Imageability Analysis

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Imageability Analysis: Oxford Alasdair Sherry – 10024751 For the Attention of Regina Lim


Alasdair Sherry

Imageability Analysis

Contents

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

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Introduction

Introduction and Explanation of Method Mental Maps 1 & 2 Mental Maps 3 & 4 Diagrammatic Analysis Tabulated Analysis Conclusions

The aim of this analysis is to test the ‘Imageability’ of the city of Oxford. The word Imageability was used by Kevin Lynch (Fig.1) in his book ‘The Image of the City’, published in 1960 which explored various American cities such as Boston and Los Angeles from a planner’s point of view. He writes: ‘..this study will look for 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 imageability: that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given observer. It is the shape, colour, or arrangement which facilitates the making of vividly identified, powerfully structured, highly useful mental images of the environment.’(Lynch, The Image of the City, 1960) In the same way that Lynch compared American cities to this concept, we will compare Oxford. We will be looking at what features of Oxford create its unique image, and how these features are or are not consistent in views from a range of observers. Hopefully we will see what works to make places have an interesting and memorable image, and see how we can implement he concepts learned in our own designs.

Explanation of Method To test what features, areas, even buildings, in Oxford contribute to its imageability, I will obtain ‘Metal Maps’ of the city centre, one being my own and the other three being supplied by colleagues. These maps will be of the same area, and be drawn completely from memory. By comparing them, I will be able to see which features are consistent in all or most of the maps, and hopefully be able to explain why. I will also investigate which features are not so consistent, and hopefully be able to deduce why. Features I will be looking for in the maps are: Figure 1: Kevin Lynch. Throughout this analysis I will be referring to concepts and ideas pioneered by him from his time as an Urban Planner, specifically his concept of ‘Imageability’.

     

Streets or paths and other routes through the city Landmarks, such as statues or colleges etc. Buildings such as pubs or shops, or even churches and towers Nodes, which is to say areas where routes join creating areas of high traffic etc. Edges, are they active/inactive? Why are they memorable Districts, where do they start/finish? What divides them up?

Depending on the consistency and accuracy of these features in the mental maps, I will hopefully be able to determine how they add to Oxfords image. Some of these features are concepts used by Lynch, and as such they should go a long way to investigating what makes Oxfords cityscape ‘Imageable’.

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Alasdair Sherry

Imageability Analysis

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Mental Maps 1

2

Map 2: Created by Valeria Fabiano Map 1: Created by Joe Krusheva

Street Layout: The street layout and depiction of the streets themselves seem to be fairly accurate. The colour used indicates that Joe has distinguished between main streets and back streets, and it is interesting to see that some of these back streets have been remembered.

Buildings/Landmarks: Some very recognisable buildings have been placed on the map, such as Radcliffe Camera and Christchurch College. When looking at the map I feel that these were used to help draw the street layout, and give perspective to the map. The buildings used are distinctive and I feel add legibility to the city centre, Which is why I believe they have been included. Nodes: It is interesting to see the pattern of nodes within the map. When drawing mine, I laid out what I thought were the three main Nodes; St. Clements, Carfax and Frideswide square. Joe has included St. Clements and Carfax, but the reciprocation of Frideswide is hazy. I believe this is because of the complexity of the area surrounding the square. Edges: From Joe’s map it is difficult to tell which edges were interesting or imageable enough to be remembered, although the fact that certain streets are remembered could be to do with the variety contained within their edges.

Street Layout: The street layout contained within this map is different in comparison. It maintains an overall similarity in terms of layout, as well as a repeated curved high street. This map however does not contain the network of back streets like Joes map. It does however show a greater familiarity of the St. Clements, Cowley Road area. Buildings/Landmarks: Again, we can see familiar land marks such as Carfax tower and the Rad Cam, however this map is more detailed when it comes to the centre of town, in terms of naming the individual shops along the High and Cornmarket street. Included in both are also the Covered Market and the Clarendon shopping centre. Nodes: Again, the main Nodes I would have remembered have been recreated in this map, as well as a few more, such as to the north of Cornmarket street. I believe it is the frequency of routes that pass through such areas that make them ‘nodes’ and as such makes them legible and distinctiveness to be included. Edges: distinctive edges also seem elusive from this map, besides the obvious distinctiveness of the main shopping areas. The knowledge of certain shop names indicate, I feel, a certain degree of interest must have been shown to be reciprocated so fluently. 2


