Urban Pedestrian Experience

LSC337: Planning Workbook Anna egerton-king 170182979

CONTENTS Identification and justification for your choice of journey •

Identification: 3 appropriate journeys selected on site and briefly analysed. Kirk gate selected as chosen journey.

•

justification: reasons for selecting kirk gate as chosen journey

Critical site and user investigation for your journey • site context and existing journey • survey and analysis of kirk gate • SWOT ANALYSIS

Critical review of the collective output from assignment 1, including how this relates to informing initial ideas for your journey • • • • •

assignment 1 critical review lecture series: health, wellbeing & environment, urban design language (part 1 & 2) and contemporary urban design challenges gorden cullen’s serial vision theory & ‘townscapes’ Jan Gehl: ‘cities for people’ theoretical material translated into diagrams

Diagrammatic conceptual design for your journey including relevant case studies • diagrammatic conceptual plan • case studies: newark & other places

Your design process for enhancing the pedestrian experience of the journey with an emphasis on 3D exploration • design process: ideas and options for changing route • cross sections and sketch axonometrics

A final sequence of pedestrian eye level sketches •

10 cross sections which convey the sequential experience of pedestrian movement through your journey design solution

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site context

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Newark Orchard School

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ad Morrisons

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Riverside Park

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G Route: 10 Minute Walk Newark Castle & Gardens

The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene

Businesses & Residential Area

Market Place

Mount CofE Primary School

MORRISONS

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CHURCH GARDENS

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MARKET PLACE

THE CHU PARIS MAR RCH O H F Y MA GDA ST LEN E

existing journey: kirk gate SL

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CHURCH GARDENS CHURCH GARDENS

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MARKET PLACE PLACE MARKET

THE CHU PARIS MAR RCH O H F YM AGD ST ALE NE

Base of Street Wall Shop frontages at base level allow interaction.

To what extent are people interacting with the base wall?

Active Edges There is potential to further enhance the street edge.

Vehicles Traffic calming measures (speed bumps, bollards to prevent on-street parking and double yellow lines to prohibit stationary vehicles) Encourages pedestrian use?

Views Views from second storey windows look down onto the street creating natural surveillance.

There are no balconies, canopies and only a few shop entrances / residential areas recede in to create a sheltered envionment.

Enhance this to create a more complex edge?

Transparency Views are obstucuted by building facades.

Provides an element of mystery as street bend round to the right.

Threshold Lack of a distinctive/ recognisable threshold at the start of the pedestrian journey.

Threshold marker could highlight this historic war trail route?

Sense of place

Landmark First glimpse of the spire of Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene.

Landmark visibility

Vertical Layers There is a lack of variation in vertical layers. The building facade does not recede or extend out into the street but remains the same.

There is a potential to provide areas of shelter & gathering points for pedestrians.

Public vs Private reate more of a blurring of interior and exterior space.

This would create a more active street. ‘Circulation Zone’ Mantho describes this as a zone where people are moving.

Has a function. Width of the pavement in uences this one, too narrow and it could feel overcrowded or intimate, too wide and it could feel empty.

Pavement width is estimated to be metres wide.

Is this too narrow?

Permeable Boundaries Two large courtyards are accessible from Kirk Gate. These unique spaces provide a more complex spatial arrangement.

Enhance connectivity to other spaces?

Paxton Court Entrance. This leads the pedestrian to Morrisons.

Landmark lmost completely visible to pedestrians as street becomes more linear.

Surface Material Change in Hard Material. maller stone paving units define entrance to car sale business (see image below).

Increases pedestrian safety?

emove Visually unatractive to pedestrians

Proportion Shows height to width ratio. Key in establishing the nature of the enclosure on a street. The ratio is recognised as an indication of the level and type of spatial definition.

Signage The placement of signs outside shop fronts shows a claiming of space as ownership is taken of the immediate outside area.

This can be enhanced further?

Site Experience What is the experiential quality of Kirk Gate? This can be enhanced to create a more pleasant and interactive streetscape.

Users As shown in the image, the street is heavily populated with locals.

Curbside Zone How does the pavement interacts with the road? n this case, the curb is a small thin boundary line that connects well with the road.

Transitional Space: Pedestrian transition through a linear space starting at point and finishing at point B (The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene site of interest) in minutes. owever, factors such as shop frontages (local businesses) & seating spaces etc. slow down the movement.

Amenity Zone

What else can be identified along irk Gate that will enhance pedestrian experience?

