Publication detail

From Transport Hub to Shared Space: Walkability and Pedestrian Color Experiences in the Transformation of a Public Square

PALACKÝ, J. DOKOUPILOVÁ PAZDERKOVÁ, K. HRUBANOVÁ, D.

Original Title

From Transport Hub to Shared Space: Walkability and Pedestrian Color Experiences in the Transformation of a Public Square

Type

presentation, poster

Language

English

Original Abstract

This presentation considers how the physical aspects of the urban built environment, specifically facade colors, impact pedestrian movement and route choices when navigating city squares, behaviors which presumably correlate with how pedestrians perceive the attractiveness of these spaces. Palacky Square is situated in the historic Czech town of Kostelec nad Orlicí. An elongated rectangle, 40 (60) m × 150 m, the square currently has an asphalt surface suitable for motor vehicle traffic. It is bordered by townhouses, and three historical monuments occupy its central axis. As part of a transport hub, the square serves primarily as a parking area, alongside a bus station. At present, transport suppresses ancillary functions, limiting the square’s usefulness. Our team was tasked with exploiting the potential of this space. To this end, we recommended options for reducing congestion by diverting traffic away from the square and explored varying proportions of green infrastructure and the arrangement of the square as a shared space. The resulting proposals were presented to the public in an exhibition in June 2024, along with questionnaires that allowed us to gain insight into the response to each design, especially in regard to color variations in the surrounding facades. Subsequently, the town can use this valuable feedback to create a competition brief for the renovation of the square. Using the methodology of Ensari & Akbay (2018), we created a color map of the facades facing the square for NCS color analysis. Asking respondents how facade colors relate to their preferred pedestrian routes when navigating the square and discovering which facades they find most appealing have helped us improve our understanding of public preferences. We expect that the results will contribute to increased civic engagement in determining the final appearance of the square. The resulting shared space will become a vibrant, colorful place for residents and visitors to enjoy, seamlessly connecting public spaces and historical landmarks.

Keywords

Pedestrian movement; Facade colors; Public space; Civic engagement; Shared space

Authors

PALACKÝ, J.; DOKOUPILOVÁ PAZDERKOVÁ, K.; HRUBANOVÁ, D.

Released

19. 9. 2024

Location

University of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy

Pages count

13

URL

https://www.ierek.com/events/cities-identity-through-architecture-and-arts-citaa-8th-edition#introduction

BibTex

@misc{BUT189634,
  author="Jiří {Palacký} and Kateřina {Dokoupilová Pazderková} and Denisa {Hrubanová}",
  title="From Transport Hub to Shared Space: Walkability and Pedestrian Color Experiences in the Transformation of a Public Square",
  year="2024",
  pages="13",
  address="University of Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy",
  url="https://www.ierek.com/events/cities-identity-through-architecture-and-arts-citaa-8th-edition#introduction",
  note="presentation, poster"
}