The Narrow Path

A PHOTOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION OF ALLEYWAYS, PEDESTRIAN CORRIDORS, AND ENCLOSED PATHS IN TUSCANY AND ITS SURROUNDING REGIONS.

THE NARROW PATH

GIOVANI AGUIRRE

THE NARROW PATH INTRODUCTION

The characteristics of a distinctive Italian town in the region of Tuscany are vast. Walking through the ancient towns as first-timers and arguably for seasoned travelers as well, the visual experience is continually a blend of everything from beautiful vistas to ancient details that date back hundreds of years. As an environmental design student visiting the country of Italy for the first time, I was curiously attracted to and engrossed by the ancient town planning and the continuous reoccurrence of a particular characteristic concerning the design issue of circulation.

Among my observations inhabiting the towns, I was visually attracted to the continuous observation of narrow alleyways, pedestrian corridors, and enclosed paths. For the reason that many of these towns bear so much history, many of the historic centers were laid out far before the invention of the car, making these towns ideal for pedestrians and smaller means of transportation. Ancient buildings that construct the observed pedestrian corridors, often frame views that spark curiosity visually and emotionally.

The Narrow Path is a photographic investigation of the observed narrow alleyways, pedestrian corridors, and enclosed paths that investigate its uses and explores how the pedestrian interacts within that particular space. The content also depicts a compare and contrast visual analysis of the different regions showcased within the country of Italy, illustrating multiple cities and towns.

1

|

MANAROLA,CINQUE TERRE OCT 2012

|2

VENETO Venezia

LIGURIA

Cinque-Terre

EMILIA-ROMANA Bologna

TOSCANA Firenze

TOSCANA AREZZO CASTIGLION FIORENTINO CORTONA FIRENZE SAN GIMIGNANO

San Gimignano

Arezzo Castiglion F.no Cortona Asissi

UMBRIA

EMILIA-ROMANA BOLOGNA LIGURIA CINQUE TERRE UMBRIA ASISSI CAMPANIA NAPLES VENETO VENICE

CAMPANIA

Napoli

REGIONS DOCUMENTED Several different regions within the country of Italy were visited for the photographic observations, particularly situating a stronger emphasis on the region of Toscana, or Tuscany. Small to larger cities in Tuscany are typically characterized as hill-towns, often locating the city center at the top of a hill, surrounded by city walls, a feature of protection that dates back to the Medieval period. The similarity in the Tuscan towns allows for comparative analysis between each other while allowing one to compare and contrast between the two. A few other regions surrounding Tuscany were documented including the north of Italy in Veneto, and the southern coast of Italy’s Campania.

3

|

ASISSI SEP 2012

|4

AREZZO OCT 2012

5

|

AREZZO AUG 2012

|6

AREZZO OCT 2012

7

|

As a visual standpoint, one of the reasons one may be attracted to walk towards a particular direction is the frame that situates that particular view. The verticality of the buildings shown here frame the view and also create a dynamic play on light and shadow.

AREZZO AUG 2012

|8

9

|

CASTIGLION FIORENTINO OCT 2012

CASTIGLION FIORENTINO OCT 2012

| 10

CASTIGLION FIORENTINO OCT 2012

11

|

CORTONA SEP 2012

| 12

13

|

CORTONA SEP 2012

The highly visited town of Cortona takes advantage of the narrow-enclosed streets by utilizing the town’s local vendors and Restaurants.

As an economical design analysis, the town takes advantage of tourist revenue.

CORTONA SEP 2012

| 14

CORTONA SEP 2012

15

|

SAN GIMIGNANO SEP 2012

| 16

17

|

SAN GIMIGNANO SEP 2012

SAN GIMIGNANO SEP 2012

| 18

19

|

SAN GIMIGNANO SEP 2012

FIRENZE OCT 2012

| 20

FIRENZE OCT 2012

21

|

FIRENZE OCT 2012

| 22

VENICE OCT 2012

23

|

VENICE OCT 2012

| 24

VENICE OCT 2012

25

|

VENICE OCT 2012

| 26

BURANO VENICE OCT 2012

27

|

BURANO VENICE OCT 2012

| 28

29

|

BURANO VENICE OCT 2012

BURANO VENICE OCT 2012

| 30

31

|

ASISSI SEP 2012

The power of the panorama; the residential street in the image depicted frames the spectacular view of the panoramic view that is Italy’s countryside.

ASISSI SEP 2012

| 32

33

|

ASISSI SEP 2012

ASISSI SEP 2012

| 34

35

|

BOLOGNA SEP 2012

BOLOGNA SEP 2012

| 36

NAPOLI SEP 2012

37

|

NAPOLI SEP 2012

| 38

NAPOLI SEP 2012

39

|

NAPOLI SEP 2012

| 40

MANAROLA, CINQUE TERRE OCT 2012

41

|

MANAROLA, CINQUE TERRE OCT 2012

| 42

THE NARROW PATH CONCLUSION

The observation and documentation of narrow alleyways, pedestrian corridors, and enclosed paths, generalizes the impression of the old phrase: “History repeats itself.” In contrast to contemporary city planning, it appears as if though primeval planners had it right all along. Today’s urban planning initiatives promote a big push for pedestrian-based design. In the world of environmental design, the term “walkable communities” is brought up as a fresh new intervention, while ironically many of the aged Italian communities visited have been “walkable” for multiple centuries.

There is a lesson to be learned that one must accept the suggestion to look at our past and analyze what we can digest, to ultimately create successful design in the future. The longevity of these places indicates value in environmental design that should not be looked away.

43

|

VILLA GAMBERAIA,SETTIGNANO NOV 2012

| 44