Slow Movement

Saftey crossing the road?

low movement in Kirk Gate will provide a feeling of being present in a space.

All details are experienced.

What can be done to encourage slow movement

Is the street furniture being used? Is there a potential to be enhanced?

This zone is where your most likely to find street furniture, in this case its benches, bin and a planter. The street furniture allows people to stop and have longer interactions and often creates a visual barrier between the pavement and the road.

Provide spaces where decision making is required?

“Optimum walking distance is 500m before engagement is needed to propel people further� an ehl, ities for People

Landmark The Gothic style church is in full view and is the tallest building standing at metres (spire height). It is a Grade 1 listed building.

Historic Architecture There are a few old Georgian houses along Kirk Gate. The historically rich merchant’s house at the Middle Gate crossing (see image dates back to 1337 and was a billet for Civil War soldiers.

Vegetation There is no vegetation on Kirk Gate.

There are a few Newark Council planters on either side of the street.

How does vegetation improve pedestrian experience?

Street trees have been proven to improve mental health and also provide shelter from weather.

Middle Gate Junction Middle Gate is a oneway street. Vehicles pulling out into Kirk Gate is a potential safety risk. This crossing is not particularly user friendly.

Connectivity ‘Streets should be linked spaces’ - Robert Mantho This alleyway leads directly to an enclosed area. The Queens Head pub provide tables and chairs. This is a good use of the space provided as provides people with a place to relax and rest. The ld Post ffice is in close proximity. This transition of space delivers a sense of discovery.

Pavement extends to allow for on street parking (loading only). The change in surface material emphasises this change in function of space in a streetscape.

On-Street Parking

Street Network

The ‘Piano Effect’: pedestrians will gravitate to large structures. Jan Gehl’s theory can be proven at the entrance of the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene.

Visual attraction provides interest as well as the building itself creates protection and shelter from the elements.

Gathering Space

Church Street provides an alternative route through the church gardens (see below).

The street for fast movement of vehicles bends off to the left. Pedestrian ow continues round the bend to the right, looking to the next landmark (marketplace) ahead.

FOCAL POINT RETAIN ENHANCE

Landscape Features Steps entice people in, creating a sense of journey and arrival. This level change creates separation from the main circulatory ow of people heading to and from the market place.

Human Scale The church, in all its grandeur, provides an end point to my pedestrian journey.

The building is a local landmark that guides the eye. From this viewpoint, the church makes the pedestrian feel small.

swot analysis of existing route strengths

weaknessess

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Good human scale

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Lack of vegetation

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Strong existing sequence of serial vision

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Lack of meeting and staying opportunities

o

Landmark: The Parish Church of St Magdalene

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Provide areas of shade and shelter

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Well-connected and crowded street

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Separation between private and public space

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Good variety of independent businesses

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Too many unused spaces such as car parks, enclosed courtyard spaces which are

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Historic buildings remain in good condition

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Terrain is at which is easy for pedestrians to walk

abandoned/ not used well o

Pavement width not wide enough for movement and gathering

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educed speed and volume of traffic

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Vehicular priority over pedestrian, particularly at crossings (Middle Gate junction).

o

Existing connections to open spaces

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Lack of evening / night-time uses (commercial buildings – shops close at 6pm)

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Good sense of local character: historic architecture – Georgian brick facades creating visual interest

opportunities

threats

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More frequent rest / seating opportunities (both formal & informal)

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Improve separation between private and public space

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Create a softer transition to create a more active edge

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Opportunity for development of historic character to create a sense of place

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Provide a well-furnished street

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Let businesses and users claim ownership of the street

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Encourage personalisation of store fronts

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Design buildings with articulated façade at street level

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Design buildings with fronts that are permeable to the street

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Open up courtyard spaces to facilitate social interaction between users

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Allow businesses to territorialise the street (to attract pedestrians and encourage staying)

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Encourage temporary uses of buildings with other purposes e.g. events

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Encourage and support independent businesses

Poorly lit street at night could lead to unsafe spaces urface ooding risk due to high percentage of hard material cover Newly designed spaces could detract attention away from the historic landmark (Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene)

TEAM MANTHO

TEAM GLASER ET AL

The Urban Section: An Analytical tool for cities and streets - Robert Mantho Chapters: 1. Urban design: An Additional Tool 2. The City Section 3. The Street 4. Cities and Streets: The Data Set 5. Analysing Street: The Methodology Stage 1: Mantho theory Stage 2: Applying theory Stage 3: Developing and Critiquing theory Robert Mantho: • • • •

Born in Detroit, America Degree in Architecture, Architectural Associations in 1991 Lecturer at Mackintosh School of Architecture at the Glasgow School of Art ollaborative practice, spatial definition, digital processes in the generation of space and urban analysis.

