M3-Unit 1: The City Image

and its Elements

MODULE 3: THE CONTEXT OF URBAN SPATIAL DIMENSION
Kevin Lynch
“there seems to be a public image of any given city which is the overlap of many
individual images. Or perhaps there is a series of public images, each held by some
significant number of citizens. Such group images are necessary if an individual is to
operate successfully within his environment and to cooperate with his fellows. Each
individual picture is unique. With some content that is rarely or never
communicated, yet it approximates the public image, which, in different
environments, is more or less compelling, more or less embracing”

Kevin A. Lynch
The Image of the City, page 46
Image of the City

KEVIN LYNCH SAYS THAT:

► A city is constructed in space, but of a vast scale
► A City is described with it’s surroundings and elements
► Explains that people’s perception of the city is important
► Going through a city from viewers mind is “ image of the city”
► Elements like Nodes, Paths, districts, Edges, landmarks make a city
► To make a visual plan (map)
► Analyzing the forms and public areas
► Understanding problems, opportunities and use them in designing a city
Legibility

► THE APPARENT CLARITY OR “LEGIBILITY” OF THE CITYSCAPE

► IT MEAN THE EASE WITH WHICH ITS PARTS CAN BE

RECOGNIZED AND CAN BE ORGANIZED INTO A COHERENT
PATTERN. IF IT IS LEGIBLE, CAN BE VISUALLY GRASPED AS A
RELATED PATTERN OF RECOGNIZABLE SYMBOL, SO A
LEGIBLE CITY WOULD BE ONE WHOSE DISTRICTS OR
LANDMARKS OR PATHWAYS ARE EASILY INDENTIFIABLE AND
ARE EASILY GROUPED INTO AN OVER-ALL PATTERN
Concept of Legibility

► It is said to be the ease which

people understand the layout of
a place

► To understand the layout of the

city, people make a mental map,
which contains mental images
of the city constraints( varies
from very individual)
Legibility Analysis
Principles of effective wayfinding includes

► CREATE AN IDENTITY AT EACH LOCATION, DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHERS

► USE LANDMARKS TO PROVIDE ORIENTATION CUES AND MEMORABLE
LOCATIONS
► CREATE WELL-STRUCTURED PATHS
► CREATE REGIONS OF DIFFERENT VISUAL CHARACTER
► DON’T GIVE THE USER TOO MANY CHOICES IN NAVIGATION
► USE SURVEY VIEWS(GIVE NAVIGATORS A VISTA OR MAP)
► PROVIDE SIGNS AT DECISION POINTS TO HELP WAYFINDING DECISIONS
► USE SIGHT LINES TO SHOW WHAT’S AHEAD
 Imageability

► PHYSICAL QUALITIES WHICH RELATE TO THE ATTRIBUTES OF IDENTITY

AND STRUCTURE IN THE MENTAL IMAGE
► THIS LEADS TO THE DEFINITION OF WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED IMAGE
ABILITY: THAT QUALITY IN A PHYSICAL OBJECT WHICH GIVES IT A HIGH
PROBABILITY OF VOKING A STRONG IMAGE IN ANY GIVEN OBSERVER.
► IT IS THE SHAPE, COLOR OR ARRANGEMENT WHICH FACILITATES THE
MAKING OF VIVIDLY INDENTIFIED, POWERFULLY STRUCTURED,
HIGHLY USEFUL MENTAL IMAGES OF THE ENVIRONMENT
In Lynch’s view, image can be explained as “a picture especially in the
mind”, a sentimental combination between objective city image
subjective human thoughts. The productions of environment images are
influenced by two way process between the observer an the observed.
The observer, with great adaptability and in the light of his own
purposes, selects, organizes, and endows with meaning what he/she sees.
Therefore, the specific can be totally different from the different
perspective of observers
Elements of the City Defined by Lynch
Elements of the City Defined by Lynch
Element Interrelations

► None of these elements are isolated from each other in the real case.
► Districts are structured with nodes, defined by edges, penetrated by paths and sprinkled with
landmarks.
► These elements are the raw material of the environmental image at the city scale.
► The must be patterned together to provide satisfying form.
► Such pairs may reinforce, resonate or enhance others power; or they may conflict and destroy
themselves.
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

