Image of the

City
Kevin A. Lynch

Kevin A lynch

1918-1984

American Urban planner and a Writer

Professor in MIT

Notable Ideas
Mental

Mapping

Imageability
Wayfinding

/ Legibility

Kevin Lynch:

WHAT

DOES THE CITYS FORM ACTUALLY MEAN

TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE? WHAT CAN
THE CITY PLANNER DO TO MAKE THE CITYS
IMAGE MORE VIVID AND MEMORABLE TO THE
CITY DWELLER?

LEGIBILITY - ease with which its parts can

be recognized and can be organized into a
coherent pattern.
legible city - one whose districs or
landmarks or pathways are easily
identifiable and are easily grouped into an
over-all pattern.

IMAGEABILITY -

the quality in a physical object

which gives it a high probability of evoking a strong
image in any given observer.
highly imageable city (apparent, legible, or visible)
city in this peculiar sense would seem well formed,
distinct, remarkable; it would invite the eye and ear to
greater attention and participation.

MENTAL MAP

In developing plans for urban areas the overall

context of an area must be studied. A citys
image or identity is based on its shape, color,
texture, arrangement, and sensory quality. This
gives an observer clues to the citys identity
and structure.
Image has been classified into five elements
paths, nodes, edges, districts, and
landmarks.

5 types of elements
Paths
Edges
Nodes
Districts
Landmarks

PATHS
Are

the channels along which the observer

customarily, occasionally, or potentially
moves

Streets,

Walkways, Transit lines, Canals, and

Railroads.

LOS ANGELES GRID

WASHINGTON STREET IN BOSTON

EDGE
Linear

elements but not considered as paths

Boundaries
Such

between two kind or areas

as; roads, railways, cuts, walls, etc.

BRAZIL

PANAMA BAY, FLORIDA

DISTRICT

Medium-to-large sections of city

Two dimensional extent

Recognizable for having an identity or character

INTRAMUROS

MAGINHAWA

NODES

Nodes are points, the strategic spots in a city into

which an observer can enter, and which are the
intensive foci to and from which he is traveling

They may be primarily junctions, places of break in

transportation, a crossing or convergence of paths,
moments of shift from one structure to another

LANDMARKS

Landmarks are another type of point-reference, but in

this case the observer does not enter within them, they
are external

They are usually a rather simply defined physical object:

building, sign, store, or mountain. Their use involves the
singling out of one element from host of possibilities

They may be within the city or at such distance that for

all practical purposes they symbolize a constant
direction. Such as isolated towers, golden domes, great
hills

GOLDEN DOME OF STATE HOUSE