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Imageability Analysis

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Mental Maps

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Map 3: Created By Sophie Clegg Map 4: Created by me, Alasdair Sherry

Street Layout: After looking at the maps, certain trends seem to be appearing, particularly with the street layout. Certain streets are obviously more distinctive than others, streets like the High street and Cornmarket. One feature in this map that I can relate to is the windy depiction of Queens lane, perhaps remembered because of its contrast to the width of Broad Street? Buildings/Landmarks: Patterns are also emerging where landmarks are concerned, and although fewer shops have been remembered, more pubs and colleges have been included in this map. I believe this highlights the subjectiveness of the assignment, and how what people remember can vary from person to person. Nodes: Nodes more evidently drawn in this map include Frideswide square and the Rad Cam. It is from looking at this map that I realise that the Radcliffe Camera is not only a distinctive building, but also a confluence of many streets and lanes, thus making it a Node, similar to Carfax. Edges: It is hard to tell how edges have affected the drawing of this map; I can only guess again that certain routes have been remembered because of how their own edges have affected the observer. For instance, the width of the line representing Broad street may represent its width in real life, and the openness felt whilst there.

Street Layout: This being my map, I can explain how I remembered the layout and which roads were distinctive. I first thought about how I would get from one side of the city to the other, first drawing the High Street, Westgate and the Queen Street on to the station. I then filled in the back streets as best I could remember, feeling that the routes around St. Aldates and Longwall Street were easy to remember.

Buildings/Landmarks: In comparison to the other maps, mine shows a distinct lack of buildings. Landmarks such as the Rad Cam, the castle and Carfax are still there, but as far as remembering where certain shops or pubs are located, the others are far more detailed.

Nodes: I feel that certain nodes such as Frideswide square and St Clements have been reciprocated with a fair amount of accuracy. I found remembering the nodes integral to forming the mind map, as I was able to orientate the routes from these and shape the map in terms of the routes connecting these nodes. Edges: As ever it is hard to tell the detail of edges form these maps, but I can tell you that the reason I remembered some routes, particularly Longwall Street and Queens Lane was due to the distinctiveness of their edges. Both contain high, imposing walls, and can make certain points feel very inactive, particularly in low light. 3


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Diagrammatic Analysis Street Layout

Buildings/Landmarks

I have outlined the first impressions given by the four mental maps in terms of their Street Layout, but I will now try and analyse it to the point of gaining qualities that can be transferred elsewhere. Looking back to the maps, everyone’s/s depiction of the layout was very similar. Some were more detailed, but the outline was fairly constant. There is something about Oxford’s streets that mean many observers will recreate a similar outline. My first thoughts are that when boiled down, Oxford’s streets are essentially a ‘+’ symbol. Fig 2 shows the basic shape. The fact that we were travelling from East to West means we are travelling across the middle of the city, and it is a fairly linear journey. Where this changes is where we start filling in the back roads and side streets, which to a newcomer may appear maze- like. What helped me remember individual streets was the strange names, such as ‘Bear Lane’ and ‘St. Mary’s Passage’, combined with their own uniqueness. I mean uniqueness in terms of anything from the layout to the road surface. Upon hearing ‘Merton Street’ I would immediately think; ‘Oh, that’s the one with the Cobbles’

It was interesting to see which landmarks and notable buildings people had featured in their maps. For starters, there are what I have nicknamed ‘The Big 4’, which include; Radcliffe Camera, Carfax Tower, Christchurch College and Oxford Castle. They are named as such because they are seen in every map. What I think makes them so memorable in my opinion is not only their status as major tourist attractions, but also their location and dispersal within the city. Firstly, Carfax is located in what is considered the absolute centre of town, and marks a barrier between motorised transport and the pedestrian realm. This is significant, as I feel it is where tourists and observers feel they can freely explore. Surrounding Carfax, almost equidistantly, are the rest of the big 4, like points on a compass. To the East, the Rad Cam, to the South, Christchurch, and finally the Castle to the West. What I think makes these buildings distinct is the mark out the routes through the city. To explain, If I take the ‘+’ layout of Oxford I have discussed and put these landmarks on it. You can see how the ‘fit’. I believe this helps people find their way around just by knowing which landmark they are near to.

