Spaces for Human Communication

The focus of this book is human communication in urban spaces and its relation to built form. The book examines the values of public spaces and whether urban form and space can promote direct human interaction. Sociable spaces are examined within public open spaces of two Philadelphia Squares: Rittenhouse and Washington Squares. The study of the forces of spatial appeal and their characteristics in these open spaces points to various participating elements which include: the socio-economic environment of the Squares, perimeter buildings, and landscape layouts. The spatial appeal of these two urban Squares is measured to reveal the interplay of the physical built form and the social context. The exploration of the architectural significance of the sites leads to the study of enclosure, landscape layout, physical location, spatial definition, and boundary. The examination of the participating elements, however, points to the concept of enclosure and its relation to the boundary and perception of objects in space. Multiple analyses and measurements were established within the case study. In Rittenhouse Square, for instance, various types of enclosure have bounded the space and with their varied characters created differentiated territories that are connected through circulating paths. The paths and their connection to the city relate the landscape layout to its socio-economic setting. The study shows how varied enclosures, landscape configurations, and territories can promote different degrees of social interaction within the two Squares. The book can help towards an integrated planning system for designing urban open spaces.