| Abstract: | With regard to the term “function”, it is closely associated with the principles frequently indicated by Modernists, which also have the relation with human needs. Jon Lang, In the book: “Urban Design: American Experience”, redefines functionalism based on the hierarchy of basic human needs that indicated by Abraham Maslow, added with cognition and aesthetic needs. Therefore, urban design should give importance to these human needs to design beter public places for encouraging public activities and meeting people’s needs. Based on the functionalism theory, firstly, this essay wil identify the nature of cognitive and aesthetic needs that engaged to construct a functional environment based on the process that people experience the city. Besides, the public spaces that Jan Gehl implies through his literatures wil be reviewed for inquiring into the atainment of the two specific needs in order to constitute beter urban places. Finaly, there are some debates on urban design practices to beter ilustrate the urban design issues and consequences in terms of accomplishing cognitive and aesthetic needs. |
