules and regulations should only be done by the experts, the use of stakeholders and stakeholders is reduced. Coordination with future plans, that explains that in fact, the foundation codes are guides for future development in the form of projects and plans. Utilizing and emphasizing the prospect sector in formulating the terms and conditions of form-based codes act as a guide to future development within the scope. The perspective of this approach will determine the general framework and future development framework, and next projects and plans will be based on the participation of different groups in the vision of the region. Differences in development control practices; which controls building regulations from the height of the building, the occupancy level of the building, along with the density of residential units per unit area. Whereas, in conventional zoning, emphasis is more on occupancy and construction density. Flexibility; which ultimately explains that increased flexibility in terms and conditions considering the prediction of zoning flotation rules for some buildings that these terms are less relevant in conventional zoning.