Module 3: The Neighborhood Unit and other Related 4.

Distorted: not necessary has real

Theories
distance or direction.
THE IMAGE OF THE CITY BY KEVIN LYNCH
Lynch’s Goal:
Kevin Andrew Lynch (Jan 7,1918-April 25, 1984)
Combating Modernism's unified, monolithic
• American urban planner & author. depersonalized city through reasserting the human
role in the interpretation of the city.
• best known for his work on mental mapping & on
perceptual form of urban environments. Lynch’s Goal Imageability:
• famous book The Image of the City (1960) That quality in a physical object which gives it
is very famous among his works. a high probability of evoking a strong image in any
• disciple of FLW before he studied city planning, given observer.
& spend his academic career at the
It is that shape, color, or arrangement which facilitates
Massachusetts the making of vividly identified powerfully structured,
Institute of Technology, teaching there. highly useful mental image of the environment.
• He practices site planning and urban design
Lynch’s Goal Legible:
CONCEPT OF MENTAL MAPPING
The city as 'legible' - coherent, organized into (and
• "A mental map is a person's point-of-view around) clearly defined districts. The layout is easily
perception of their area of interaction. grasped by the citizen.
• "A person's perception of the world is known The Elements of a City as per Kevin Lynch’s The Image
as mental map, it's an individual's own map of a City
of their known world.
According to the book, he stated that there is a public
• The image which the user form in his mind image of any given city that is composed by
about the architectural and urban overlapping many individual images and also each
components of the city and their places so individual image is unique. He classified the contents
he can direct his motion through the city of the city images into five types of elements which
after that. are paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks
• Mental maps of an individual can be A. Paths
investigated by: ✓ Paths are the channels which the
1. Asking for directions to a landmark or observer moves.
other location. ✓ They can be streets, walkways, transit
2. Asking someone to draw a sketch lines, canals and railroads.
✓ Why paths are important elements in
map of an area or describe that area.
the city image?
3. Asking a person to name as many
o Concentration of uses
places as possible in short period of o Containing significant buildings and
time. facades
▪ paths are the most important elements in
people's images:
• Mental image properties: ▪ other elements are arranged and along
them.
The overall mental image of an urban ▪ Unclear paths = unclear city
environment will be: B. Node
✓ Junctions
1. Partial: not covering the whole city
✓ Large areas you can enter, serve as the
2. Simplified: omitting a great deal of
foci of the city, neighborhood, district,
information etc.;
3. Unique: each individual has his/her own
 ✓ Offers the person in them multiple o Edges -Prevent motion in specific
perspectives of the other core elements. direction
✓ Nodes are points, the strategic spots in a o Paths -Direct the motion to specific
city into which an observer can enter, and direction
which are the intensive foci to and from E. District
which he is travelling. ✓ Districts are large city areas which observer
✓ Strategic points in the city that: can mentally go inside of.
o the user can enter it ✓ The physical characteristics that determine
o be directed to many districts are;
o destinations o texture, space, form, detail, symbol,
o it can be gathering places building type, use, activity,
C. Landmark inhabitants, degree of maintenance,
✓ Points of reference person cannot enter topography.
into; ✓ Districts have different kinds of boundaries
✓ These are buildings, signs, stores, such as hard, definite and precise.
mountains, public art; ✓ Edges may augment the tendency of districts
✓ Mobile Points (such as Sun) can be used to fragment the city in a disorganizing way.
as well. ✓ Some districts are single, standing along their
✓ A physical element with unique and zone and others are connected to each other.
special visual features that has a "point-
Three Cities on this Concept
specific" location, and can be identified
from the distance. The image of the cities Boston, Jersey Cities and Los
✓ What makes landmark a land Angeles derived from the consensus or interviews and
remarkable? sketch maps.
o Clarity of general form
o Singularity: "one in the context" ELEMENT INTERRELATIONS
o Difference in form, shape & height • one of these elements are isolated from each
from surroundings other in the real case.
o Contrast with the surroundings • Districts are structured with nodes, defined by
o Uniqueness Nature edges, pene
D. Edge • trated by paths and sprinkled with landmarks.
✓ Edges are the boundaries between two These elements are the raw material of the
phases, linear breaks in continuity. environmental image at the city scale. The must
✓ For instance shores, railroad cuts, edges be patterned together to provide satisfying form.
of development and walls. • Such pairs may reinforce, resonate or enhance
✓ There are different types of edges such others power; or they may conflict and destroy
as; themselves.
o Fragmentary Edges: In the abstract
• None of lynch's elements exits in isolation:
continuous but only visualized edges
o all combine to provide the overall image:
in discrete points.
o Districts are structures with nodes
o Overhead Edges: Elevated railways of
o Edges define Districts
Jersey City and Boston.
o Path’s introduction to Districts
o Visible Edge: Lake Michigan in Chicago.
o Nodes sprinkled by landmarks ....
✓ The strongest edges are continuous in form,
o Nodes emphasizes the connection
and often impenetrable to cross movement.
between paths
o Manmade Edges
• All combine to provide the overall image of the
▪ Walls
city
▪ Fences
o Natural Edges Responsive Environment by IAN BENTLEY
▪ Mountains
Ian Bentley
▪ Rivers
✓ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PATH & EDGE?
 • has worked as both an architect and urban the number of visible alternative routes it
designer in the UK, the Netherlands, and the offers from one point to another.
Middle East 1. PERMEABILITY AND ACCESS OF
• He served on the board of a property company CHOICE
engaged in residential and commercial The ability of individuals to have
development. choices in accessing various parts of
• He, along with colleagues like Paul Murrain and an environment is closely tied to its
Graham Smith, received awards in the RIBA inner permeability. The more accessible an
city competitions in 1977 and 1980. environment is, the greater the
• His key interests lie in devising strategies for choices it offers.
regenerating deteriorating urban areas and 2. PERMEABILITY VIS-A-VIS PUBLIC
researching the impact of property development SPACE
on urban layout, architectural aesthetics, and Bentley acknowledges that while
architectural theory. accessibility is important, there is also
• Ian Bentley has published extensively on these a need for both public and private
topics in books and articles and has also made spaces. People require the ability to
contributions to television programs transition between public and private
roles, and this balance is essential for
ABOUT RESPONSIVE ENVIRONMENTS BY IAN BENTLEY the richness of their experiences and
• The book focuses on architecture and urban choices.
design, emphasizing the practical aspects. 3. COMPLEMENTARITY AND
PERMEABILITY
• It highlights the shortcomings of designations
and visions that lack proper planning and Public and private spaces are not
independent but rather
implementation.
complementary. People need access
• Ian Bentley argues that ideals must be
points between these two types of
integrated with thoughtful design
spaces, which adds to the richness of
considerations to shape the physical
choices they can make in their
environment effectively.
interactions with the environment.
• Modern design often fails to connect with
4. VISUAL PERMEABILITY
social and political ideals, creating a disconnect
Permeability is not limited to physical
between spatial qualities and societal values.
access alone. Visual permeability, the
• The book emphasizes that progressive social
ability to see alternative routes, is
attitudes should naturally align with the
also significant. If alternatives are not
commitment to these ideals.
visible, only those who are already
• Designers must recognize the significance of
familiar with the area can take
the physical fabric of the built environment in
advantage of them.
shaping space.

