there are various alternative arrangements a public service agency can undertake to address the welfare
needs of the senior citizens and aged in the urban environment. compare and contrast two known
support systems which can be considered in the ghanaian urban milieu
In the Ghanaian urban milieu, public service agencies can undertake various alternative arrangements to
address the welfare needs of senior citizens and the aged. Two known support systems that can be
considered are community-based care and institutional care. Let's compare and contrast these two
systems:
1. **Community-Based Care**:
**Description**: Community-based care involves providing support and services to senior citizens
within their local communities, enabling them to age in place and maintain their independence for as
long as possible. This approach often involves the coordination of informal and formal support
networks, including family caregivers, community volunteers, and local organizations.
**Features**:
- **Home-Based Services**: Community-based care emphasizes delivering services directly to seniors
in their homes, including home health care, personal care assistance, meal delivery, and transportation
services.
- **Social Engagement**: This approach promotes social interaction and community engagement
among seniors through activities such as senior centers, day care programs, and recreational outings.
- **Emphasis on Independence**: Community-based care focuses on empowering seniors to remain
independent and active participants in their communities, with support tailored to their individual needs
and preferences.
2. **Institutional Care**:
**Description**: Institutional care involves providing residential care and support services to senior
citizens in dedicated facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and retirement
communities. These facilities offer round-the-clock care and supervision for seniors who may require
assistance with activities of daily living or have complex medical needs.
**Features**:
- **Professional Caregivers**: Institutional care facilities employ trained staff, including nurses,
caregivers, and support personnel, to provide personalized care and support services to residents.
- **Structured Environment**: Residents of institutional care facilities live in a structured environment
with access to amenities and services such as dining facilities, recreational activities, and medical care
on-site.
- **Safety and Security**: Institutional care facilities prioritize the safety and security of residents,
providing a secure environment with safeguards against accidents, emergencies, and abuse.
**Comparison**:
- **Focus on Independence**: Community-based care emphasizes promoting independence and
autonomy among seniors, allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings and maintain social
connections within their communities. In contrast, institutional care provides a structured environment
with professional support services but may limit residents' independence and autonomy to some extent.
- **Cost and Accessibility**: Community-based care tends to be more cost-effective and accessible for
seniors with limited financial resources, as it relies on existing community resources and informal
support networks. Institutional care, on the other hand, can be more expensive and may require seniors
to meet certain eligibility criteria or have access to private funding or insurance coverage.
**Conclusion**:
Both community-based care and institutional care have their strengths and weaknesses, and the most
appropriate support system for senior citizens in the Ghanaian urban milieu will depend on factors such
as individual needs, preferences, financial resources, and available community resources. Public service
agencies should consider a combination of approaches to ensure that seniors have access to the support
and services they need to live with dignity and quality of life in their later years.
the square or plaza
• The passage underscores the multifaceted significance of squares in urban design, emphasizing
their functional, symbolic, and aesthetic roles in shaping the urban environment.
• It highlights the historical and cultural importance of squares, drawing parallels between iconic
examples like St. Mark's Square in Venice and St. Peter's Square in Rome.
• Squares are depicted as dynamic spaces that serve various functions, including commercial
activities, cultural events, and community gatherings.
• The text discusses the evolution of squares over time, from ancient forums to modern urban
plazas, showcasing their adaptability and enduring relevance.
• Architectural theories, such as those proposed by Lynch and Alexander, are referenced to
explain the perceptual and symbolic aspects of urban centers and nodes.
• Specific design elements and features of renowned squares, like the elliptical colonnades of St.
Peter's Square and the monumental portico of St. Peter's Basilica, are analyzed to illustrate their
architectural and spatial qualities.
• The passage also touches upon the challenges and considerations in contemporary square
design, including issues of scale, pedestrian accessibility, and integration with surrounding urban
fabric.
• Overall, it portrays squares as vital components of urban life, serving as focal points of identity,
activity, and communal interaction within the cityscape.
the portal
- **Dual Function of Places**:
- Places serve as both centers and points of departure, symbolizing pilgrimage destinations or mundane
activities like shopping.
- Alberti highlights this tension, noting that a haven marks the start or end of a journey.
- **Significance of Doorways**:
- Doors symbolize transition, with some designed to be inviting while others are more imposing.
- Gateways serve to mark entrances to towns or neighborhoods, influencing urban design and
organization.
- **Piazza del Popolo**:
- Historically, the Piazza del Popolo served as Rome's main entrance for travelers from the north and a
departure point for those heading northward.
- Over time, with traffic restrictions and pedestrianization, it lost its significance as a city gateway.
- Despite this, it remains a notable square with architectural landmarks like the Egyptian obelisk and
twin churches.
- The layout of the square was influenced by topographical features, historic buildings, and road
networks, with later additions contributing to its unified composition.
- Valadier's plan in the 19th century further shaped the square, incorporating elements like hemicycles,
cascades, and public gardens to enhance its grandeur and functionality.
