Urban Design - Visual Survey

Visual Survey
Visual Survey in Urban Design is an examination of the form, appearance and composition of a city an evaluation of its assets and liabilities. Visual Survey in urban design enables us to see where city needs reshaping

Imageability
Imageability studies : Kevin Lynch-studied what people mentally extracted from the physical reality of a city. Five elements which people use to construct their mental image of a city Pathways Districts Edges Landmarks Nodes

Paths
Paths are the transportation routes of the city and are the most common points from which the city is experienced. They can be made distinct and memorable through variation in design and natural setting. To avoid confusion, there ought to be an obvious hierarchy of streets, indicating which carry a higher volume. Each street need not be absolutely straight, but it ought to travel in one general direction and have a directional gradient to communicate where on the line the traveler is. Paths should have well-defined origins and destinations as well as landmarks along the way.

Districts
Districts are relatively large areas that have enough identity to be named. Each district should be set apart from others through thematic, visual clues. Districts often become defined in terms of class or special use as well. Some districts are introverted, with sharp boundaries and an exclusive association, while others are extroverted, tied more closely to the whole pattern of the city.

Edges
Termination of a district is its edge Edges provide a spatially distinct constitution to elements of the city. The more visually obvious they are, like a waterfront or park side, the better. Edges can be strong, but planners must ensure they are are still penetrable enough to allow connections across them.

Landmarks
A landmark is anything that stands out that can help an observer orient himself. The prominent visual features of the city are its landmarks It could be lavish and visually appealing, or it could simply be a foreground that contrasts sharply with the background. Empire state building

Nodes
Node is a center of activity Nodes are precise locations that require extra attention from the observer, usually junctions along a network of paths or transit stations. They should be limited to a reasonable amount and made distinct through edges and landmarks. Times Square, New York

Form qualities
There are ten important design qualities that apply to each element:

1. Singularity. Sharp contrasts can be used to draw attention.

2. Simplicity. Forms should be easily conceivable geometric shapes. 3. Continuity. Individual elements must be understandable as a whole. 4. Dominance. Some elements stand out from the others. 5. Clarity of Joint. Emphasize strategic intersections and boundaries. 6. Directional differentiation. Asymmetry can help the observer detect direction. 7. Visual Scope. Points at which the larger picture can be taken in. 8. Motion Awareness. Make the traveler visually aware of ones speed. 9. Time Series. Designing melodies in a series that is experienced over time. 10. Names and meanings. Non-physical attributes that enhance design features.

Landform and Nature

Every city is built on a piece of land and form of this land determines city form. Form of Terrain flat, gently rolling, hilly, mountainous influences the character. A flat site-vertical architecture or assertive horizontals A slightly hilly site- vertical architecture at summit with a flow of cubes on the slopes or termination of architecture just below the crests. Prominent features of landscape on the site cliffs, mountain peaks, ranges of hills on the horizon, plateaus, rivers or lakes can act as accenting features in sites or passively as vistas.

Nature
Indigenous greenery should be assessed in terms of shape, size, character, practicability and seasonal change. A thick foliated tree formally shaped proper for lining a road A spreading shade tree of informal shape appropriate for sitting place.

Local climate
Temperature Light Precipitation Sun Winds These aspects determine the design of building facades including their degree of intricacy and their colouring.

Shape
Every city has a general overall shape Radiocentric Rectilinear Star Ring Linear Branch Sheet Articulated sheet Constellation Satellite

Size and Density

Size Physical Extend of the city- The distance across the city or distance from the centre to outskirts The number of inhabitants Density The no. of peoples per square kms, The no. of houses per square km, The amount of building floor area ratio in a given section

Pattern, grain and texture

Urban Pattern block and street layouts- it is the geometry, regular or irregular formed by routes, open spaces and buildings. Flat site rectilinear block and street pattern Rolling terrain- curvilinear block and street pattern Cul de sac system Mixture of open space and built space

 Grain is the degree of fineness or coarseness in an urban area Texture is the degree of mixture of fine and coarse elements . A suburban area with small houses on small plots -fine grain and uniform texture Small houses on varying plots fine grain and uneven texture A city with large blocks and varying sizes coarse grain and uneven texture If buildings are uniform in size- coarse grain and even texture

Urban spaces
Urban space must be distinguished by a predominant characteristic such as the quality of its enclosure, the quality of its detailed treatment or out fittings and the activity that occurs in it- urban squares or plaza- islands or oasis in city stopping places Urban space can be linear corridors alsoavenues and streets- corridor spaces are for linear movement

Open spaces
Open spaces being nature brought into the city or open expanses allowed to remain in their original state. The scale of open space is given by the trees, shrubs, rocks and ground surface. They are a complement and foil to urban form.

Routes
Approach routes they present city to us must satisfy the visual requirement of presenting architecture and cities an approach route must both inform us and conduct us Surface Arteries major routes through cities- high volume traffic streets Their relation with built form and city scape, their clarity needs to be evaluated Local Streets they serve an intricate network of small streets, along with cars, buses and delivery trucks stop and go. Pedestrian friendliness is essential part of local street.

Districts of a city
The pattern of districts is closely related to the pattern of routes and the size of the district determined by the nature of the internal routes serving it. The districts vary in their strength of character- beverly hills Down town, uptown, midtown, ethnic areas, water front,

Anatomy of District
Form Activity Features Paths Centres Intrusions Change Improvement

Activity structure
Certain spots in the city has characteristic functions. Places of : Living Working Shopping Travelling Leisure Recreation Learning

Pedestrian areas
Pedestrian areas strictly demarked Sidewalks- width, paving, condition, protection from rain and sun, sidewalk out fittings like benches. Pedestrian crossings should be frequent and convenient.

Vista and Skyline

Every city has few striking vistas of it and from it. The views into and out of the city are precious assets. They are important part of urban design plan

Non physical aspects

Every city has a history, linking it to its origin, and present in the minds of its population Visible signs of history Spaces for major public ceremonies and events

Summary
Size Shape Pattern Density Texture and grain Dominant visible activities Magnets of city, generators and Feeders Rhythmic sequence of accents-modulation of visual intensity Patterns of movement Orientation in a city Major vistas