THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

SYNOPSIS

Subsequent to each thematic lecture, students are required to submit a synopsis of a text during the discussion session. Its aim is for the students to read a selected reading in relation to the theme that has been discussed in class for the week and submit a synopsis of it. They are also required to identify architecture and/or urban schemes to illustrate the theme.

PROJECT: THE IMAGE OF THE CITY

Students are required to present an in-depth and analytical research study on the designated topic. Students are to explore the image of a city based on Kevin Lynch’s most famous work, The Image of the City (1960). The project consisted of 2 parts; the first is to identify Lynch’s 5 elements; path, edges, districts, nodes and landmarks within a selected city and the second part is to produce an essay with a cognitive map of the city.

PROJECT PART I: IDENTIFYING 5 ELEMENTS

Lynch's most famous work, The Image of the City (1960), is the result of a five-year study on how observers take in information of the city. Using three disparate American cities as examples (Boston, Jersey City and Los Angeles), Lynch reported that users understood their surroundings in consistent and predictable ways, forming mental maps with five elements:

 paths, the streets, sidewalks, trails, and other channels in which people travel;

 edges, perceived boundaries such as walls, buildings, and shorelines;

 districts, relatively large sections of the city distinguished by some identity or character;

 nodes, focal points, intersections or loci;

 landmarks, readily identifiable objects which serve as external reference points

Student is to select a city and identify the 5 elements in the city.

SUBMISSION: 5 A4 size illustrated diagrams of the city identifying the 5 elements accompanied with an introduction page of the city.

PROJECT PART 2: Cognitive Mapping

Part 2 of the project requires students to create cognitive mapping of selected significant urban spaces in the city of KL to understand
peoples’ perception and spatial behaviour in cities today. Using the cognitive maps students are required to present a critical
understanding of emerging contemporary urbanism in KL city spaces (in relations to Kevin Lynch notions of imageability and how it
influences people’s perception of the city. Mapping should contain: human facets (memory, identity etc ), spatial and temporal dynamics
(traffic, people’s paths, barriers, etc.), architecture (stairs, benches, trees, etc.), microstructures (texture, material).

SUBMISSION : 2000 words illustrated essay with 1A3 size cognitive mapping of selected urban spaces.