PARAMETERS OF USER EXPERIENCE AND SPATIAL 5. BLOCK DIVISION

QUALITIES The degree of permeability is
influenced by how the network of
When designing a space, it is important to consider public spaces divides the
user experience and spatial qualities. These environment into blocks. These
parameters include permeability, legibility, blocks can vary in size and shape,
vitality, robustness, visual appropriateness, impacting the ease with which people
richness, and personalization. can move through and access
The responsiveness of an environment is defined different areas.
by the interconnection between them. CASE EXAMPLES: PERMEABILITY
A. Permeability Escolta Street
Permeability is the measure of an
environment's accessibility to users. A Creating pedestrian-friendly streets with wide
public space's permeability depends on sidewalks, well-marked crosswalks, and pedestrian
bridges enhances permeability. In the Philippines, creating a multifunctional urban environment that
initiatives like the rehabilitation of Escolta Street in caters to various needs and interests.
Manila demonstrate efforts to prioritize pedestrian
Makati Central Business District (CBD)
access and street life.
The Makati CBD combines modern skyscrapers with
Calle Crisologo
parks, art installations, shopping centers, and dining
Preserving and revitalizing historical districts with options, providing a variety of experiences within a
pedestrian-friendly streets and mixed-use buildings, dense urban core.
like Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, promotes both cultural
B. Legibility
heritage and permeability.
Legibility refers to clarity in physical form
VARIETY
and activity patterns, which can be understood
Incorporating a range of functions, forms, and and read separately. Spaces can be appreciated at
meanings brings variety to a space and creates an aesthetic level, while their utilization can be
a dynamic and engaging environment. understood without concern for form.
Encouraging multiple uses in a space can offer
1. TWO LEVELS OF LEGIBILITY
diverse perspectives and improve economic
performance and planning control. Bentley distinguishes between two levels of
legibility: physical form and activity patterns.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT VARIETY
People can understand the physical layout or the
The project's capacity to accommodate a
patterns of use separately, but to fully utilize a
variety of uses depends on the demand for
place, both aspects must complement each other,
these activities, the affordability of the
particularly for outsiders who need to quickly grasp
available space, and how effectively the design
a place.
fosters positive interactions among them.
2. LEGIBILITY IN TRADITIONAL CITIES
VARIETY AND DEMAND
Bentley contrasts traditional cities with modern
Demand considers the types of activities that
ones. In traditional cities, legibility was high
seek a place within the project. It encompasses
because important places and buildings were easily
the range of activities that wish to establish a
identifiable, and outdoor spaces were designed
presence.
with legibility in mind.
AFFORDABILITY OF SPACE
Important public facilities were associated with
Another critical factor is the availability of large open spaces and buildings that stood out.
affordable space within the project to house
3. LEGIBILITY IN MODERN CITIES
these activities. This factor assesses whether
the physical infrastructure and spaces can be In contrast, modern cities often suffer from
provided at reasonable costs. reduced legibility. Large office blocks, primarily
owned by financial institutions, visually dominate
DESIGN FACILITATION OF INTERACTIONS
city centers, overshadowing publicly-relevant
The project's design plays a crucial role in places and causing confusion regarding activity
promoting positive interactions between the patterns.
various activities. It determines to what extent
Furthermore, important public buildings may
the layout and features encourage
resemble privately-owned ones, making it
collaboration and synergy among them.
challenging to distinguish between them.
CASE EXAMPLES: VARIETY
4. ACHIEVING GREATER LEGIBILITY
Araneta City, Quezon City
Bentley emphasizes the importance of increasing
This development includes the Araneta Coliseum, legibility, especially in the face of its continuous
shopping centers, offices, and residential buildings, erosion.
He suggests that improving layout design is a 3. LARGE-SCALE ROBUSTNESS
starting point for enhancing legibility, and he later Large-scale robustness concerns the ability
mentions the importance of addressing activity of the building as a whole to adapt to
patterns in achieving this goal. changes in use over time. Factors such as
building depth, access points, and building
5. KEY PHYSICAL ELEMENTS VIS-AVIS LEGIBILITY
height influence a building's large-scale
Kevin Lynch's work, referenced by Bentley, robustness.
identifies five key physical elements that play a 4. SMALL-SCALE ROBUSTNESS
crucial role in shaping shared mental images of a Small-scale robustness relates to the
