Urban Design Elements PDF

## Recap: The Elements of a City (Kevin Lynch) - Path - Node - Landmark - Edge - District 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 mate...

## Recap: The Elements of a City (Kevin Lynch) - Path - Node - Landmark - Edge - District 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. ## Paths: Paths are the channels which the observer moves. They can be streets, walkways, transit lines, canals and railroads. Other than the definition of paths, he introduced some different features of the paths such as: - Promenade - Nature Boardwalk - Community Path - Neighbourhood Street - 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. ## In urban design, the elements of a city are often considered in terms of five key components: - Paths - Edges - Districts - Nodes - Landmarks These elements work together to create the overall structure and character of a city. ## Landmarks: - Landmarks are the point references which are external to the observer and simple physical elements vary in scale. Figure background contrast relationship is the principal factor. - Subjects may single out landmarks for their cleanliness in a dirt city or newness in an old city. - Location at a junction involving path decisions strengthens a landmark. ## District: - Districts are large city areas which observer can mentally go inside of. - The physical characteristics that determine districts are: texture, space, form, detail, symbol, building type, use, activity, inhabitants, degree of maintenance, topography. - Districts have different kinds of boundaries such as hard, definite and precise. - Edges may augment the tendency of districts to fragment the city in a disorganizing way. - Some districts are single, standing along their zones and others are connected to each other. ## Edge: Urban Edge means a demarcated line delineating the outer limits of urban development in the municipal area to prevent urban sprawl or to protect natural resource boundaries, for a period of time determined by the municipality. ## Nodes: - Nodes are the strategic foci into which the observer can enter either junctions of paths or concentrations of some characteristic. - The strategic junction nodes can be the subway stations, strung along their invisible path systems and major railroad stations. Also, the nodes can be introverted or extroverted.