Rar 801 part 7 of 10
- 1. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII PART 7 OF 10 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN – VII, RAR 801
- 2. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII 101 Things I Learned in Urban Design School Matthew Frederick & Vikas Mehta Compiled by Christopher Paul AIT-SAP
- 3. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII The central, more open parts of a public space tend to be occupied only after its edges are occupied. As creatures with an instinct for survival, we prefer to be at the edge, to protect our back from threats. Edges also provide places to stand, lean, and sit, as well as engage sensory Stimuli -visual, oral, olfactory, and tactile. 61. If the edges fail, the space fails.
- 4. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII A statue, fountain, or other focal element at the center of a public space implies that one's purpose in using the space is to observe the monument rather than participate in public life. While this is sometimes appropriate, most often a focal point is best placed off-center. This allows people to inhabit the center and guards against the space feeling static. It divides the space into variously sized and shaped subspaces, which can be used by different people for different purposes at the same time. Additionally, an off-center siting can direct pedestrian movement, segregate circulation areas from gathering areas, and Acknowledge a relationship to nearby architecture. 62. Keep the center available.
- 5. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII When trees are planted at the edge of a park, the park can become visually isolated. People on nearby streets and sidewalks will tend to perceive the park as an object they can see, but not as a space they inhabit and experience. If plantings are especially dense, people may feel repelled. Planting the same trees on the side of the street opposite the park will enlarge the park's experiential zone. People using the streets and sidewalks for work a day activities also will be using the park-without taking extra time to do so. 63. Plant the park trees outside the park.
- 6. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII People usually react negatively if asked to make an either-or decision. It's best, if you want people to use a space or walk down a path, to give them incremental opportunities to decide. Make it easy for someone to engage an edge. Then present Successive enticements to the next increments. Not only will this make it more likely that the space will be used; the "in-betweeners" will act as advertisements for it, attracting even more people. 64. Entice a few feet at a time.
- 7. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII An average walker covers about 4.5' each second. If the built environment is to maintain our interest, it must provide stimuli and rewards at close intervals. In older cities, a new view is revealed with almost every step-engaging windows, charming balconies, distant views of steeples and minarets. In your design scheme, are you offering the pedestrian similar rewards? Have you provided local, intermediate, and distant points of interest to entertain, as well as to assist in wayfinding? 65. Design for 3 mph.
- 8. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII A good street is two things: a place to be and a route of travel. These purposes are intertwined: one may discover an interesting street while passing through as a driver, and return later to hang out and enjoy its offerings. Part of the enjoyment will be watching the parade of other people and vehicles passing through. Balance is critical. 66.A. Separating pedestrians from vehicles is risky.
- 9. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII A street that prioritizes vehicular movement may be in-hospitable for pedestrians. A street that eliminates vehicular travel to enhance pedestrian experience can become economically infeasible, boring, and even unsafe, if the vehicle absence is not compensated for by an extraordinary intensity of pedestrian movement. Such is rare in the U.S., where fewer than 80 streets are pedestrian-only. Some are in the process of being returned to vehicular use. 66.B. Separating pedestrians from vehicles is risky.
- 10. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII A private developer may be asked by a city to reduce the size of a proposed building, or to add ground floor commerce where the building adjoins a planned public plaza. Such requests will bring costs upon the developer: they will reduce rentable area, may require a different financing structure due to the mixed uses, and may drive up construction, administrative, and maintenance costs on the ground floor. 67.A. Good design is more likely to happen if someone can make money from it.
- 11. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII At the same time, a public plaza can provide customers for the ground floor businesses. Prospective tenants may find the upper floors more attractive because of the nearby options for food and entertainment. The developer may be able to charge higher rents than would have been possible in the original proposal. And the city's costs for its part of the project might be recouped through higher tax revenues, due to the greater property value enjoyed by the private sector. 67.B. Good design is more likely to happen if someone can make money from it.
- 12. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII A park works best when its pathways continue the more general patterns of pedestrian movement in the surrounding district. This allows pedestrians to incidentally traverse the park while on their way elsewhere. Their offhanded use provides the park a baseline of activity that makes it safer and more interesting for others, including those who have sought out the park as a destination. 68. A park is a wide spot on a path.
- 13. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII • Most people will sit comfortably on surfaces from about 15" to 20" high. Wherever possible, place horizontal surfaces-the tops of planters, retaining walls, column bases, windowsills, and bollards-in this range. 69. If it's 18" high, people will sit on it.
- 14. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII People with mobility concerns want to participate in the same experiences as most everyone else but may feel self-conscious if accommodations for them are disruptive to a space. Similarly, the able-bodied may sometimes use ramps or lifts but don't want to feel awkward in doing so. When designing a public space, integrate such accommodations into the design process at the outset, rather than design for the able-bodied and subsequently attach special accommodations. Designing for different populations is not a liability but an opportunity. 70. Integrate rather than append.
- 15. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII END OF PART 7 Please direct your queries through email. ar.cp.apj@gmail.com
- 16. AR. CHRISTOPHER PAUL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING RAR 801 _ Architectural Design -VII