Characterisation and Systematic Assessment of Urban Open Spaces in Glasgow City Centre
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SPATIUM UDC 711.4(411) No. 37, June 2017, pp. 22-33 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/SPAT1737022S Original scientific paper Characterisation AND Systematic ASSESSMENT OF Urban OPEN Spaces IN Glasgow CITY CENTRE Ashraf M. Salama1, Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Adel M. Remali, Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Laura MacLean, Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK Urban open spaces have substantially contributed to the development of cities in terms of image, function, form, and social engagement, and thus have been a central concern of urban researchers for several decades. This paper contributes to the contemporary urban discourse as it relates to the city and its users. It demonstrates a mechanism for characterisation and systematic assessment of key urban open spaces in Glasgow City Centre. The mechanism is implemented in three layers of investigation that involve the development of space profiles through preliminary observations, an examination of functional, social, and perceptual attributes through a walking tour assessment procedure with checklists and a scoring system, and an understanding of how users perceive and comprehend these spaces through a photographic attitude survey. The paper places emphasis on key findings by conveying similarities and differences between the spaces in terms of assessment outcomes and users’ perception, while revealing their essential attributes and qualities. Conclusions are offered as reflections on the findings while suggesting possibilities for future research through additional complementary layers of investigation. Key words: urban open space, walking tour assessment, users perception, urban space attributes, Glasgow. Introduction: ON THE Qualities OF Urban OPEN of safety and security are supported (Carr et al., 1992). The Spaces variety of landscape elements and the spatial subdivisions of public space help accentuate the positive contrast with Urban open spaces are an integral component of urban the adjacent surroundings and make it easier for the users structures and represent the lung of the city where people to relax. urban form play a major role in generating urban life and Architectural qualities that ensue from responses to climatic humanenjoy, entertain, exchange and (Moughtin interact. and The Mertens, spatial configuration 2003), and thus and conditions, availability of materials and techniques, and the enable the integration of routines of work, communal life, socio-cultural context are important to consider. Rapoport enjoyment and, relaxation. Urban open spaces support human needs and convey cultural and contextual meanings is recognised as the interactive relationship between within the essential qualities of accessibility and proximity cultural,(1976) postulates material, that spiritual the lifestyle and social of any aspects,specific community which are to important structures within the city (Carr et al., 1992). varied from one place to another. Spreiregen (1965) points out that the urban form of a city or town is generated Urban research divulges various important qualities that et al., (2010) consider comfort, relaxation, and active and passive engagement with the through its population ‘size’, which is linked to the physical environmentshould be satisfied. as primary Carmona needs that people seek to satisfy outline structure ‘shape’, in order to produce and qualify the ingeometry developing of city and form redeveloping ‘pattern’. As these a result, elements. the intensity In other of by the length of time that people stay in a public space. The words,using land density by people is determined and buildings by urban ‘density’ texture play aand vital grain role in public spaces. The sense of comfort is merely reflected richness of architectural vocabulary and the human scale of and expresses the degree of homogeneity or heterogeneity space play a key role in enhancing the sense of relaxation. As of use by people or buildings (Spreiregen, 1965:64). The the sense of comfort and relaxation are increased, the feeling propositions of Rapoport and Spreiregen epitomize a case for the value of understanding physical as well as social and 1 Department of Architecture, University of Strathclyde, James Weir Building, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK perceptual dimensions of the environment. [email protected] 22 spatium Salama A.M. et al.: Characterisation and systematic assessment of urban open spaces in Glasgow City Centre gangs’ itinerant through the streets (Stewart, 1997). In recent years Glasgow has initiated to its new role as a post- enabledThe sense by of a ‘individualityclear distinctiveness within collectiveness’of an urban space, is another which industrial European city and has become a vibrant hub for facilitatesimportant diversityquality that of perceptionssatisfies needs and of emotional users and isresponses typically trade, education, culture, and arts. Despite urban sprawl, (Salama and Gharib, 2012). Conspicuously, clear boundaries social segregation, and car dependency (Frey, 1999) the city and appropriate proportions of built forms that consider displays a great deal of spatial and formal consistency, which human scale are critical factors for maintaining this quality. makes it a thought-provoking place for urban exploration. In essence, social activities that take place in an urban open space mandate an understanding of how people perceive it A Mechanism for Characterisation AND ASSESSMENT OF Urban OPEN Spaces its visual and aesthetic qualities (Moughtin and Mertens, Nine urban open spaces are selected to examine their 2003).and the A way general in which agreement they comprehend in the literature the significance corroborates of qualities. The selection is based on a combination of squares that a vibrant city is a matter of the density of pedestrian and streets (Figure 1). The urban squares include George movement, quality of public spaces, and diversity of uses Square, which represents the civic heart of the city, whereas (Buchanan, 1963; Barnett, 1983; Schumacher, 1986; Jacobs, Royal Exchange Square and St. Enoch Square are considered 1993). the most important spaces within Merchant City. The Royal The preceding discussion suggests that studying how the Exchange Square accommodates Gallery of Modern Art, urban spaces are used continues to be pivotal in interpreting GOMA. Included in the study is St. Andrews Square, which the relationship between users and their surroundings. street (High Street). Additionally, the Central Bus Station methods of obtaining information on the experience, Squareis regarded is a vital as the urban first place pre-planned that links square one of along the most the activeinitial use,Therefore, and perception this paper by addressesdemonstrating the asignificance mechanism andfor areas in the city (Central Bus Station) with the surrounding characterisation and systematic assessment of nine urban urban context. While selecting urban streets such as Argyle open spaces in Glasgow City Centre. Methodologically, the Street, Sauchiehall Street and Buchanan Galleries is due to mechanism is implemented in three layers of investigation included in the study based on its position that represents preliminary observations, an examination of functional, antheir interface location between along the the city’s edge ‘Golden of the Z’,centre the Clydeand the Street River is socialthat involve and perceptual the development attributes of throughspace profiles a walking through tour Clyde (Figures 1 & 2). The mechanism for characterisation assessment procedure with checklists and a scoring and assessment involves three layers of investigation as system, and an understanding of how users perceive and discussed hereunder. comprehend these spaces through a photographic attitude survey. Such a mechanism enables a profound insight into the understanding of the essential characteristics of urban open spaces. THE CONTEXT OF THE Study: Glasgow CITY CENTRE The City Centre of Glasgow can be understood within three main stages of development: The Medieval City, the Merchant City, and Blythswood. The medieval stage began in the 12th century with the centre fully established by the 16th century (McKean et al. the medieval Cathedral that has prime importance to the city (Williamson et al., 1990)., 1989). The second The only stage remaining was the edifice planned is in 1786. This stage brought wide gridiron streets that contrasted‘New Town’ theknown spontaneous as the ‘Merchant medieval City’, settlement which commenced pattern. Figure 1. The location of the nine selected urban open spaces The third stage was Blythswood in 1830 and displayed clear in Glasgow City Centre gridiron streets and squares, which were an expansion of the Merchant City. Development of Space Profiles While discussing the detailed urban evolution of Glasgow City Centre goes beyond the scope of this study, it should or portfolios for each of the selected spaces based on th be noted that during the 19 century the city was known preliminaryThe first layer observations. includes the As development a procedure, of it spaceencompasses profiles categorization of spaces in terms of spatial typology, Glasgow witnessed rapid growth in terms of population architectural patterns, accessibility, activities and use, andas the urban ‘second expansion city of (McKean the British et al.Empire’., 1989). During This period this time was and user types. Each category incorporates a number