An exploration of normative drawings and drawn norms starting from zoning maps and form-based codes

What is it about?

This article is focused on the rules that we create using drawings (designs, pictures, paintings, etc.) which will be termed ‘graphic rules’. We will delve into one of these types of graphic rules: that is, graphic rules used in urban planning. The fact that graphic rules are widespread in planning practices, and indeed typical of them, makes rules of this kind a particularly significant field of interest for planning theory. An important point to stress is that while analysis of images used descriptively has been under way for some time (although in many respects it is anything but conclusive, despite what is generally thought), analysis of images used as rules is still in its infancy. To gain deeper understanding of these particular and widespread forms of (graphic) rules is therefore both theoretically and practically important.

Featured Image

Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash

Photo by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The aim of this article, with particular reference to the theme of planning regulations, has been to suggest that we broaden our outlook and give greater ground to graphic rules: It seems essential to gain deeper understanding of these particular and widespread forms of regulation.