place. These elements contribute to the legibility of flexibility of specific spaces within a
an environment. building to support a wide range of
activities.
CASE EXAMPLES: LEGIBILITY Factors like room size and shape play a
University of the Philippines crucial role in small-scale robustness.
5. ACTIVE AREAS
Many university campuses in the Philippines, such Designers should identify and prioritize
as the University of the Philippines Diliman, have a areas within a building that can actively
well-defined layout with clear signage, making it contribute to outdoor public spaces or
easy for students and visitors to find their way enhance the level of outdoor activity.
around. These areas are termed "active areas. "
Paris, France CASE EXAMPLES: ROBUSTNESS
Paris, often praised for its legibility, exhibits several Moma, New York
elements that contribute to the clarity and ease of
navigation within the city Museums like MoMA have flexible exhibition spaces
that can be adapted to display various art forms and
C. Vitality sizes. This flexibility allows for a dynamic showcase of
D. Robustness their collection.
Spaces designed for multiple purposes offer
users greater versatility compared to those BGC, Taguig
limited to a single fixed function. BGC has a master plan that encourages mixed-use
development, ensuring that commercial, residential,
The quality of adaptability and flexibility in and recreational spaces coexist. This flexibility allows
environments is described as "robustness." for a diverse range of activities within the area
Generally, those who initiate building projects
prioritize specific user needs or experiences E. visual appropriateness
over providing diverse choices. It refers to the detailed appearance of a place
1. ROBUSTNESS IN OUTDOOR SPACES that makes people aware of the choices
In public outdoor spaces, designers tend available.
to create separate compartments for In other words, a vocabulary of visual cues must
different activities, which can diminish the be found to communicate levels of choice
robustness of these spaces. Public
activities often benefit from being 1. RELEVANCE TO PUBLIC SPACES
interconnected and visible to one another. Visual appropriateness is especially
2. DESIGNERS' ROLE FOR MAKING CITIES important in public spaces and the
ROBUST exteriors of buildings that define the public
While designers cannot change patronage realm.
dynamics, they can influence robustness These are the area’s most likely to be
through their design choices. Designers frequented by people from diverse
can work within normal cost limits to backgrounds.
enhance robustness by carefully
considering the physical layout and 2. LEGIBILITY OF FORM AND USE
organization of spaces.
 Visual appropriateness supports the 2. SENSE OF SMELL (OLFACTORY RICHNESS)
legibility of both the form and use of a Choice of olfactory (smell-related)
place. experiences can be achieved by moving
The detailed appearance of a building away from one source of smell towards
should reinforce its integration into its another.
surroundings and its intended purpose. Olfactory richness is typically relevant in
3. VARIETY AND ROBUSTNESS relatively large spaces.
Visual appropriateness also plays a role in 3. SENSE OF HEARING (AURAL RICHNESS)
supporting variety and robustness. Aural richness involves the sense of hearing,
It ensures that a place's appearance is which is less controllable than sight.
suitable for a wide range of uses and While aural richness can be achieved in small
reinforces the potential for flexibility and spaces, it may impose sound experiences on
adaptability. everyone present
4. CONTEXTUAL AND USE CUES 4. SENSE OF TOUCH (TACTILE RICHNESS)
Designers should identify contextual cues Tactile richness relates to the sense of touch,
that relate a building to its context and use which can be voluntary or involuntary.
cues that align with the various activities Richness in surface texture can be
within the place. introduced even in small spaces, while air
These cues help users understand the movement and temperature variety are
purpose and character of a place. more suitable for larger areas.
5. THE SENSE OF SIGHT (VISUAL RICHNESS)
CASE EXAMPLES: VISUAL APPROPRIATENESS
Vision is the dominant sense and highly
Kyoto, Japan controllable.
Visual richness is achieved through the
Demonstrate visual appropriateness in Japanese presence of visual contrasts on surfaces.
architecture with specific culturally and contextually Contrasts are influenced by surface
appropriate elements such as lattice windows, sliding orientation and viewing positions.
doors, and tatami mat flooring
CASE EXAMPLES: RICHNESS
Central Park, Newyork
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
The Park blends with the city through its design,
incorporating naturalistic planting, meandering paths, The supreme grove is a garden with towering tree-like
and classic bridges to create a green space that structures adorned with living plants and colorful
complements the urban environment. lights, offering a visually and aurally rich experience.

