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LOCAL IDENTITY FRAMEWORK OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Alexey V. Krasheninnikov, M. V. Lazareva, E. I. Petrovskaya

Abstract

The local identity of urban spaces becomes a necessary requirement for the design and planning of urban development. The article proposes a system of the spatial factors influencing the local identity of urban areas and provide new directions for improvement of urban planning practices. The spatial structure of the urban environment becomes clear and obvious when identifying the places with the highest concentration of day and night social activity. Architecture and public spaces of the city create the most durable part of the urban environment, forming the basis of identity, recognizability of places and conditions for comfortable urban living. In this sense, the public spaces of the city form the structural basis of social life and play the role of a framework. The social framework of the city is built on the location of people and events. The main components of the social framework of the city are macro-spaces of various types: quarters, parks, public centers, historical buildings, etc. Models of macro-spaces differ regarding accessibility and connectivity of the place, spatial structure of the built environment, quantity and characteristics of people who are there. Cognitive models make it possible to analyze not only specific forms of development but also to build generalized models of the spatial structure of the urban fabric and even find general patterns of organization of the common use area. Let's compare the differences of the spatial framework for the three basic models of the macro-space: the enclave, the region, and the district. The spatial frame of the macro-space includes the "framework" of areas and places where an atmosphere is created. We could note that the best examples of harmonious architectural space are distinguished by multidimensional symmetry, balanced composition of spatial elements, an interaction of scales in fractal shapes. The structure of social space resembles the organic shapes of living creatures. We had compared the supporting structure of the macro-space with the skeletons of living creatures. This analog gives us the structural logic of the three basic macro-space. "Shell" (exo-skeleton) of enclaves, "body-armature" (flexible skeleton) areas, "nodes and rings" (distributed skeleton). The framework of macro-space can offer some ideas about placemaking in spatial planning and urban design. Cognitive urbanism link the notions of social space and planning patterns that can be used as a ground for study, planning, and operation of buildings and urban places.

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DOI resolver: doi.org/10.5593/sgemsocial2018/5.2/S19.013

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