Historical Development of Cities: •

• • •

15th Century Re-Emergence of Classical Renaissance: Improving aesthetic experience Alberti, ‘Art of Building’, Sixtus V, Rome 18th Century: The Baroque City: Construction of new settlements Haussmann, Paris City Model 19th Century Industrialisation: Rise in Density and Industrial Activity 20th Century: WW2 (1939-1945): Re-shape and re-build post war cities: 1960 – 1970s: Ecological thinking used to analyse urban impact

Organic City: irregular organisation from unplanned growth over time. Formed heavily through interaction between built form and natural features.

Labyrinth: Associated with Islamic culture and sacred shared space. A protective form serving the ‘intimate needs of privacy’.

18th Century: Response to organic city. Seeks to bring order to chaotic cities of Europe. Systematic planning and capital formation and investment.

Baroque: Uses rhetoric of order, balance and dignity, as well as wide avenues and monumental public spaces to express power of a centralised government.

‘Plinth: The City at Eye Level’ Plinth Definition: The space formed by and including the ground oors of buildings that can be viewed at eye level.

History of the Plinth: • • • •

• • •

Interwoven: live, work, play. Dynamic ground oors Modernisation of the ‘Plinth’ uburbia reating dis oined ground oors Ideal future: back to the city – living, working, playing together again.

Active Façade: High pedestrian activity + more spontaneous activity A Variety of Functions: Leads to more engaging streets Blank Façade: Low pedestrian engagement

Qualitative Theory: There is a strong relationship between pedestrians and the ground oor. any studies have been done to understand how to make ground oors more engaging and therefore improve pedestrian experience.

Quantitative Theory: Eye Tracking Study: • 24 participants male and female age range 21-61 • All participants were unaware of the study intentions ” Visual engagement was focused overwhelmingly between upon ground oors...along both non-pedestrianised streets and pedestrianised streets” p.12 Triangle of Use: • • •

Hardware: The hard landscape elements Software: Pedestrian Experiential Qualities Orgware: Management, Planning & Maintenance

A combination of these elements will create successful plinths

TEAM GEHL

TEAM EWING + CLEMENTE

Cities for People - Jan Gehl ‘People come where people are’

Measuring Urban Design: Metrics for Liveable Places - Reid Ewing & Otto Clemente

Generic Urban Design: • •

The most effective designs focus on small scale elements Designing for the human sensory limits

The 5 Elements:

Prioritise: 1) Life and social hubs 2) Connections 3) Built Form

On a large (city) scale, Medium (development) scale and small (human) scale.

Human Sensory Limit: • Concept of proxemics • Part of the nervous system – responsible for processing sensory information.

• The limits of the sensory system determine how we perceive and experience our surroundings.

Sight is the most developed sight…

A person can identify: • All details experienced at 0-7m • Facial expressions at 22-25m • pecific people at cm • Movement and broad body language at 100m • Humans at 300-500m Eye level Views: • People have a limited range of upward vision (50-55 degrees from eye level) – Reference: Sim D, 2019 • Contact with the street begins to dissolve • Most buildings in Newark are under 4 storeys high Large Scale Streets: • Vast, exposed, uncomfortable • Little opportunity for shelter • Car-centric Small Scale Streets: • Comfortable, policeable, sheltered • Adaptable • People-centric Gehl’s Concepts: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

Destination Meeting Space Edges Speed Pedestrianizing Streets Cycle Paths

Liveability: Quality of the walking environment experienced by people

1) Imaginability: The quality of place that makes it distinct, recognisable & memorable.

2) Enclosure: The degree to which streets and other public spaces are visually defined by buildings, walls, trees, other vertical elements.

3) Human Scale: The size, texture and articulation of physical elements that match the size and proportions of humans and, equally important correspondent to the speed in which humans walk.

4) Transparency: The degree to which people to see what lies beyond the edge of the sidewalk/path or public space and, more specifically the degree to which people can see or perceive human activity beyond the street or other public space.

5) Complexity: The visual richness of place that depends of the variety of the physical environment, specifically related to type and shape of buildings, architectural diversity, landscape elements, street furniture, signage and human activity. Related to changes of textures, width, height, shape of buildings, articulation and ornamentation.

