Marco Fazzini XVKK5X

KEVIN ANDREW LYNCH

The Image of the City

Marco Fazzini XVKK5X

Kevin Lynch defined the ‘’imageability’’ as

that quality in a physical object which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong image in any given obsrever. It is that shape, color or arrangement which facilitates the making of vividly identified, powerfully structured, highly useful mental image of the environment

IMAGEABILITYAbility of physical object = Image

Ability of observer = Meaning

People’s perception of the city is important

- Building the ImageEnvironment suggests Distinctions and Relations The Observer selects, organizes with meaning what he sees

- Structure and Identity Environmental Image contains identity, structure, meaning


IMAGEABILITY LEGIBILITY or VISIBILITYmight be called

City of Venice, example of higly imageable environment

The concept of the Imageability not necessary connote something fixed, limited,precise, unified, regularly ordered although it may sometimes have the qualities

Consider the need of identity and structure and illustrate the special relevance of the quality

Particular case of complex shifting urban environment

ENVIRONMENT IMAGE

Operation external phisical shape Internal learning process

THESIS


We are rapidly building a new functional unit, the metropolitan region, but we have yet to grasp that this unit, too, should have its corresponding image.

Suzanne Langer (1953) definition of architecture

‘’It is the total environment made visible’’

Paths

THE CITY IMAGE AND ITS ELEMENTS

The Image of the city is obtained by effect of physical, perceptible objects which are:

EdgesDistrictsNodes Landmarks


Paths Edges

DistrictsNodes

Landmarks


ELEMENT INTERRELATIONS

Interaction of pairs of unlike elementsEnhance each other’s power

Conflict and destroyor

THE SHIFTING IMAGE

Entire environment Sets of images overlapped and interrelated

Arranged in a series of levels(necessity in a large and complex environment)

Images may differ

Scale of area

Viewpoint, time of day, season


Types of ways map

a. Images developed along and then outward from familiar lines of movementb. Other map were begun by construction of an enclosing outline (boston peninsula)c. Still others began by laying down a basic repeating pattern (Los Angeles)

d. Other maps started as a set of adjacent regionse. Boston examples developed from a familiar kernel


IMAGE OF QUALITY

a. Free various elements. No structure or interrelation between parts. Several images disjointed with gapsb. Structure as positionalc. The structure was flexible, parts were connected one to the other but in a loose and flexible manner

d. Connections multiplied, structure become rigid, parts were finally interconnectednin all dimensions

HIERARCHICAL IMAGE TYPE

Arrangement of the images

Connection made by moving up to the necessary bridging generality, and back down to the desired particular

CONTINUOUS ORGANIZATION IMAGE TYPEPut together in a more dynamic way parts being interconnected by a sequence overtime and pictured as though seen by a motion picture camera

An environment should be geared to the appropriate cultural type, or shaped in many ways so as to satisfy the varying demands of the individuals who inhabit it
