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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
slow-paced
slow-paced
anthropological/sociological look at the importance of creating image-able cities. defines a purpose for the built environment beyond looking pretty.
touches on the idea of two parts of creating an image: the physical element being read and the conception of the reader.
touches on the idea of two parts of creating an image: the physical element being read and the conception of the reader.
Although some of the language is beginning to show its age, Lynch's exploration of their three image case studies provides an excellent backbone to any understanding of urban design on large scales.
It feels kind of weird to have the appendices separate from the rest of the text, especially when the information in the appendices would have strengthened the overall argument of the book. I would be interested to see whether someone has done the follow-up work Lynch suggests/recommends as part of his conclusion.
thank you kevin lynch you were very innovative for writing a book that had such novel ideas that it is considered one of the best urban planning books of all time and i appreciate that but i personally could not finish it all the way because it was so unbearable for me to read <3 and i only read it so that i could write a 1000 word essay on it and not because i wanted to read it. the only way that i can read this book is to view it as something that was innovative by 1960 standards and look at it as a time capsule.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Reading this book gives a firm initial understanding of how humans perceive cities. Using three cities as an example and several concepts to describe elements of 'the city image' it is made clear how we structure our knowledge and to which degree this process is individual.
Besides this main endeavour, several remarks point to interesting topics less concerned with navigation: How affections are bound to landscape, social factors deriving from it and the long term goal of designing cities worthy to live in.
The fact that all three examples were American was a downer though and had me confused a lot, even though there are extensive appendices on them.
Besides this main endeavour, several remarks point to interesting topics less concerned with navigation: How affections are bound to landscape, social factors deriving from it and the long term goal of designing cities worthy to live in.
The fact that all three examples were American was a downer though and had me confused a lot, even though there are extensive appendices on them.
I read this book in too many sittings, so it felt disjointed. I’d probably benefit from a reread. For now, I’m sharing this quote:
“As an artificial world, the city should be so in the best sense: made by art, shaped for human purposes. It is our ancient habit to adjust to our environment, to discriminate and organize perceptually whatever is present to our senses.”
“As an artificial world, the city should be so in the best sense: made by art, shaped for human purposes. It is our ancient habit to adjust to our environment, to discriminate and organize perceptually whatever is present to our senses.”
slow-paced