• • • •

Measuring the value of these 5 elements Landscape features in relation to character of place/study area Awarding a value of low, medium or high – results are subjective Group investigated Ewing & Clemente’s theory at points along est treet, heffield

Factors to consider when collecting data: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Noise level Weather Seasonal Changes Time of day Movement of People

Grid City: Uniformity and extendibility provides a clear lattice to control unruly locale and be filled over time.

Spatial Continuity: Streets can be seen as a series of linked spaces and are vital for creating communities. This supports Jane Jacobs and Jan Gehl’s theory. Streets should be seen as a room the building connects to blur of exterior and interior relationship integration of ground oor and street. This results in Active Streets.

Elements of Streets: Primary Elements: • Road • Pavement: Zoning of pavement – Transition/Circulation/Amenity/Curbside • Street wall • Street Furniture – Main Components: Trees/ Lighting/Seating Mantho’s Method for Analysing Streets: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Orientation Proportion Scale of Parts Horizontal Layers Vertical Layers Public & Private Characteristics patial efinition Enclosure & Exposure Base of Street Wall Façade Articulation Transparency & Opacity Volume Interaction

1) Destination: What could be applied to Newark-on-Trent?

• Improve the public realm; • Increasing the interest; • Reinforcing the concept of destination for Newark’s market 2) Meeting Space: • ‘Piano effect’: Pedestrians will gravitate to large structures • Visual attraction provides interest • Protection from the elements: Creates a safe, sheltered environment Seating: • Furniture should be designed to enhance social interaction • People will sit where there are unhindered and interesting views • Micro-social- climate: Human-scale spaces in large-places • Located near music/performance spaces • Seat should occupy 6-10% of the total open space (Lovene. M, et al 2019) • Grouping seating together, rather spreading it out, stimulates conversation • People are more likely to sit in areas where shelter is available 3) Edges: • Recess: Closer contact to the inside Provides shelter – a place to dwell • Curb level change - Separates the pedestrian and vehicle realm • Widened street edge - Preparation for pedestrians to cross, holding space & slows down vehicles e efine the e: • Opportunities to lean • ‘Staying-zone’ • Full view out the outside • Separates the inside and the outside space Furniture onto the Street • People can dwell in space • Gathering points and waiting zones Active Frontage • Opportunities to interact • Blurs the inside and outside activity Definin P li P i te • The activities of the city meet with the buildings • Comfortable, sheltered environment 4) Speed: Slow: Feelings of being present in the space All details experienced Foreground view

Medium: Transitioning through space, Neither here nor there Some detail experienced Midground view

Fast: Not present Little detail experienced Background view

Linear Streets: • Movement is faster • Lack of obstacles • Lack of edges to interact with

Method:

Squares/Junctions: • Movement is slower • More obstacles • Decision making required

2) Distance between each stopping point is 120 paces.

Other factors impacting walking speed are: Spatial quality; materiality; density and presence of a crowd; and the mobility of the individual walker.

• • •

Material changes can informally indicate walking designations Optimum walking distance is 500m before engagement is needed to propel people further Hidden places create anticipation and engage people to walk further

5) Pedestrianizing Streets: • Shop frontages create a richer experience – engagement • Wide paths and streets • Less overcrowding • ‘People come where people are’ 6) Cycle Paths: • Segregation and safety Vs Integration and awareness • ‘Green Movement’ • Vehicle space is limited Pedestrian zone takes priority Outdoor furniture is seen to extend onto the street • One-way streets reduce congestion and increases pedestrian safety

1) Choose your area/street which you would like to analyse

3) Identify prominent physical features within the walking distance 4) Give a value (low, medium, high) for each physical feature you have identified against each element 5) Repeat the same process for each area/street you would like to analyse.

6) Calculate the overall elements’ value and overall liveability for the walked distance.

method applied to Kirk gate B6166

A

Vertical Layers

Horizontal Layers

patial

CROSS SECTION

efinition

6M

5M

Enclosure & Exposure

Interior & Exterior

Scale of Parts

1:25

Street Wall B

CHURCH

Gorden cullen’s theory - serial vision

Jan Gehl

SOFT EDGES = LIVELY CITIES

Jan Gehl, Cities For People, 2010 “seven times more life in front of active facades” - (Pg. 79)

HEAlth, well-being & Environment stage 1 summary:

URBAN DESIGN LANGUAGE

Diagrams

KEY INFO HEADINGS / SUB-HEADINGS URBAN DESIGNERS

Concept

‘ACTIVE EDGES’ Sociable Edges Landmark - Key theme of route Oportunities for social interaction (the whole route will be designed to promote interaction at all levels) Opportiunitiers for edge activation Opportunities for facilitation of social interaction

casestudies in newark Private & Public Interface:

WALL PLANTERS

OUTDOOR BENCH

HANGING BASKETS

RED BRICK

SIGNAGE

Building Facade: • • • • • • •

WINDOW VIEWS

• • • • •

Signage has been placed in the immediate outdoor space Tables and chairs provide an outdoor seating area for customers Umbrellas are put up in the summer to provide shade from the sun Hanging baskets, window planters and plants placed either side of the front entrance Change in surface material. Larger stone paving units indicate a change in function of space.