- The Piazza del Popolo serves as both an arrival point and a departure point, embodying the essence of
a city entrance.
the form of a square
The text you provided offers a detailed analysis of various types of squares or plazas in urban design,
focusing on aspects such as enclosure, architectural unity, proportions, and historical context. Here's a
summary:
1. **Classification of Squares**: The text discusses different typologies of squares proposed by various
theorists, including Paul Zucker and Sitte. These typologies range from closed squares to dominated
squares, nuclear squares, grouped squares, and amorphous squares.
2. **Enclosed Square**: The concept of enclosure is central to understanding the spatial qualities of a
square. Enclosure creates a sense of place and order within the chaos of the surrounding environment.
It is achieved through various architectural elements, such as the treatment of corners, building heights,
rooflines, and the presence of unifying themes.
3. **Proportions and Scale**: The relationship between the height of buildings surrounding a square
and the width of the space plays a crucial role in defining its character. Different theorists propose
guidelines for achieving harmonious proportions, considering factors like viewing angles and the size of
the space.
4. **Examples of Squares**: The text provides examples of well-designed squares, such as Piazza della
Santissima Annunziata in Florence. It discusses how historical context, urban planning principles, and the
contributions of various architects influenced the development of these spaces over time.
5. **Principle of the Second Man**: The principle suggests that the success of a project often depends
on the contributions of subsequent designers or architects who continue the work initiated by their
predecessors. In the case of Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, Sangallo the Elder played a crucial role
in completing the vision set in motion by Brunelleschi.
Overall, the text emphasizes the importance of thoughtful urban planning, architectural coherence, and
a deep understanding of context in creating successful public squares and plazas.
The excerpt you provided discusses the concept of the "dominated square" in urban design, particularly
focusing on examples from various cities, such as Florence, Rome, Lisbon, and Modena.
1. **Characteristics of the Dominated Square**: The dominated square is characterized by one central
structure or building towards which the open space is directed, with surrounding structures being
related to it. This central building dominates the layout of the square. Examples include squares with
churches or palaces as focal points.
2. **Types of Dominated Squares**: The dominated square can be classified into two types: deep and
wide. A deep square typically has a dominant building at one end, with streets leading towards it, such
as the Piazza in front of Santa Croce in Florence. A wide square, on the other hand, is dominated by a
long building, contrasting with adjacent squares.
3. **Examples of Dominated Squares**:
- *Deep Square*: The Piazza in front of Santa Croce in Florence is cited as an example. It is oriented
towards the church, with main streets leading to it and surrounding buildings subordinate to it.
- *Wide Square*: The Piazza Reale in Modena exemplifies a wide square dominated by a long palace,
contrasting with adjacent squares like Piazza S. Domenico.
4. **Ideal Proportions**: The ideal distance for viewing a dominant building at the end of a plaza lies
between equaling the height of the building and twice that dimension. Overly long plazas may lose
charm if the length-to-width ratio exceeds three to one.
5. **Examples from Rome**: The Piazza Navona and the Capitol in Rome are discussed as examples
defying traditional rules of square design. The Piazza Navona, with its elongated shape and fountains,
stands out, while the Capitol, designed by Michelangelo, creates a unified composition with the Palazzo
del Senatore as the focal point.
Overall, the text explores how dominant buildings or structures can shape the layout and character of
public squares, influencing urban design and the experiences of people within these spaces.
Sure, here's a summarized breakdown of the text:
1. **Introduction to Urban Spaces**: The observer's experience of a city depends on their speed of
movement. Walking allows for more detail to be perceived compared to faster modes of transportation
like driving.
2. **Serial Vision**: The concept of perceiving urban scenery as a series of snapshots or clips rather
than a continuous motion picture, introduced by Gordon Cullen and embraced by Sitte.
3. **Linking Squares**: Various methods are employed to connect public squares:
- Complex shapes overlapping or interpenetrating.
- Clearly defined spaces opening onto each other.
- Physically connected by streets or alleyways.
- Surrounding major public buildings.
- Designed along a predetermined axis.
- Related by external reference points like towers.
4. **Examples of Linked Squares**:
- Piazza Della Signoria, Florence: Built after a civil war, with significant buildings defining the space.
- Lucca: Medieval town with interconnected squares and narrow passageways.
- San Gimignano: Contrasting spatial forms connected by narrow streets.
- Bath (Queen’s Square, the Circus, and the Crescent): Planned by John Wood, with formal axial
planning and architectural unity.
- Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrère, and The Hemicycle, Nancy: Symmetrical arrangement along an
axis, formal and monumental design.
- Boston, Lincolnshire: Town squares visually linked by the church tower.
- Amalienborg, Copenhagen: Octagonal square enclosed by palace buildings, connected by smaller
streets.
5. **Types of Spaces**: Differentiates between true public squares and other urban features like busy
traffic junctions or oversized squares lacking enclosure.
- Nuclear Square: Defined by a central vertical accent creating spatial tension.
- Amorphous Square: Defined by a centralizing element dominating its surroundings.
6. **Conclusion**: Designing urban spaces involves considering both architectural elements and the
spatial experience of the observer.
