Urban Design Skills

A Claude Code Skills Plugin by Abhinav Bhardwaj

18 interconnected skills covering urban design theory, quantitative standards, and computational tools. Draws from 40+ theorists, 6 sustainability certification systems, 5 international frameworks, and hundreds of numeric benchmarks. Includes 7 Python calculators for density, FAR, walkability, parking, green space, block optimization, and cost estimation.

35,000+ lines | 75 files | 18 skills | 7 Python calculators

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Table of Contents

• Quick Start
• How It Works
• Skills Reference
  • Foundation
  • Analysis & Research
  • Design & Generation
  • Technical & Compliance
  • Production & Tools
• Urban Calculator
• Knowledge Base
• Architecture
• Example Prompts
• Author & License

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Quick Start

Option 1: Use as a Plugin

claude --plugin-dir "/path/to/Urban Design Skills"

Option 2: Copy to Your Project

cp -r skills/ your-project/.claude/skills/

Once installed, just ask Claude anything about urban design. The system activates automatically - no slash commands required for most tasks.

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How It Works

Urban Design Skills uses a progressive disclosure architecture to stay lean while encoding deep knowledge:

User asks anything about urban design
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        v
urban-design-foundations (auto-fires, invisible to user)
  - Applies baseline knowledge from 40+ frameworks
  - Routes to specialized skills as needed
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        v
Specialized skill loads (e.g., street-design, masterplan-design)
  - Follows structured workflow
  - Loads deep reference files on demand
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        v
urban-calculator provides precise computations when needed
  - 6 Python scripts for density, FAR, walkability, parking,
    green space, and block optimization

Three-Layer Context Management

This keeps the context window efficient. Claude never loads knowledge it doesn’t need for the current task.

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Skills Reference

1. Foundation (Auto-Activated)

urban-design-foundations

Invocation: Automatic (invisible to user) - Claude-only, not user-invocable

The foundation layer. Auto-fires on any urban design context and provides:

• Theorist Quick-Reference Matrix - 14+ theorists with key contributions, principles, and application contexts
• Quantitative Rules of Thumb - 35+ metrics with min/optimal/max values (density, FAR, block dimensions, street widths, H:W ratios, green space, walkability, parking, and more)
• Movement Frameworks - New Urbanism, TOD, Complete Streets, 15-Minute City, Smart Growth, Space Syntax, CPTED, Biophilic Urbanism
• Climate Zone Summary - Hot-arid, tropical, temperate, cold strategies at a glance
• Design Quality Criteria Checklist - Gehl + Bentley + PPS + Healthy Streets composite
• Anti-Pattern Catalog - Common urban design failures and how to avoid them
• Skill Router - Decision tree that activates specialized skills based on user context

Reference files (loaded on demand):

• theorists-and-movements.md - Full treatment of all theorists and modern movements
• quantitative-standards.md - Complete numeric standards organized by category
• global-frameworks.md - UN-Habitat, WHO, C40, NACTO, ITDP, TfL, PPS
• rules-of-thumb.md - Quick-lookup tables for 10+ design situations

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2. Analysis & Research

site-analysis

Invocation: /site-analysis or auto-activates on site analysis context

Multi-scale site analysis framework operating at three scales:

• Regional - Economic drivers, transport networks, growth corridors
• Neighborhood - Street network, land use patterns, community facilities
• Site - Topography, microclimate, boundaries, constraints, opportunities

Includes a 10-step analysis workflow with checklists, 12 analysis layers (topography, hydrology, climate, ecology, transport, utilities, zoning, heritage, noise, views, access, social), and a complete site analysis report template.

Reference files: analysis-layers.md, data-sources.md Templates: site-analysis-report.md

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design-evaluation

Invocation: /design-evaluation or auto-activates on evaluation context

Composite 30-criteria scorecard synthesizing the best of:

• Jan Gehl’s 12 Quality Criteria
• Ian Bentley’s 7 Responsive Environments
• PPS Placemaking principles
• CPTED safety principles
• Transport for London Healthy Streets

Each criterion has a 1-5 scoring rubric with clear descriptors. Total score out of 150, with thresholds for Poor / Below Average / Good / Very Good / Excellent. Includes quantitative benchmark checking against 15 exemplar projects worldwide.