• Signage attracts customers into the shop • Slows down pedestrain movement • Creates a more ‘active edge’ • Ecourages passerbyers to buy from local businesses • Place making

Signage:

shop frontage:

Sketch of an ‘ideal’ front entrance into pub:

SURVEILLANCE

VEGETATION

PLANTERS

Natural survelliance from the resdiential window above creates a safe envionment.

Wall planters and hanging baskets create an inviting space Two planters either side of the entrance frame the doorway The receding entrance blurs the lines between interior and exterior space Signage invite and advertise what the pub has on offer Outdoor bench provides seating for pedestrains Plants and vegetation in the windows can be seen by customers inside and passerbyers outside

RECEDING FRONT ENTRANCE

The Queens Head pub in Town Hall Market Place, Newark is a good example of creating a softer transition of private and public space. The pub has taken ownership of the immediate outdoor area by placing street furniture as well as personalised elements to create an inviting and multifunctional space. This has improved the separation between street and building facade as the level of social engagement has increased.

For example, outdoor signage and vegetation encourages the pedestrian to stop / slow down movement to read or take shelter or enjoy therefore enhancing the pedestrian experience.

PLANTERS

personalised frontages: queens head pub

LIGHTING

GEORGIAN HOUSE

LARGE FRONT PORTICO

PLANTERS

STEP

Front Entrance: • Historic architecture of the Georgian house has been well retained.

Its red brick facade remains a key charctereristic.

• A large front portico extends out into the street creating a more complex edge.

• The step into the building creates a seperation with the street.

• Planters and vegetation by the entrance create a more inviting space.

• Subtle outdoor lighting

sense of community:

landmark:

CHURCH

COURTYARD

location:

MARKET PLACE

Local Artworks: Newark has a strong sense of community. One of the ways which this is shown is through local artworks which can be found in hidden places on the walls around Newark. This enforces a strong sense of local charcter. Drawing attention to Newark’s main landmarks, such as the Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene, increases tourism and pedestrian interest.

Courtyard Space:

landmark:

Market place:

Newark Market Place provides a focal point for the town. It hosts regular market days when visitors can buy local produce, antiques and much more. The market days are as follows: Monday (except bank holidays) - collectors / antique market Wednesday - general retail market Thursday - collectors / antique market Friday - general retail market Saturday - general retail market

• • • • • • • • •

Large open central space Encourages pedestrains to gather and socialise Well-connected and crowded square Pedestrain priority Historic buildings surrounding the square create an interesting visual facade Change in surface material: Small stone paving units to larger rectangular stone units Opportunity for local businessess to sell produce Semi permanant use of space Terrain is at which is easy for pedestrians to walk

The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene:

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One of Newark’s main landmarks

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Place of interest

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Grade 1 Listed Building

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Gothic style church

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Highest building in Nottinghamshire

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5th tallest building in the UK

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CASE STUDIES: THRESHOLD MARKER:

designer: Robert zion • ‘Vest’ pocket park • Left over land - Inbetween spaces • The aim was to fabricate an oasis - reective relaxing space.

• The greenery and fountains provide a resting place. A break from city streets of NY. • The goal was to encounter one of Robert Zion’s pocket parks every 400m or so. To always have somewhere in walkable distance.

• Only 2 parks where built: Paley Park & Greenacre Park

Little kelham island, sheffield • • •

A red brick and steel beam mark the entrance to Little Kelham housing estate.

Creates a sense of arrival Creates a stronger sense of place as it has a recognisable/distinctive threshold.

PALEY PARK, NY (opened in 1967)

Frederiksberg alle, copenhagen • Tree lined avenue • Originally constructed in 1704 as the king’s private road leading to his new summer residence, Frederiksberg Palace.

‘PEOPLE ATTRACT PEOPLE’

Design process

DESIGN ANALYSIS SKETCHES

Final sequence