Figure 2: ‘+’ Street Pattern

Figure 3: Merton Street Figure 4: Landmarks in Oxford

Figure 5: The Rad Cam

Nodes After analysing just Street Layout and Buildings I can see how many observers may have constructed their mental image of the city. For me, Nodes were integral to forming the image of the map in my mind. The fact that we started at a major Node, (St. Clements), and finished at another, (Frideswide Square), my mind naturally picked out other such ‘Nodes’ in between the two. Nodes, defined by Lynch as ‘Focal points, intersections or loci’, have been taken to be areas where several routes converge, and major choices must be made to maintain a route from A to B. In my case, a major Node was Carfax, right in the centre of town. The choice of routes available from this point mean the area is brought to attention, and subsequently If I’m trying to get anywhere in Oxford I think; ‘where is that in relation to Carfax?’. This, I believe causes Nodes to have a big impact on how we remember our way around cities, and is why Nodes such as Carfax have appeared on everyone’s maps. Below are the Nodes I thought of, but highlighted on Sophie’s map. It is also worth noting how this Nodes fall along the horizontal arm of the ‘+’ shape discussed earlier.

Figure 6: Major Nodes from St Clements to Frideswide Square

Edges In terms of edges, it is hard to show how edges caused you to remember a certain street or route, and show it on a mental map. I for one definitely thought of some streets because of their interesting edges, which caused me to include them on my map. Ones I have mentioned are Queens Lane and Longwall Street, which are similar because of the high walls they comprise of (Figure 7). Looking at other peoples maps, I can guess why some streets were distinctive enough to be included, and this distinctiveness comes from their edges. For instance, Cornmarket Street was included in every map. I remembered it because of all the shops that made up either side, as well as its width compared to other routes. I can guess that this is why other people remembered it, especially Valeria, seeing as she managed to name most of these shops! Its factors such as window features, street surface, setback and height that all contribute to an Edge, and thus makes the street imageable or not.

Figure 7: Longwall Street

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Alasdair Sherry

Imageability Analysis

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Tabulated Analysis By looking at the Mental Maps, I have compiled a table of features that occur frequently, stating with which maps they occur in and why I think they have occurred. Working from right to left, I have picked out features that have been accurately and frequently depicted by the observers. Feature

Reasons

Carfax (Node)

In which maps is the feature presented? 1, 2, 3, 4

St Clements Roundabout ( Node)

1, 2, 3, 4

Radcliffe Camera (Building)

1, 2, 3, 4

Another busy Node, St Clements is the only way into the centre of town from east oxford, besides travelling round through Marston. As such, high volumes of traffic congregate here, where several main routes into the city, such as Cowley Road and Iffley Road, all become one and cross Magdalen bridge, becoming the High Street. What makes people remember this node is probably the fact that it is where so many routes conjoin, and is a part of many journeys around this part of Oxford. It is also made more Imageable by the fact it is marked out by a handsome roundabout, neighboured by a memorial piece. One note about St. Clements roundabout is the fact that it is not perfectly round, and also that it has trees and flowers growing on it. I believe this may subliminally register it as odd in most observers’ minds, and as such make the area more legible. In terms of imageability, This area of Oxford is not easily forgotten. The magnificence of the camera and Bodleian Library area are perfect postcard material, and this is because it contributes so much to the image of Oxford. Not only the design of the building, its circular footprint catching the eyes and minds of passers-by, but also its use. As part of the library, it adds to the air of academy and intelligence that Oxford comprises of. Its proximity to the high street make it easy to register as a position in Oxford, and is a place which people will mentally include in any route planning or direction giving around the city.

Christchurch College (Building)

1, 2, 3, 4

This is another building that featured in all the maps I have seen. Again, it is a famous landmark of Oxford, but why? For some of the same reasons that the Camera and Bodleian were. It is a magnificent building, with attractive and well maintained meadows and gardens. It is a high seat of learning, and is what Oxford is all about. Its location to the centre of town might not be as close as some features, however it is one of those features that creates footfall around it. It actively draws people from more central area such as Carfax to the area of St. Aldates.

