AIMS
The function of the street space and the way it is perceived depend on the activity level of its users.
Observation and analysis of the street in an urban, universal design and artistic key.
METHOD
1. Analysis of:
– the function of buildings and transport; – the height of buildings and greenery;
– user activity and movement;
– impressions.
2. Project of selected space.
3. Street art show off.
The way of communicating and presenting main conclusions from the research part or the whole project itself.
TECHNIQUE
Week one:
Observation/photography/filming.
Week two:
Sketches/photomontage/visualization.
The presentation of the most inspiring observed problems will be drawn
in the city on the streets and sidewalks using chalk, charcoal or parts of brick.
STRENGTHS
A chance to use specific measurement methods. Opportunity to look for unusual forms of project presentation. Sensitivity to the diverse needs of users.
Team work.
ANALYSIS AND STREET DESIGN SHOULD BE PREPARED IN GROUPS.
WE CHOOSE ONE STREET LOCATED IN THE CITY CENTER. IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE MOST POPULAR STREET. IT SHOULD BE OBSERVED, MEASURED AND ANALYZED ACCORDING TO THE GUIDELINES.
THE CONCLUSIONS OF THE FIRST WEEK’S WORK SHOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR A PROJECT TO TRANSFORM THE CHOSEN STREET.
SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE 1st WEEK
ANALYSIS OF THE FUNCTIONS OF BUILDINGS AND TRANSPORT
The function of the buildings should be identified, e.g. single-family residential buildings – light brown and multi-family residential buildings – dark brown, services – red, services on the ground floors of residential buildings – brown with a red line, public utilities – orange. On this analysis also streets should be divided according to traffic intensity. The less traffic, the lighter the gray color, e.g. streets with low traffic intensity, medium traffic intensity and high car traffic intensity. Parking spaces should also be marked on the analysis – blue hatching. Photos of the most important services should be included in the analysis.
ANALYSIS OF THE HEIGHT OF BUILDINGS AND GREENERY
Buildings should be divided into height groups, e.g. buildings up to 2 storeys, up to 4 storeys and up to 6 storeys, The lower the building groups, the lighter the gray color. On this analysis also greenery should be divided into e.g. private greenery – light green (around single-family houses), semi-private – dark green (around multi-family buildings) and public greenery – very dark green (parks, squares). Photos of the most characteristic buildings and green spaces should be included in the analysis.
IMPRESSION CURVE FOR TWO FRONTAGES OF THE STREET
The analysis should be presented on a chart, with individual objects on the x-axis and a 1-10 scale on the y-axis, where 1 means the lowest rating and 10 means the highest rating;
– analysis of the aesthetic values of buildings; – analysis of the attractiveness of the function; – analysis of people’s activity.
ANALYSIS OF STATIONARY AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF STREET USERS
This analysis involves observing where the greatest concentrations of human activity occur on the street. These behaviors must be stationary or social and last longer than 15 seconds. Stationary activities include, for example, sitting, standing, eating, drinking, smoking, reading a book, listening to music in a place or looking at shop windows. Social behaviors include, for example, talking with friends, but also with strangers, standing on the street or sitting at a restaurant table or on a city bench, making contact with a person handing out leaflets, collecting signatures for a petition, a street vendor, but also children playing or observing and commenting on street performances. However, the map does not include dynamic activities related to movement, nor does it take into account people waiting at public transport stops. Observations should be made along the entire length of the street, three times for 15 minutes in places ensuring good visibility of a given part of the street, at different times of the day. Each dot in the diagram corresponds to 1 person. The collected results are presented together on a map. The observed stationary activities and social behaviors indicate which places on the examined street attract people and make them stay in a given space for longer. The photos documenting selected activities should be included in the analysis.
ANALYSIS OF THE INTENSITY OF CAR, PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST TRAFFIC
In order to obtain this information, measurements should be taken three times in two locations approximately every 100-200 m apart, at different times of the day. This intensity is measured per minute on a strip of the space in which pedestrians, cyclists and cars move. The table should include unit measurements and the average value of the measurements taken. To perform this analysis, three videos should be recorded from each location at different times of the day. Videos can be sent on the Teams platform along with the entire project.