3.3 Attributes of Built Environment affecting Human Experience

3.3Attributes of Built Environment affecting Human Experience

3.3.1 Imageability and Legibility

According to Kevin Lynch, imageability can be described as the quality of a physical object which gives an individual a strong vivid image. He says that a highly imageable city would be well formed, would contain very distinct parts, and would be instantly recognizable to the common inhabitant.(Lynch, 1960) His theory of imageability discusses the quality of cities according to the legibility factor of the elements that are perceived by the observers. Here the term ―legible‖ is defined by the term ―visible‖ and can be understood through studying mental images as a result of people‘s memories and meanings. (Lynch, 1960)

He defined legibility as a concept with the help of which people are able to understand the layout of a place. For instance, defining the location in the city with respect to its context or a well-known road or any well-known restaurant in that area, all these ―visible‖ factors define the legibility of the place hence this helps people in understanding or remembering the location/ route much better.(Lynch, 1960)

The urban elements are categorized into three different categories: identity, structure, and meaning, where identity and structure are the two most communicable dimension of the conversation of an individual and environment. Identity helps in differentiating objects/elements from one another; structure helps in setting up the relationship to larger pattern of other components, and meaning defines a practical and emotional value for the observer. It requires first the recognizable proof of the components from others, second the relationship to others, and the last is its meaning. The first and second are the most ―legible/visible‖ of the physical elements in cities, while the third is very relative in cultures. (Lynch, 1960)

Lynch highlights the five major elements in cities that enhance the imageability, which are paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks.(Lynch, 1960)

Paths: They are the most legible elements in defining the city‘s image. They influence the observer‘s experience of a place as one walks along its form. One can experience paths in the form of streets, walkways, canals or railroads. The path

element creates a relation arrangement and relation among other elements. (Lynch, 1960)

Edges: Edges act as linear breaks in continuity by defining boundaries between two or more close regions or districts. They could be shores, railroad cuts, and walls. The element is not as strong as paths, but for observers it is an important character as they affect the experiences by organizing different features. (Lynch, 1960)

Districts: Clusters of urban landscapes having similar or common character can be defined as districts where individuals can mentally experience ‗inside of‘. The observer always identifies from within with exterior reference from the outside. (Lynch, 1960)

Nodes: They are characterized as points which act as intersections between paths where people can enter; for instance an enclosed square; it marks the break of movement. The nodes are described as the conceptual anchor points in the cities. It is more defined when it has a sharp and closed boundary, which does not trail off uncertainly on each side; it becomes more remarkable if provided with one or two objects which are foci of attention. If the node has a local orientation within itself—an "up " or "down, " a "left " or a "right, " a "front " or a "back"—then it can be related to the larger orientation system.(Lynch, 1960)

Landmarks: They are the points of reference that simply defines a physical object; they can be signs, buildings, mountains, or shops. A few elements can be seen at a distance while some can be familiar to the individual. These elements can be patterned together as nets of paths or clusters of landmarks. Every element is only a raw material of a city form. In the urban context, all elements operate together while images may contrast from time to time, season-to-season and day-to-day. Landmarks are important for observer‘s experience of a place as they tend to leave an impression on observer‘s mind which helps them reconnect with that particular place. (Lynch, 1960)

In his later research, Lynch focuses on the significance of sense of place in individual‘s life and highlights the importance of key human values and feelings alongside the physical arrangements in urban design. He defined the third element of urban design ―meaning‖ as a function of time (history) and the observers‘ 16 | P a g e

background in terms of social class and spatial behaviour. The meaning is created by individual‘s sense of legibility, experience and place; and its development is influenced by factors that are embedded within them such as accessibility, diversity, adaptability and comfort. Meaning of a place is related to people‘s psychological feelings to their environment such as attachment, warmth, relaxation and interest (Damayantı and Kossak, 2016)

3.3.2 Form

Francis D.K. Ching has said about the form, that:

“Form is an inclusive term that has several meanings. It may refer to an external appearance that can be recognized, as that of a chair or the human body that sits in it. It may also allude to a particular condition in which something acts or manifests itself, as when we speak of water in the form of ice or steam. In art and design, we often use the term to denote the formal structure of a work—the manner of arranging and coordinating the elements and parts of a composition so as to produce a coherent image.” (D.k. Ching, 1943)

In context to this study, the physical form of the built environment can be defined by the horizontal and vertical configurations of varying shapes, sizes and arrangements of buildings and streets. The visual attributes of the form are size, colour, texture, position and orientation. Together, all these aspects of the form defines the quality of the built environment thereby influencing the experience of the users. The form defines the internal structure as well as the external outline in any given setting, thus providing a unity to the whole (environment).

Type of any built environment can have a direct influence on individual‘s experience of a place while additionally affecting their physical activity levels. Designing building exteriors and massing that enhance the people‘s experiences in urban environment include maximum variety and transparency, multiple entries, stoops, and canopies.(Oreskovic et al., 2014)

Different built-environment attributes related to physical form are set to create a safe, inviting, and well-used public realm with visual interest. These attributes include the