City elements & Form Qualities Lynchian Elements Identity Clues Related to Structure Continuity Directional quality Characteristics of good landmarks Semantic Attraction Form Qualities examples Clues Related to Identity Unity or Equivalence Visual Scope View Overlapping Names and Meaning

1. CITY ELEMENTS& FORM
QUALITIES
Dr. Abdelbaseer A. Mohamed (ASU& CUAS)
Karim Aly Mohamed

2. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

3. City elements & form qualities

4. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
1- Paths
They are the channels of movement
within which the city can be
conceived such as alleys, streets,
railroads, motorways, canals and the
like.
Characteristics that enhance a path’s
prominence are:
- Identity
(the building facades, other spatial features
such as
Planting and pavement textures)
- Continuity
(Spatial qualities of width or narrowness,
concentration and variation of activities
along the path)
Sudden change in the use, branching of the
path, and the wider junctions along the
path are all causes of breaking continuity.

5. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
Characteristics that enhance a path’s
prominence are:
- Directional quality
(strong entrances and leaves, and clear
hierarchy -gradient of use intensity and steady
changes in direction of movement are all
essential characteristics of strong path
properties.
number of points and types of angles that tie
these points.
Weak paths: Branching and number of small changes along
the path cause orientation problems
Portals strengthen paths

6. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

7. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

8. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

9. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Height-to-width ratios/ sense of enclosure

10. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
2- Edges
“Edges are the linear elements not used or
considered as paths by the observer. They are the
boundaries between two phases, linear breaks in
continuity: shores, railroad cuts, edges of
development, walls”
An edge is that line which separates two areas
having different features from each other, this
line may be natural boundary like rivers,
viaducts and topography or artificial form such
as greenbelt, waterfront, highway, elevated
motorways or something else, as it may be just
the degree of differentiation between two
districts through their distinct characteristics,
these characteristics may result from using
different architectural vocabularies in facades,
particular types of landscape elements,
property of concavity, height of buildings,
different types of housing, classification of
activities, social classes…..etc.
Strong edge should be visually prominent and
continuous in form.

11. City elements & form qualitiesA A Mohamed

12. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
3- Districts
Districts are character areas perceived to have
common characteristics, a separate visual
identity from the rest of environment. These
areas can be recognized as a thematic unit.
Good physical characteristics of districts are
determined by continuities and homogeneities
of facades materials, textures, spaces, forms,
details, symbols, building type, uses, Activities,
inhabitants, colors, skyline topography, …etc.
Districts may be in relation with each other,
well-connected together, then they are in an
extrovert character. On the contrary, they may
stand alone to their zone; in other words they
are not linked together, then they are in an
introvert character. District events (source: Lynch,1960)
Districts ( source: www. Faculty .ksu.edu.sa
/DrMohsen/ Selected Readings )

13. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
4- Nodes
“Nodes are the strategic foci
into which the observer can
enter, typically either junctions
of paths, or concentrations of
some characteristic” (Lynch,
1960: 72).
They are the gathering points
such as squares, railroad
stations, plazas and junctions
even ordinary street
intersections are nodes. Nodes
may be junctions, then they are
related to paths, as being the
convergence of these paths such
as squares; or thematic
concentration such as a
concentration of shopping; or
both of junctions and
concentration.
A good recognizable node should has its identity
through singularity and continuity of walls, floor,
planting, lighting, topography, silhouette, function,
clarity of shape and intensity of use. Location
determines nodes utilization, as locating nodes on main
routes make movement economy more efficient than
those located away from.

14. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

15. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

16. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed

17. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
5- Landmarks (reference points )
Landmarks are distinguished by their
dominance and singularity of shape,
color, size, height, location, visibility and
finally, their sharp contrast with
background. Landmarks should be in a
tune with their surroundings and not too
many, as too many landmarks can
undermine their helpfulness.

18. Piazza_San_Marco_with_the_Basilica_

19. City elements & form qualitiesK A Mohamed
Lynchian Elements
Characteristics of good landmarks
A) Visual Attraction
It is concerned with the physical characteristics of an object
which strengthen it as a landmark these characteristics are:
- Façade Area: the degree of contrast between the object
and surroundings.
- Shape
- Color
- Visibility
people
spaces

20. Trafalgar Square
Views from the heart of the space are limited.

21. Elephant & Castle Southern Crossing
Views from the south side are extensive, providing valuable information.

25. B) Semantic Attraction
It is concerned with the meaning, as the object may be not
distinct in itself, but represents a great value for observers, this
value may be derived from its cultural or historical importance.
C) Structural Attraction
The origin of this principle is the major role that an object plays
if it is located in an area of spatial decision making such as
intersections.
Characteristics of good landmarks
Lynchian Elements

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27. Heliopolis image as seen in the field Heliopolis image as derived from sketch maps

28. Heliopolis problems

29. Form Qualities
Clues of visual quality can be summarized as
following:
a- Clues Related to Identity: these clues aim to
single out the element through its character.
- Singularity or Differentiation
- Dominance

30. Form Qualities
b- Clues Related to Structure
- Continuity: It can be achieved by
similarity, nearness of objects,
harmony and sequence of events
along paths and edges.
Clarity of Joints: Clear relation between joints
make them highly perceptible.
Simplicity: Simple forms such as dome,
rectangle or any regular form in general, are
easily recognizable.

31. Unity or Equivalence: “It is the characteristic to group space into zones along some
common traits” (Arthur & Passini, 1992: 87). Elements should be in relation to each other,
since scattered elements with no relation to each other cause confusion and
disorientation.
Form Qualities
×

32. Form Qualities
c- Visual Scope: It stands for the extent
within which the element can be seen
for a long period and by many observers
from near and far.
Closed Vista: by creating visual scope
through closing the vista by a mass
Panorama or High Degree of Visual Access: It
means that the element is visible from
different perspective, this may occurs if it is
placed on a curve, then the element will be
seen as long as we move around this curve.

34. St_Peter's_Square,_Vatican_City

35. Form Qualities
View Overlapping: It can be achieved
by mixing various elements together,
thus creating overlapped layers.
A semi-lattice structure (Alexander, 1966)
d- Names and Meaning: They are non-
physical characteristics that may refer to
historical, social, religious or functional
significance. Names, as mentioned
before, play an important role in forming
the sense of a place.

36. THANK YOU