Reference files: evaluation-criteria.md, benchmarks.md

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precedent-study

Invocation: /precedent-study or auto-activates on precedent/case study context

Systematic case study methodology with:

• 5-dimension analysis framework - Context, design, performance, process, transferability
• Selection criteria - How to choose relevant precedents
• Built-in database of 30+ exemplar projects - Vauban, Hammarby, Masdar, Poundbury, HafenCity, King’s Cross, Eixample, and more
• Data collection protocol - Site visits, photography, interviews
• Transferability rubric - How to adapt lessons to new contexts

Reference files: methodology.md

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3. Design & Generation

masterplan-design

Invocation: /masterplan-design only (user-triggered, not auto-activated)

The main orchestrator. Runs an 8-phase masterplan workflow that invokes 7 other skills as needed:

1. Brief & Vision - Program, goals, constraints
2. Site Analysis - Invokes site-analysis
3. Framework Design - Movement network, block structure, open space system
4. Land Use & Density - Invokes block-and-density + mixed-use-programming
5. Street Design - Invokes street-design
6. Public Space - Invokes public-space-design
7. Technical Resolution - Invokes climate-responsive-design + zoning-and-codes
8. Evaluation & Iteration - Invokes design-evaluation + sustainability-scoring

Covers greenfield, brownfield, and infill scenarios. Includes design parameter ranges by context (suburban to urban core), phasing strategies, and implementation roadmaps.

Reference files: design-process.md, typologies.md (10 neighborhood typologies), phasing-strategies.md Templates: masterplan-report.md

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street-design

Invocation: /street-design or auto-activates on street/road design context

Complete streets design using NACTO standards:

• Street hierarchy classification with right-of-way dimensions
• Cross-section design methodology - Building face to building face, with ASCII diagram generation
• Complete NACTO element dimensions table - Lanes, sidewalks, bike facilities, medians, parking, buffers, transit
• Intersection design - Signalized, roundabouts, raised, mini-circles
• Traffic calming toolkit - 15+ interventions with selection guidance
• 13 street typologies - Boulevard, avenue, main street, residential, shared space, woonerf, and more

Reference files: nacto-standards.md, street-typologies.md, intersection-design.md

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public-space-design

Invocation: /public-space-design or auto-activates on parks/plaza/public space context

Parks, plazas, and waterfronts using Gehl’s 12 Quality Criteria and PPS Placemaking:

• 12 space typologies - Civic plaza, neighborhood park, pocket park, linear park, waterfront, playground, community garden, and more
• 6-step design process - Analysis, programming, concept, detail, management, evaluation
• Dimensional standards - Plaza sizing (min 15m width), seating ratios (1 seat per 3m of edge), tree canopy targets (40-60%)
• Programming guide - Activity types, user groups, seasonal programming, event infrastructure
• Service radii - 400m for neighborhood parks, 2km for district parks

Reference files: space-typologies.md, gehl-criteria.md, programming-guide.md

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block-and-density

Invocation: /block-and-density or auto-activates on block/density context

Urban block typologies and density optimization:

• 15 block typologies - Perimeter, courtyard, tower-on-podium, slab, row house, mews, superblock, kampung, and more - with full dimensional specs
• Density calculation methodology - Site area to GFA to FAR to units to population, with worked examples
• Height-density trade-offs - How the same FAR can be achieved with different height/coverage combinations
• Daylight and solar access rules - BRE guidelines, courtyard proportions, spacing ratios
• 9-typology quick matrix - For rapid selection by context

Reference files: block-typologies.md, density-metrics.md, far-calculations.md

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mixed-use-programming

Invocation: /mixed-use-programming or auto-activates on land use/programming context

Land use programming and mix optimization:

• Land use categories with subcategories - Residential (6 types), Commercial (5), Civic (4), Open Space (4)
• Mix optimization framework - Demand-based, supply-based, standards-based approaches
• Recommended ratios by context - CBD, urban center, neighborhood center, suburban
• Retail sizing - Expenditure-based methodology, floorspace-per-capita norms
• Community facility requirements - Schools, health, libraries, recreation by population threshold
• Vertical mixed-use rules - Ground floor activation, upper floor compatibility, servicing

Reference files: land-use-guide.md

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tod-design

Invocation: /tod-design or auto-activates on transit-oriented development context

Transit-oriented development using ITDP TOD Standard 3.0:

• TOD typology by transit mode - Metro, LRT, BRT, bus with appropriate density ranges
• ITDP 8 Principles - Walk, Cycle, Connect, Transit, Mix, Densify, Compact, Shift - with full scoring
• Density-distance gradient - Graduated intensification from 0-200m through 600-800m from station
• 21 scoring indicators - Complete ITDP v3.0 evaluation framework
• First-last mile design - Pedestrian and cycling access to transit
• Station area design - Interchange, forecourt, wayfinding, commercial activation
• Parking management - Maximum ratios, shared parking, park-and-ride sizing

Reference files: itdp-standard.md, tod-typologies.md

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mobility-and-transport

Invocation: /mobility-and-transport or auto-activates on transport/mobility context

Comprehensive mobility and transport planning:

• Trip generation tables - ITE 11th Edition rates for 25+ land use types (residential, commercial, civic, hospitality)
• Mode split framework - Target mode splits by 7 context types, 10 mode shift levers with evidence-based effectiveness
• Street network connectivity - 6 metrics (intersection density, link-node ratio, route directness, cul-de-sac %)
• Transit planning - Mode selection (metro/LRT/BRT/bus), coverage standards, stop spacing, station area design
• Cycling network design - CROW 5 requirements, infrastructure selection by road context, parking standards
• Pedestrian accessibility - Walking catchments, Fruin pedestrian LOS, crossing standards
• Freight and servicing - Delivery rates by use, loading bay standards, last-mile solutions
• Mobility hubs - 3-tier hub typology with sizing standards
• Transport impact assessment - 6-step workflow from baseline to monitoring
• TDM toolkit - 10 demand management strategies with effectiveness ranges

Reference files: trip-generation.md, transit-planning.md, cycling-design.md

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cost-estimation

Invocation: /cost-estimation or auto-activates on cost/budget/feasibility context

Development cost estimation and financial feasibility:

• Building construction cost - $/m2 GFA for 20+ building types at 4 specification levels (low/medium/high/premium)
• Regional cost adjustment - 16 regional multipliers from India (0.35x) to Northern Europe (1.45x)
• Height premium - Cost multipliers from 1-3 floors (1.0x) to 60+ floors (2.0-2.5x)
• Sustainability premium - Additional cost for LEED Silver through Net Zero
• Infrastructure costs - Roads, utilities, transit, green infrastructure per linear meter
• Soft costs - Professional fees, contingency, finance, marketing by percentage
• Total development cost assembly - Full cost stack methodology
• Revenue and feasibility - Residual land value, profit on cost, yield on cost tests
• Value engineering - 10 strategies ranked by saving potential
• Phased costing - Infrastructure triggers by dwelling count
• Exemplar project benchmarks - 8 real projects with $/m2 and $/dwelling data

Scripts: cost_estimator.py (Python calculator with 16 regional profiles) Reference files: construction-costs.md, infrastructure-costs.md, feasibility-analysis.md

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urban-regeneration

Invocation: /urban-regeneration or auto-activates on brownfield/regeneration context

Urban regeneration, brownfield redevelopment, and heritage-led renewal:

• Regeneration context classifier - Decision tree routing to brownfield, heritage-led, neighborhood revitalization, adaptive reuse, or infill pathway
• Brownfield remediation - Contamination assessment phases, contaminant profiles by 12 previous use types, 10 remediation strategies with cost/duration
• Vacant land strategy - 6 vacancy typologies, meanwhile/temporary use toolkit with 8 activation types
• Heritage-led regeneration - 5-criterion significance assessment, character area appraisal (10 mapping layers), 8 conservation design principles
• Adaptive reuse - Feasibility checklist (10 factors), conversion potential matrix (14 building types x 6 new uses), conversion cost premiums, 10 exemplar projects
• Neighborhood revitalization - Decline diagnostic (5 categories), 8 revitalization strategies, catalyst project design methodology
• Anti-gentrification toolkit - 10 displacement prevention tools, gentrification risk monitoring indicators
• Infill and intensification - 6 infill site types, contextual design rules, 7 gentle density strategies
• Community engagement - Stakeholder engagement ladder (5 levels), design charrette protocol
• Regeneration delivery - 7 delivery models, phased delivery framework, 15 precedent projects

Reference files: brownfield-remediation.md, heritage-and-reuse.md, community-engagement.md

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4. Technical & Compliance

climate-responsive-design

Invocation: /climate-responsive-design or auto-activates on climate/thermal context

