On Human Needs

Abstract

Generally, the identification of competent 'criteria' is one of the most important procedures in the course of all human activities which. involve decision-making or judgments. This is especially true when involved decision making is critical in light of the magnitude of mobilized resources, the complexity of interest groups, and the consequences which are not easily changeable or reversible due to inertia or causality. It is the same with the urban design, which, needless to say, calls for a lot of decision-making on the shape and quality of the urban environment, whether based on the normative or descriptive approach. Furthermore, it is very difficult to alter once-built urban environment due to the inertia of the involved human activities and the environment per se. Also, we might consider the fact that urban design is not an 'once and for all activity,' but is continuous or sometimes the result of prior causes. Therefore,"it is impossible to design anything well without them [criteria]," and by and large, "it will be better if they [criteria] are reached as a result of an orderly and logical process."