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The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch
BS Architecture (Arki01)
University of Northern Philippines
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The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch:
SUMMARY
Chapter 1 : The Image of the Environment
In the 1st Chapter, Lynch opens the idea to the readers regarding his research, its inspiration, as well as the purposes. He then explained that there is an amazing and special connection of the people to the city when being viewed. He notes that many American cities are not well designed and are the result of either a slow spread over time or a population boom that demanded quick expansion with little time for thoughtful planning. Lynch describes the goals of his research as well as the visual qualities of the American cities of Boston, Jersey City, and Los Angeles. Lynch's research reveals several important characteristics of cities that when combined make the city memorable, navigable, and pleasurable. Lynch muses that city planners and people who study the structure and development of urban areas must consider multiple aspects of the city and how these different characteristics come together to influence how the observer interprets urban landscapes.
The Image of the City | Chapter 2 : Three Cities
For the 2nd Chapter, Lynch describes his research methods in a details. A trained urban researcher started the research with careful observations of a city and noted the physical characteristics of the area. Then Lynch interviewed a small group of city residents in depth over several months. Lynch asked citizens a wide range of questions about the ways they observed and interacted with the city where they lived. Subjects were asked about emotional and practical connections they had with the city. The interviewees were longtime residents or employees in the city and had an intimate, long memory of the city. Lynch studied at Los Angeles, Boston, and Jersey City just for his case study. Lynch chose these cities for different reasons. He chose Boston for its historical value, Jersey City because it appeared to have no form or structure, and Los Angeles for its contemporary qualities and recent growth. Lynch chose this three cities for his observation.
REFLECTION
For the chapter 1, I believe Lynch wants the readers to learn and explore his visions and point of view regarding to planning. He believes that person has to have a mental image of the places in the city that aren't visible to understand how to navigate the city. He emphasizes the artistry and finesse that good urban planners use to create cities that are pleasing to observe as well as live within. Lynch's approach to city planning was radical for the times. Other city planners and researchers did not attempt to look at multiple aspects of a city and understand how they are connected or how they influence one another. His research was also different from other studies because he focused on how ordinary citizens viewed cities rather than relying on academic observations. Lynch studied how ordinary citizens perceived the cities where they lived and worked. By focusing on the average citizen rather than the opinions of academics or professionals, Lynch's research provided more practical value than previous studies that focused on statistics and figures. For the Chapter 2, the way Lynch uses the analysis of three distinctive cities to underscore his theory was brilliant. Each of the cities he describes is deficient in an important characteristic. Lynch's observations are meaningful because they support his claim from the first chapter that good city planning must consider several characteristics of a city and that no one element can overcome the deficiencies of the other elements of a city. Lynch points out that his research is preliminary. He was limited to studying only three American cities. Lynch was able to focus on specific elements and easily make comparisons because he focused on these three American cities. Three cities do not cover the vast diversity of the United States and the different urban plans that are executed across the country. The United States comprises a diverse range of terrains, cultures, and economies. More robust research is needed to build a truly comprehensive guide to the ways different elements of urban planning affect the way people live and travel in large urban centers.
The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch
Course: BS Architecture (Arki01)
University: University of Northern Philippines
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