F. Richness Old town, Geneva

Is the interesting quality of something that has a lot Old town Geneva, also known as Vielle Ville, is a
of different features or aspects. There are only two historic neighborhood that embodies visual richness
ways people can choose from different sensory through its well-preserve’s architecture and charming
experience if the environment itself is established street.
as broadly outlined.
G. personalization.
Firstly, by focusing attention on different sources of
Personalization” refers to the extent to which
sense and experience on separate occasions.
people can put their own stamp on a place. It
Secondly, by moving away from one source towards
allows and encourages people to achieve an
another.
environment that bears the stamp of their
1. SENSE OF MOTION (KINETIC RICHNESS) values and tastes.
Choice of kinetic (motion-related)
This could be through the addition of personal
experiences can be achieved through
items, modifications to the structure or
movement.
appearance of a space, or through the use of
Kinetic richness is relevant in large spaces,
space in a way that reflects personal
such as outdoor areas and circulation routes
within buildings.
 preferences. It’s about making a place feel like In summary
it’s truly “yours”.
“the built environment providing its users with an
1. PERSONALIZATION AND LEGIBILITY essentially democratic setting, enriching their
Personalization can also enhance the opportunities by maximizing the degree if choice
legibility of a place, making the patterns of available to them’’- Bentley
activities within it clearer, which is
Urban designers should carefully consider each of
particularly valuable in robust
these aspects to craft environment that not only meet
environments accommodating a wide
the practical needs of their users but also enhance the
variety of uses.
overall quality of life in urban areas, fostering a sense
2. TYPES OF PERSONALIZATION
of community and well-being.
Users personalize spaces to either improve
practical facilities or change the image of a
place. Personalization of the image can be
affirmative (affirmation of personal tastes
and values) or remedial (to address
perceived inappropriateness).
3. CONSTRAINTS ON PERSONALIZATION
Personalization is influenced by factors such
as tenure (ownership and rights to
occupation), building type (homes and
workplaces are more likely to be
personalized), and technology (design
should be accessible to unskilled
individuals).
4. PUBLIC IMPACT
High levels of personalization can
potentially disrupt the public role of a
building and create a political issue, as it
may erode the quality of the public realm.
Designing buildings that can accommodate
personalization without chaos is important.
5. PATTERNS OF PERSONALIZATION
Patterns of personalization are influenced
by patterns of tenure and can be predicted.
Designers should estimate the probable
effects of personalization to ensure it
doesn't undermine the intended qualities of
the built environment.

CASE EXAMPLES: PERSONALIZATION

Callejon de hamel, havana

known for its Afro- Cuban art and vibrant colors. Artist
Salvador González Escalona has transformed the space
into a lively cultural hub

Valparaiso, Chile

Is a city in Chile famous for its colorful and personalized

houses. Residents have painted their homes in a
rainbow of colors, often with intricate designs and
artistic flair, turning the city into a visually stunning and
personalized urban landscape.