Retrofitting Suburbia How to turn undefined, unstructured places into Dissertation

Retrofitting Suburbia How to turn undefined, unstructured places into legible, coherent, accessible spaces and the effects - Dissertation Example These areas have a pragmatic and emotional significance for every citizen (Lynch, 1960). Legibility can be defined as the facility with which symbols can be interpreted. Legibility is effectively the facility with which individuals comprehend the perspective of a location. In composing questionnaire surveys, Lynch delineated a format of interpreting legibility based on five components. These components are recognized as Thoroughfares, borders. Districts, Landmarks and Hubs. These were delineated as follows: Thoroughfares Thoroughfares are venues of travel which are familiar to the citizenry. These are the venues by which the individuals regularly, occasionally or possibly transport themselves. Examples of thoroughfares are: pathways, transit routes and railroad modes of transport. The consistency of the thoroughfare is reliant upon its dimensions, its inclination and the occupations which occur upon it (Lynch, 1960). Borders Borders can be defined as the limits which are formed from one part of the city to another. Borders can be characterized as coastlines, natural and man made geographical socio economic and political limitations. The consistency of the borders in a municipal environment is reliant upon the man made or geographical parameters of the limits which are assigned to a municipality (Lynch, 1960). Districts Districts are characterized by the distinction in geographical location, the architecture of which they are composed, the socio economic, geographical and political characteristics by which they are formed and the occupations which take place within them. The consistency of a district is reliant upon its population, its geographical location, the socio economic and the aspects of the citizenry which occupy it. Examples of districts are commercial areas, historical areas which are reserved for recreational purposes such as parks, commercial and cultural areas of activity within a municipality (Lynch, 1960). Landmarks Landmarks are geographical poi nts of reference which are mutually recognized by the individuals in a city as being frames of references. A landmark may be a natural characteristic of the city, a location of historical importance represented by a commemorative aspect or a construction which is outstanding in its characteristic which is outstanding in its environment. Examples of landmarks may be hills, historical monument, facilities in the municipality which are mutually recognized among the other buildings and geographical aspects of the environment (Lynch, 1960). Hubs Hubs are recognized as being the centers of activity in a municipality. There are characterized by the activities which occur within the. A municipality may be characterized as a hub if it has connections with other municipalities in the area by means of commerce, socio political activity, population density, cultural and transport characteristics of interconnection with other areas (Lynch, 1960). The Formation of Mental Maps An individualâ€℠¢s perception of their surrounding is defined as mental map. A mental map is the individual’s paradigm of their recognized surroundings. Mental maps can be researched by requesting direction to a landmark, path, edge or hub. They can also be characterized by an individual’