IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Lynch influenced the field of city planning through his work on the theory of city form, and studies relating to human perceptions of the city y y , g p p y on the perception of the city environment and its consequences for city design. Lynch says "Looking at cities can give a special pleasure, however y y g g p p , commonplace the sight may be. Like a piece of architecture, the city is a construction in space, but of a vast scale, . . . perceived only in the course of long spans of time . . . At every instant, there is more than the eye can see, more than the ear can hear, a setting or view waiting to be explored. , , g g p Nothing is experienced by itself, but always in relation to its surroundings, the sequences of events leading up to it, the memory of past experiences . . . Every citizen has had long associations with some part of his city, and his image is soaked in memories and meanings . . . “ g g

Theory of Kevin L h K i Lynch

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Image of the city
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The Image of the Environment Three cities The city Image and Its elements City Form A new Scale

Book contents

Appendices
1. 1 Some references to orientation 2. The Use of the methodology 3. Two examples of analysis

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Methodology of working:
Make visual plan Analyze the existing form and public image of the area. Understand the critical problems, opportunities and image elements and use them in designing a city .

Structure of the book th b k

To explain that he takes three cities Boston, New jersey, Los Angeles as examples and tries to introduce a system in which one can derive design guidelines.

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

The Image of the Environment
He says “Every citizen has had long associations with some part of the says, Every city, and his image is soaked in memories and meanings.” He also concerned with how we locate ourselves within the city, how we find our way around. To know where we are within the city, therefore, we have to build up a workable image of each part Each of these images will part. comprise; our recognition of its “individuality or oneness” within the city as a whole, whole our recognition of its spatial or pattern relationships to other parts of the city, its practical meaning for each of us (both practical and emotional)

Making Visual Plan/ Public Pl / P bli Image

Legibility
Definition: The ease with which type characters can be read. By Lynch : Legibility is essentially the ease with which people understand the layout of a place place.

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

By making questionnaire surveys, Lynch defined a method of analyzing legibility based on five elements: paths, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks. He defined these as follows: Paths Familiar routes followed- “Are the channels along which the observer g customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves.” E.g.-streets, walkways, transit lines, canals, railroads The continuity depends on: y p • Width • Gradient • activity y

Elements of the city Image it I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Elements of the city Image it I

Ocassionally IMAGE OF THE CITY KEVIN LYNCH

Elements of the city Image it I

Customarily IMAGE OF THE CITY KEVIN LYNCH

Elements of the city Image it I

Potentially IMAGE OF THE CITY KEVIN LYNCH

Edges dividing lines between districts- "are the linear elements not used or g considered as paths by the observer. They are boundaries between two phases, linear breaks in continuity.” E.g.- shores, railroad cuts, edges of development, walls ... as barrier

Elements of the city Image it I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Elements of the city Image it I

Breaks

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Districts areas with perceived internal homogeneity- "are medium-to-large sections p g y g of the city, conceived of as having two-dimensional extent, which the observer mentally enters ‘inside of,’ and which are recognizable as having some common identifying character" E.g.- center, midtown, its in-town residential areas, organized industrial g , , , g areas, trainyards, suburbs, college campuses etc.

Elements of the city Image it I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Landmarks p point of reference- “Are another type of point-reference, but in this case yp p , the observer does not enter within them, they are external. They are usually a rather simply defined physical object which makes one orient oneself. E.g.-building, sign, store, or mountain g g, g , ,

Elements of the city Image it I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Nodes Center of attraction that you can enter- “Are points, the strategic spots in a y p , g p city into which an observer can enter. The nodes may be simply concentrations, which gain their importance from being the condensation of some use or physical character, as a street-corner hangout or an enclosed square .” q E.g.-primary junctions, places of a break in transportation, a crossing or convergence of paths, moments of shift from one structure to another.

Elements of the city Image it I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Creating Mental Map
A person's perception of the world is known as a mental map. A mental person s map is an individual's own map of their known world. Mental maps of individuals can be investigated . by asking for directions to a landmark or other location. by asking someone to draw a sketch map of an area or describe that area by asking a person to name as many places as possible in a short period of time. Image of the Environment.

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Imagibility
The quality of a physical object, which gives an observer a strong, vivid object strong image. He concluded that a highly imageable city would be well formed, would contain very distinct parts, and would be instantly recognizable to the common inhabitant. The elements of legibility paths, edges, districts, landmarks, and nodes, when placed in good form, increase human ability to see and remember patterns, and it is these patterns that make it easier to learn.

Building the Image I

Public Image
Each individual holds a unique image of his or her city, a visual city representation that guides through daily life and maps out meaning. Researching a sample of these images can help planners discern a “public image” of their city.A person's perception of the world is known as a mental map. A mental map is an individual's own map of their known map individual s world. Mental maps of individuals can be investigated . This can be evaluated in terms of identity, what makes this particular image unique among cities, structure, how the image is spatially formed, cities structure formed

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

and meaning, what values are attached to the image through which one can locate himself. He discusses these elements in detail with respect to three cities and extracts the structure and identity act of the city which would define the city

Building the Image I

How to make a Public Image?
The public image of cities was created in two ways: 1. By interviewing several citizens of three cities • Verbal Interview • Making a quick sketch map 2. By Field study on foot by trained observer So like these ways four different images were created.

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Image derived from Verbal Interviews

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Image derived from sketch maps

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Image derived from distinctive elements

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

The visual form as seen in the field

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Problems of Boston Image

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Comparing

Building the Image I

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

Because of the sample examples were inordinately small: thirty people in Boston, and fifteen in Los Angeles and in Jersey city there was some indication that the composite image might still be a rough first p g g g approximation of the true public image. So far, the study has definitely shown only the existence of a consistent image which is used to describe or recollect the city in the absence of the g y real thing. While the data on single elements was adequate , there was a lack of information on element interrelations, patterns, sequence. ,p , q

Crits of the methodology th d l

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

If the mass interview for larger samples is done: All the material would finally be synthesized in a series of maps and y y p reports which would give the basic public image of the area and the general visual problems and strengths, the critical elements and elements interrelations. Such studies would produce a library of material on the effects of physical form. On which the designer of cities could draw. The methods can be apply to different scale or function than cities: a pp y building, landscape, a transportation system or a valley region. The studies helps to create the potential structure of the city which would allow one gradually to construct a more complex picture. g y p p

Method as basis for d i f design of the f th

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo5BAaiJQsM Check out what Lynch has to say about the Image of the city

IMAGE OF THE CITY

KEVIN LYNCH