Tho Nguyen
How does vegetation influence the people’s movement in Vienna ?
Threshold of this geometrical form of vegetation alongside the Litche Alee of Schonbrunn Palace informs your signal arrival to my portfolio It is your choice to explore further or to just stay outside this entry.
Dashed lines indicates movement of people The more there are, the more people move in and out place 1
Tho Nguyen
To be a “leader” or to be a “follower”
This urban square in front of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Stephansplatz is an exa mple of an actively dyna mic landscape. Hu man scale minimizes the broad scale of space. Similarity: People moves freely in the square. But the picture shows a considerable contrast as there is no vegetation to animate the space. However, hu man’s activities and movement have well facilitated the space.
“To be a “leader” This place witnesses diverse activities of Viennese at a large open space in Spielplatz Steinhofgrunde : jogging, exercising, resting after along journey of cycling chatting. The tree is as a shelter and also a focal point for the park in case they might get lost in the wide and broad landscape. People move freely in the landscape and do not follow any specific route. They are from every directions of the park.
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Tho Nguyen
To be a “leader” or to be a “follower”
Double rows of this formal type of vegetation has formed the clear direction for people. The unified element at the end informs the continuity for people to go further. From this point, the final element was slightly revealed. A well-clipped and formal tree canopy seem form a curtain and border of the space, separate it with another direction but every directions lead to final destination.
If people move consistently along the line, they would see Nymphe fountain at the end of the line
Although there is the similar direct perspective, the climber plant has covered all the sides of this alley, created a mysterious experience and encourage people discover more about this to satisfy their curiosity.
“To be a “follower” 3
Tho Nguyen
To be a “leader” and to be a “follower”
Presence of street tree Gleditsia triacanthos has created a foliage ceiling for the street and movement of people between building. What make this street different from others is the one-level ground, limiting the barrier between pedestrians and other vehicles. On the weekend, where there are not many cars on the street, we could see people walked freely both on the sidewalks and on the street Especially, friendly-shared space principle was maximized on the street between pedestrians and vehicular; on the sidewalks between shops’ facades and sidewalks therefore, the demarcation between them was minimized. People’s movement spreads out from sidewalks to the street
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Tho Nguyen
To enter or to skip over
The vegetation encourage people’s movement to explore it and forms the movement of people from beginning towards the end. Sitting and walking along the edge was shown in this picture Smooth edges of shrubs and slight changing landform has interlocked space with the surrounding and stop people entering the quiet place. The principles of Jan Gehl and Catherine has been observed through this seating area. “Smooth edges provide minimal visual and physical interlock and can be physical and perceptual barriers’’ (Dee, 2001) Also, people’s preference zones for standing or sitting are often found along the edge or along the border of the spaces “...one can see, but not to be seen too much, and the personal territory is reduced to a semicircle in front of the individual’ (Gehl, 2006) Located inside the Esterhazypark, this niche is a place for those want to calm and chill themselves. Both hedge and concrete retaining wall give the space an intimate feeling but not isolate with outside world People likely do not enter this quiet space but walk outside of it.
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Tho Nguyen
To enter or to skip over
The arrangement of geometrical form and well-clipped plant in front of Museu m of natural history Vienna, has defined clearly the movement of people Big groups of visitors all spread over the middle way while there is only one or two people might find their own space in the corner or central part of this. 6
Tho Nguyen
What is walking preference ?
Row of tree has clearly divided the space into two separate flows, but people rather walk outer of the edge than walk next to sitting people. The repetition of trees give the sense of infinity and continuous experience over time for people,R ight at the edge side is where people c rest and enjoy the sunshine while reading a book, but at the other side is where people can move on their identified direction Facade of Albertina museu m was maximally used for cafe and restaurant, making the space not mundane but actively and lively.
Albertina museu m
Movement of people here was observed approaching from Volkstheater underground station towards the front side of Museu m Quartier Similarity: tree row separates the space But different from the right picture, people preferred walking next to the edge where they might find the protection from the side and not revealing themselves towards the road. They changed their direction from the right to left, where accommodated by two different types of vegetation but the sa me formal form,
cafe Plan view and footprint trace of people movement next to Albertina’s facade
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Tho Nguyen
What is the constrain of movement ?
Rudolf-Bednar-Park, The ‘reed parks’ which are running parallel to the “axis Radingerstrasse’’ has created a freely wavy feeling and movement of people. However, the presence of trees become the confused point for people’s movement, especially disables people, and force them to change their direction. Due to the transparent effect of those plants, this part of the park has become place for children seek and hide. While this part provides a little prospect and refuge for users. The footprint also show the activities of children and young people next to it like cycling and skateboarding.
Plan view shows the arrangement of grasses and trees indicating people’s movement
The low vegetation here has formed the paths for people. However, there is also geometrical sense of movement. The path itself is quite unclear to identify and is not revealed until you have to go inside and explore it by yourself. ˙Hence, people might walk on the grass where disabled people on wheelchair or baby bungee cannot access on
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Tho Nguyen
Movement next to buildings
The orna mental grass Miscanthus sinensis blended with other ground cover vegetation in Weghwberpark has animate the movement and building behind. Due to position next to playground, the pathways between grasses become places for children to pay and cycling.
On the way to Aspen Changing slightly landform and grasses have clearly divided pathways for people’s movement. People would like to walk at the fringe of a building facade, but in this case where they are not going to interfere others
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Tho Nguyen
References: Dee, C (2001). Form and fabric in landscape architecture. London: Spon Press Gehl, J (2006). Life between buildings. Using public space. The Danish Architectural Press
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