Longwall Street (Route)

1, 3, 4

Queens Lane (Route)

1, 3, 4

Although not featured in all the mental maps, it was featured in most of them, and I believe Longwall street is very interesting street that adds a lot to the Cityscape. For one thing, its name is memorable, and this comes down to the fact that the entire route is lined by a very distinctive wall made of college stone. It may not add much in terms of an active edge, but upon seeing it you will know exactly whereabouts in the city you are. It is also a busy route, particularly for cars trying to reach the north of Oxford. It also provides access to much of the centre of town via typical oxford side streets to the east. These are lined by interesting buildings and really add character. Another route this time, and is probably remembered for the wrong reasons. Queens lane is a lane lined by high walls that twists and winds its way in between colleges, connecting the high street to the famous attraction ‘The Bridge of Sighs’. Some parts of the route have highly inactive edges, faced on by blank walls. This could cause a pedestrian to feel unsettled, particularly at night, but in turn may cause people to remember it, adding to the Imageability. The fact that it spills out onto such a famous attraction also helps people remember it as a means to get there.

Carfax is present in every map, for a number of reasons. I believe its central location is integral to its inclusion, as well as the fact that it is marked by a historic building, Carfax tower. It is visible from much of oxford, and is a reference point for anywhere else within the city. It is a main node, and is where the High Street, St. Aldates, Queen Street and Cornmarket street meet. route itself. As such, traffic in the area is high, with people moving through it to get to either side of the city.

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Alasdair Sherry

Imageability Analysis

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Conclusions After exploring how people remember a place, I will now draw some conclusions, from which I hope to form a series of design actions. These design actions will each reflect some of Lynch’s key concepts of Imageability, and will act as a way to instigate Imageability in any future designs. Firstly, I will reflect upon the processes involved in gaining such conclusions. I found the method of getting a range of observers to create maps of a place from memory very effective at singling out what features are easily remembered. When an observer draws the map, they take what they remember strongly and base their map around that. Figuring out firstly what these cornerstones of the mental map are, and then more importantly why they are the cornerstones, is integral to learning how to recreate Imageability. In my method, I have tried to classify these ‘cornerstones’ into one of four categories; street layout, buildings/landmarks, nodes and edges. This follows on from how Kevin Lynch first attempted to understand how legibility is understood, and is vocabulary that is familiar in the realm of urban planning. Comparing a mind map to an actual map of the centre of Oxford, it is amazing to contrast the similarities and differences. (Fig 8)

Figure 8: Comparison of a Mental Map and an Actual Map of Oxford

So how is a designer able to implement Imageability in their chosen project? From my analysis, I can summarise how key characteristics from the four categories can be reciprocated in other areas; Street Layout: It seems a mainframe of busy streets forming the skeleton of a place helps traffic flow to and through, while a network of back alleys are required to develop character. This character and distinctiveness can be created by both the layout of the streets, and their physical appearance. Short windy roads may appear inactive, but people will remember them for that. Changes in the surface of a street, the width of a road and the main use, be it for motorised traffic or pedestrian, all affect its Imageability. Buildings/Landmarks: As previously stated, some areas are steeped in history and come with landmarks of such calibre as the Rad Cam, which can be used to create uniqueness and help an observer reference their location. When designing, I feel it is important to incorporate something extraordinary; an unusually tall building, a piece of artwork, something to break the mould and add legibility to an otherwise monotonous area. Nodes: These are really important for observers finding their way through a place, and as such for them to remember their route. From what I have analysed, it seems Nodes with plenty of routes, evenly spaced apart, create an ideal factor for achieving Imageability. Most will come naturally from good street layouts, so it is important to consider where these vital hives of activity will occur when designing a street plan. Edges: Arguably one of the most important factors when making places, the use of good active edges help attract one of the most import features of a legible place; people. That said, we have covered examples of where somewhat inactive edges help achieve Imageability, for instance Queens Lane. There is so much scope for achieving variety within edges, all riding on factors such as setback, building height, pavement width and active frontages. This is why I believe Edges are where a designer can really give a street or place a distinctive character, which then translates into Imageability.

It is the factor of Imageability that has enabled the observer to accurately depict the street layout, to place key landmarks and buildings, to remember the names of winding back alleys and to divide the map up into districts. Some features of Oxford’s Imageability maybe unique to the city, but others are transferable.

Following on from this Analysis, I hope to be able to implement my conclusions in a reformed design for my Grandpont site, hopefully achieving a level of Imageability in the new design that had not been achieved in the first design. By learning how Imageability can be generated from the street level up, I feel I have learned more about what makes a successful place work.

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