Along with actual city, mental representations contain

many unique elements
a. PATHS
► Channel by which people or observer move along
► They can be streets, walkways. Transit lines,
canals, and railroads
► Reflect major, minor and preferable/shortcut path
► In the city, the PATH is very accessible and
walkable
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

Other than the definition of paths, he introduced some different features of the paths such as;
► Particular paths may become important features in a number of ways such as customary travel.
► Concentration of special use or activity along a street may give it prominence for the observers.
► Specific spatial qualities were able to strengthen the image of particular paths.
► Special facade characteristics are important for path identity.
► Proximity to special of the city could also endow a path with increased importance.
► Paths with clear and well-known origins and destinations had stronger identities.
 Special use in a street give prominence to observer

Customary travel in Interstate

highways

Special facade Proximity to special of the city could also

characteristics are endow a path with increased importance
spatial qualities strengthen the image important for path
of particular paths identity.
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

b. EDGES
► Are the linear elements not used as paths by
the observer
► Edges are the boundaries between two phases,
linear breaks in continuity or; Dividing lines
between 2 phases
► The edges is for separated 2 area
► Divert human movement and blocking human
movement using any method of edges as a
guide for human in the city
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

There are different types of EDGES such as;

FRAGMENTARY EDGES
VISIBLE EDGES
- In the abstract continuous but OVERHEAD EDGES
- Represent visible line of
only visualized edges in discrete - Elevated railways
boundary
points
Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

WATER NATURAL
-any bodies of water such as lake, - Natural land features such as mountain,
reservoir, river, lagoon,etc. hill, farm, valley, tc.
Fragmentary Edges Sample: Illinois proposed Canadian
Railway & Southern Kansas Railway merger
Visible Edge Sample: Lake Michigan
Overhead Edges Sample: Chicago Railway
Patapat Viaduct
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

c. DISTRICTS
► Districts are large city areas which observer can The physical
mentally go inside of. characteristics that
determine districts are;
► Edges may augment the tendency of districts to - texture, Districts have
fragment the city in a disorganizing way - space, different kinds of
► Some districts are single, standing along their zone and - form, boundaries such
others are connected to each other. - detail, as;
- symbol, - hard,
► There are many district that can be category in the city - building type, - Definite; and
and each district can be minimize its scope for more - use, - precise
specific - activity,
► It can be acknowledge by the majority of the area to be - inhabitants,
group in each area such as administration, - topography
transportation, commercial and other characteristics of
the city
Hard District Sample
Definite District
 Precise District

Sydney Central Business District

Dubai Central Business District

Beijing Central Business District
District in the Philippines
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch
d. NODES
► The place of source of the human movement
► These are the strategic spot into which the observer can enter, and
which are the intensive foci to and from which he is traveling either
junctions of paths or concentrations of some characteristic.
► They maybe primarily junctions or concentrations
► They can be major or minor whether linear, nodal, extrovert or
introvert.
► Such bus station, shopping complex but the character must be big
and knowledgeable as to see the placement and the characteristic of
the city its play a vital role as city element
Piazza San Marco, Venice, Italy
Central Park, New York City
Mall of Asia, Manila
Itaewon, Seoul South Korea
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

e. Landmarks
► The last element as a direction of focus or navigation on human to oriented themselves in the city
► Are another type of point references which are external to the observer and simple physical elements vary in
scale.
► In this case, the observer does not enter within them
► They are usually a rather simply defined physical object: building, sign, store, or a mountain
► They can b major or minor landmark that can characterizes by the significant, visibility, memorability and
dominant
► Figure background contrast relationship is the principal factor.
► Each landmark poses to b guide whether tall, detail or unique in feature
► Location at a junction involving path decisions strengthens a landmark.
Elements of the City Defined by Lynch
 Elements of the City Defined by Lynch

Spatial prominence can establish landmarks in two ways;

Making element visible from many locations. Setting up local contrast with nearby elements.
Famous Landmark of United States
Phillippines Famous
Landmarks
DUBLIN, IRLAND