SPATIAL ANALYSIS
IMAGE OF THE CITY
For the first mapping of the image of the site (Figure 76) the method of K.
Lynch was taken. It reveals visible features of the site that are forming it. The meth-
od is focusing on distinguishing borders, paths, landmarks, nodes and districts which
form the image of the city on the level of observer.
Lynch defines path as “a channel along which the observer customarily, oc-
casionally or potentially moves”; edge as “linear element, not considered as path: usu-
ally, but not always, boundaries between 2 kinds of areas”; district as “relatively large
city area, which observer can mentally go inside of and which have some common
character”; node as “strategic foci into which the observer can enter, typically either
junctions of paths or concentrations of some characteristics”; landmark as “the point
reference considered to be external for observer, simple physical elements which can
vary widely in scale” (Lynch, 1960).
key to map
major element
minor element
Figure 76
path
path
edge district node landmark
edge district node landmark
Mapping the image of the site
Presented above scheme illustrates spatial organization of the site and uncov-
ers its main problem of extreme level of spatial delimitation along Estació de França
railways. Clear paths are interrupted by the borders.
Another remarkable feature of the site is presence of landmarks of different
scale. They can guide observer through the site if there is a path.
page 52
TRANSPORT & DOMICILE:
an architectural intervention to integrate transport infrastructure with housing for Barcelona.
Efimovich Alina