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URBAN  PEDESTRIANIZATION &  ART

compiled by Assoc. Prof. Dr. A. Ghafar Ahmad

1. Urban pedestrian precincts:

i.        to humanize the urban environment

ii.       to provide as meeting places / nodes

iii.     to help older downtowns to compete with the attractions of the newer suburban shopping centers (eg. Outdoor market, sidewalk cafes))

iv.     to act as urban lung when incorporates with vegetation and water elements

2. Pedestrianization of urban streets (Roger Evans):

·   First implemented in Germany, Holland and Denmark in 1930’s and Britain in 1967

·   First pedestrian mall in the USA is The Burdick Street Mall, Kalamazoo, USA proposed by Victor Gruen in 1958

·   Three categories of pedestrianization schemes:

-  vehicle prohibited (all servicing done by rear access)

         -  vehicle restricted (service access restricted to certain times)

   -  vehicle discouraged (priority to pedestrian and crawling-pace vehicles)

·   Design details (road paving, crossings, seating areas, signage and directions, change of level, roads of 40mph limit, ramps etc.)

3. Urban art and design (interpretation of public art):

Street mosaics, sculptures, interpretive signs, street lamps, sidewalks.

i.        to enhance the richness and variety to urban environments

ii.       to contribute the history of streets or places

iii.     to convey the cultural meaning of the areas

iv.     to increase interest in cultural tourism