Urban-scale climate strategies for four climate zones:

• Hot-arid - Compact form, shading, thermal mass, evaporative cooling, wind towers
• Tropical - Cross-ventilation, elevated structures, rain gardens, shade canopy
• Temperate - Solar access, wind protection, mixed strategies, seasonal adaptation
• Cold - Compact form, wind barriers, solar orientation, heated ground, snow management

Includes strategy matrix (orientation, H:W ratio, vegetation, building mass, open space, wind, water, ground cover), urban heat island mitigation toolkit, thermal comfort standards (UTCI, PET, Lawson wind criteria), solar access analysis, and stormwater management.

Reference files: climate-zones.md, mitigation-strategies.md

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zoning-and-codes

Invocation: /zoning-and-codes or auto-activates on zoning/regulatory context

Zoning analysis and form-based code generation:

• 5 zoning system types - Euclidean, performance-based, form-based, hybrid, overlay - compared
• Complete Transect T1-T6 - Rural-to-urban spectrum with full specifications for each zone
• Form-based code elements - Building form standards, frontage types (10 types), building dispositions, architectural standards
• Building envelope controls - Setbacks, height, FAR, lot coverage, step-backs, sky exposure plane
• Code generation workflow - From analysis through drafting to adoption
• Model code excerpts - SmartCode, Miami 21, Denver Form-Based Code

Reference files: code-types.md, transect-guide.md

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sustainability-scoring

Invocation: /sustainability-scoring or auto-activates on sustainability/certification context

Score designs against 6 international certification systems:

Includes cross-certification comparison matrix, scoring workflow, and optimization recommendations organized by cost-effectiveness tiers.

Reference files: leed-nd.md, breeam-communities.md, well-community.md

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5. Production & Tools

design-brief

Invocation: /design-brief only (user-triggered, not auto-activated)

Professional design document generation:

• 5 document types - Design brief, design report, competition submission, presentation script, design code
• Complete structures - Section-by-section outlines with fill-in guidance
• Professional writing guidelines - Tone, terminology, visual description conventions
• Metric tables - 40+ metrics with compliance columns

Templates: design-brief-template.md, report-template.md

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urban-calculator

Invocation: /urban-calculator or auto-activates when computation is needed

6 Python calculators for precise urban metrics. See Urban Calculator section below for full usage.

Scripts: density_calculator.py, far_calculator.py, walkability_scorer.py, parking_calculator.py, green_space_analyzer.py, block_optimizer.py Reference files: formulas.md

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Urban Calculator

All calculators output human-readable formatted text by default, with a --json flag for structured output.

Density Calculator

Calculate population and dwelling density from site area and FAR.

python density_calculator.py --site-area 30000 --far 2.5

FAR Calculator

Calculate Floor Area Ratio, GFA, and use-based breakdown.

python far_calculator.py --site-area 20000 --coverage 0.6 --floors 8

Walkability Scorer

Estimate a Walk Score (0-100) based on amenity distances.

python walkability_scorer.py --grocery 200 --restaurants 150 --parks 300 --schools 400

Parking Calculator

Calculate parking requirements with transit, shared, and TDM reductions.

python parking_calculator.py --residential-units 200 --office-area 5000 --transit-reduction 0.3

Green Space Analyzer

Analyze green space provision against WHO, London Plan, or UN-Habitat standards.

python green_space_analyzer.py --population 5000 --parks "Central:8000:neighborhood,Plaza:400:pocket"

Park types: pocket, neighborhood, district, city, linear

Block Optimizer

Find optimal perimeter block dimensions for a target FAR.

python block_optimizer.py --target-far 3.0 --max-height 8

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Knowledge Base

Theorists & Frameworks

Modern Movements

New Urbanism | Transit-Oriented Development | Complete Streets | Tactical Urbanism | Landscape Urbanism | Ecological Urbanism | Biophilic Urbanism | Smart Growth | CPTED

International Standards

Certification Systems

Quantitative Standards

35+ metrics with min / optimal / max values covering:

