Urban design is concerned with the design of cities, towns, neighbourhoods, and public spaces – such as streets, urban squares, parks, transport amenities etc. Through the study and practice of urban design one learns to give three-dimensional form and character to cities and towns. Not just the physical form and spatial organisation urban design also involves social, economic and environmental issues of the cities/towns/neighbourhoods/public spaces. Urban design is also a study of the aesthetic and functional properties of architecture in order to create a vibrant, liveable community.

 

Whereas architecture involves the design and construction of individual buildings and the spaces in and around these buildings and can include landscape design, structural engineering and interior design. Architecture essentially concentrates on the aesthetics of the individual building and its relationship with its immediate surrounds.

 

Considering the above differences, we can also say that urban design acts as a bridge between urban/ town planning and architecture. Urban planning is essentially a two-dimensional study of a city to develop a master plan with functional zoning, overall transportation, and open spaces. The traditional functional zoning is slowly being replaced with form-based codes which is where urban design plays an important role.