2.5Theme 3: Built form vs public life

Built form vs public life

Figure 2.5.1VBuilding frontage categories (B to E), staying activity (one circle per person), vehicular movement and pedestrian throughput in the study block.

WHERE WE LOOKED

Our block lies in Villimalé’s industrial area. Its frontage is graded B to E: 61% of it is closed, with 9.7 doors per 100 m.

WHAT WE COUNTED

Staying gathers along a few building edges and the inner lanes round the central block. Traffic is low, under 5 vehicles every ten minutes, and places to linger score 3.0 of 5, the best of the three.

WHAT IT MEANS

Fewer doors, yet the best place to linger. Street life gathers where edges, routes and uses meet, and quiet streets let walking and staying overlap there.

Figure 2.5.2VThe study block within Villimalé, outlined in red.

FRONTAGE GRADE (TOOLKIT 1)

B Pleasant

C Mixed

D Dull

E Inactive

ACTIVITY (TOOLKITS 2 AND 5)

Staying: one circle = 1 person

Vehicles, busy (over 5 per 10 min)

Vehicles, quiet (under 5 per 10 min)

Pedestrians, busy (15 to 20 per 10 min)

Pedestrians, quiet (5 to 10 per 10 min)