U r b a n r o o m s o f S a r a j e v o : Tr a n s f o r m i n g u r b a n p u b l i c s p a c e s u s i n g i n t e r i o r d e s i g n t o o l s
Scale
Fundamental to any urban and architectural analysis is a consideration of the physical attributes of a space, including its quantitative parameters (size/scale), and its geometric features (configuration and form). Alongside their anthropometric and legislative imperatives, urban environments are closely related to the senses and behavioural patterns of those who use them, and this is important to understanding how they are perceived. Beyond measurements, the notion of scale should be understood as a correlation between the size of a space and the anthropometric parameters of its users, as well as with other physical objects, such as buildings (Lynch, 1971). There are two ways to assess the scale of a public space: from the perspective of its users, and from the perspective of the city. The former prioritises anthropometry (human senses), and considers the relationship between the public space and its users, while the latter addresses the ratio between the size of a public space and the extents of the city. In the human, user-oriented perspective, the key to successful urban planning lies in finding adequate methods with which to measure the human scale and transpose it into urban design. In 1966, American anthropologist Edward T. Hall introduced the concept of proxemics,28 and defined four spatial spheres relative to the human sensory apparatus: intimate, personal, social and public. Urban design and planning disciplines emphasise the importance of the social and public spheres. The social space, ranging from 1.2 to 3.7 metres from ourselves, is the zone in which we greet others and communicate informally. Distances beyond 3.7 metres are public space, in which we can observe and be
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Proxemics is the study of the spatial requirements of humans and animals, and the effects of population density on behaviour, communication, and social interaction (https://www.dictionary.com; Retrieved March, 2019).
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