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Architecture

skills/
├── urban-design-foundations/      # Foundation (auto-fire, Claude-only)
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Theorist matrix, metrics, routing
│   └── references/                # 4 deep knowledge files
│       ├── theorists-and-movements.md
│       ├── quantitative-standards.md
│       ├── global-frameworks.md
│       └── rules-of-thumb.md
├── site-analysis/                 # Analysis
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 10-step workflow
│   ├── references/                # 12 analysis layers, data sources
│   └── templates/                 # Report template
├── masterplan-design/             # Main orchestrator
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 8-phase workflow, invokes 7 skills
│   ├── references/                # Design process, typologies, phasing
│   └── templates/                 # Report template
├── street-design/                 # Streets
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Cross-sections, elements, calming
│   └── references/                # NACTO, 13 typologies, intersections
├── public-space-design/           # Public spaces
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Gehl criteria, PPS, sizing
│   └── references/                # 12 typologies, programming, scoring
├── block-and-density/             # Blocks & density
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 9 typologies, FAR, daylight
│   └── references/                # 15 types, metrics, calculations
├── mixed-use-programming/         # Land use
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Mix framework, sizing, facilities
│   └── references/                # Space standards, feasibility
├── tod-design/                    # Transit-oriented
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # ITDP 8 principles, gradients
│   └── references/                # Scoring, 8 TOD typologies
├── mobility-and-transport/        # Mobility & transport
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Trip gen, mode split, transit, cycling
│   └── references/                # ITE tables, transit planning, CROW cycling
├── cost-estimation/               # Cost & feasibility
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Construction, infrastructure, soft costs
│   ├── scripts/                   # Python: cost_estimator.py
│   └── references/                # Construction, infrastructure, feasibility
├── urban-regeneration/            # Regeneration & reuse
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # Brownfield, heritage, adaptive reuse
│   └── references/                # Remediation, heritage, community engagement
├── climate-responsive-design/     # Climate
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 4 zones, heat island, comfort
│   └── references/                # Zone strategies, mitigation
├── zoning-and-codes/              # Regulatory
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 5 systems, Transect T1-T6
│   └── references/                # Code types, SmartCode guide
├── sustainability-scoring/        # Certification
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 6 systems, LEED-ND scoring
│   └── references/                # LEED-ND, BREEAM, WELL (full)
├── design-evaluation/             # Evaluation
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 30-criteria scorecard
│   └── references/                # 7 frameworks, 15 benchmarks
├── precedent-study/               # Precedents
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 30+ project database
│   └── references/                # Research methodology
├── design-brief/                  # Documents
│   ├── SKILL.md                   # 5 document types
│   └── templates/                 # Brief + report templates
└── urban-calculator/              # Computation
    ├── SKILL.md                   # 6 calculators
    ├── scripts/                   # Python: density, FAR, walkability,
    │                              #   parking, green space, block optimizer
    └── references/                # Formulas, conversions, assumptions

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Example Prompts

These demonstrate how skills auto-activate - no slash commands needed:

"Analyze this 5-hectare brownfield site for a mixed-use development"
  → site-analysis fires automatically

"What's the ideal block size for a neighborhood center?"
  → urban-design-foundations + block-and-density fire

"Design a complete street cross-section for a 30m right-of-way"
  → street-design fires with NACTO standards

"Score this masterplan against LEED-ND"
  → sustainability-scoring fires with credit-by-credit analysis

"Calculate the density if I have FAR 2.5 on a 3-hectare site"
  → urban-calculator fires and runs density_calculator.py

"What TOD density gradient should I use near a metro station?"
  → tod-design fires with ITDP standards

"Evaluate this public space design using Gehl's criteria"
  → design-evaluation fires with 30-criteria scorecard

"What mode split should I target for this TOD neighborhood?"
  → mobility-and-transport fires with mode split framework

"Estimate the total development cost for 50,000m2 residential in the Gulf"
  → cost-estimation fires and runs cost_estimator.py

"How should I approach this derelict gas works site for redevelopment?"
  → urban-regeneration fires with brownfield remediation pathway

Slash commands for direct invocation:

/masterplan-design 50-hectare greenfield site in Dubai
  → Full 8-phase masterplan workflow with climate-responsive design

/design-brief Competition submission for a waterfront redevelopment
  → Professional document generation with fill-in sections

/urban-calculator density --site-area 30000 --far 3.5
  → Precise density calculation with population and unit counts

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Stats

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Author & License

Created by Abhinav Bhardwaj

Copyright © 2026 Abhinav Bhardwaj. All rights reserved.

Released under the MIT License.

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Urban Design Skills - A Claude Code skills plugin for urban design.