2.5Theme 3: Built form vs public life

Built form vs public life

SEGMENT 1

SEGMENT 2

Figure 2.5.1MFrontage, staying activity and movement in segments 1 and 2.

WHERE WE LOOKED

We studied two street segments, one by the harbour and one in the lanes behind it. Their frontage is graded C or D: 68% of it is closed, with 13.9 doors per 100 m.

WHAT WE COUNTED

On the main routes 50 to 100 people pass every ten minutes, and traffic is heavy too. Few people stay. Places to stand and linger score 1.7 of 5.

FRONTAGE GRADE (TOOLKIT 1)

C Mixed

D Dull

ACTIVITY (TOOLKITS 2 AND 5)

Staying: one circle = 5 people

Vehicles, busy (over 50 per 10 min)

Vehicles, quiet (under 50 per 10 min)

Pedestrians, busy (50 to 100 per 10 min)

Pedestrians, quiet (0 to 50 per 10 min)

Figure 2.5.2MWhere the two segments sit.

WHAT IT MEANS

People pass through and do not stay. Heavy traffic and the lack of anywhere to sit decide it more than the frontage does. The street works as a route, not a place.