lOMoARcPSD|33856375

Signs-and-Symbols-in-Urban-Design 2

Architectural Design 8 (Isabela State University)

Studocu is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)
 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

SIGNS & SYMBOLS IN

URBAN DESIGN

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

SIGNS & SYMBOLS

• Signs are used to convey information in pictorial form.

• This has many advantages over written instructions.

• People who talk different languages can understand the same common
signs.

• Signs & symbols are commonly used in everyday situations.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SIGNS

• a) MANDATORY SIGNS
• b) PROHIBITION SIGNS
• c) WARNING SIGNS
• d) SAFETY SIGNS
• e) DANGER SIGNS

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

MANDATORY SIGNS

• THESE SIGNS ARE BLUE IN COLOR. THEY GIVE A POSITIVE INSTRUCTION.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

PROHIBITION SIGNS
• THESE SIGNS ARE CIRCULAR WITH A LINE ACROSS THE CIRCLE, THEY ARE RED
IN COLOR.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

SAFETY SIGNS
• THESE SIGNS TELL PEOPLE OF SAFE PLACES TO GO OR SAFE CONDITIONS.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DANGER SIGNS
• THESE SIGNS WARN PEOPLE OF DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

WARNING SIGNS
• THESE SIGNS ARE YELLOW. THEY ARE NORMALLY TRIANGULAR BUT CAN BE
OTHER SHAPES.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

SEMIOTICS
- THE STUDY OF SIGNS AND SYMBOLS AND THEIR USE OR INTERPRETATION.
- A highly influential branch of study, Semiotics or the study of signs, can be
considered the foundation for literary theory. Many of the revolutionary
theories of the twentieth century, such as Structuralism and Poststructuralism,
Structural Anthropology (Levi-Strauss), Psychoanalysis (Lacan), Cultural
Studies (Barthes) and the theories of Foucault have drawn their ideas from
Semiotics.

“SYMBOLISM IN ARCHITECTURE IS ANOTHER FORM OF COMMUNICATION.”

- Robert Venturi

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS

Historically, individual signs are praised for their designers’ creativity; However, their
significance in the landscape was rarely discussed until the 1970s.
Three architects and their students studied the Las Vegas strip to determine the existing
form and spatial relationships and published it as learning from Las Vegas. One of the
reoccurring themes in their results was the importance of signs to the street’s spatial
definition and organization.

• THREE ARCHITECTS:

1. ROBERT VENTURI,
2. DENISE SCOTT BROWN,
3. AND STEVEN IZENOUR

“THE MASSIVE SIGNS WERE THE ONLY THING DEFINING THE SPACE, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT,
IN A LANDSCAPE OF PARKING LOTS AND LOW BUILDINGS.”
-(VENTURI, SCOTT BROWN, AND IZENOUR)

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

WATCHPOINTS:
• SYMBOLS SHOULD BE GRAPHICALLY DISTINCT FROM EACH OTHER
• SYMBOLS SHOULD BE OF A SIZE THAT DOES NOT DOMINATE OR CONFUSE THE FIGURE
• SYMBOLS NEED ‘BREATHING SPACE’;THEY SHOULD NOT CLASH OR OVERLAP RATHER
THAN CROWD A SINGLE FIGURE WITH SYMBOLS,
• CONSIDER MAKING POINTS ON SEVERAL SMALLER FIGURES WITH A COMMON BASE
SO THAT THE COMPOSITE MESSAGE CAN BE MORE EASILY READ KEEPING THE SIZE,
COLOUR AND LINE WEIGHTS OF SYMBOLS CONSISTENT AIDS LEGIBILITY
• USE SYMBOLS WHERE SHADING OR LINES CANNOT CONVEY THE MESSAGE
EFFECTIVELY SYMBOLS CAN INDICATE OBJECTS ON A PLAN WHICH ARE TOO SMALL
TO SHOW IN DETAIL SYMBOLS CAN SIGNIFY COMMONLY OCCURRING LOCATIONS
OR ACTIVITIES (SUCH AS LANDMARKS)

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION
• Orientation difficulties resulting from illegible directional signs, street names
and numbering and/or the lack of them.
• Pedestrian accidents due to badly positioned signs.
• Hazards due to lack of warning and traffic signals.
• Non-identification of access routes and accessible facilities Pedestrian
accidents due to badly positioned signs.

PLANNING PRINCIPLE
• To facilitate orientation mainly for the disabled

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
GENERAL
Signage include direction signs, signs of locality, street names and
numbering, information signs, etc.

All types of signs should be visible, clear, simple, easy to read and
understand, and properly lit at night.

In general, signs should not be placed behind glass because of

possible reflection.

Signage placed on the pedestrian path of travel are considered

obstructions; thus, they should be detectable

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
DIRECTION SIGNS

Graphic or written directions should be

used to indicate clearly the type and
location of the available facility.

Directional signs need not be excessive in number, but they

should be placed at main entrances and doors and in places
where changes in direction or level occur.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
STREET NAMES
Fixed signs indicating
street names should be
placed at a maximum
height of 2.50 m

HOUSE NUMBERS

Fixed signs indicating

house numbers should be
placed at a maximum
height of 2.00 m

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
MAPS AND INFORMATION PANELS

Maps and information panels

at building entrances, along
roads, and on public buildings
should be placed at a height
between 0.90 m and 1.80 m

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
INSTALLATION
Signs can be wall-mounted, suspended or pole-mounted.

(a) Wall-Mounted signs

Wall-mounted signs, such as those indicating room numbers, should be
placed with the centre line at a height between 1.40 m and 1.60m from
the finished floor level.

(b) Overhanging signs

Overhanging signs should allow a minimum clearance of 2.00 m

(c)Pole-Mounted signs

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
SHAPE OF SIGNBOARDS
Information signboards should be rectangular.

Warning signboards should be triangular.

Interdictory signboards should be circular.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
COLOR

The color of signs should contrast with the surrounding

surface so as to be clearly distinguishable.

The commonly used colors are: white, black, yellow, red, blue
and green.

The color combinations red/green and yellow/blue should not

be used in order to avoid confusing color- blind persons.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
SURFACE

The sign surface should be processed to prevent glare.

Engraved texts should be avoided unless they are colored.

Relief prints are advisable.

Key plans, orientation signs and push buttons in lifts must

have a text in Braille or in relief.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
LETTERING
The size of letters should be in
proportion to the reading distance

Character width-to-height ratio

should be between 3:5 and 1:1 and
the character stroke width-to-height
ratio should be between 1:5 and
1:10.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
LETTERING

The letters and signs should preferably be raised at least 1

mm from the background, to enable sightless people to read
the information using the tips of their fingers.

The smallest letter type should not be less than 15 mm.

Normal spacing between words and letters should be used.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)

 lOMoARcPSD|33856375

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
EXISTING CONSTRUCTIONS

The international symbol of accessibility should be added to

mark accessible spaces and facilities.

Directional signs should be added to indicate clearly the

location and function of accessible spaces and facilities.

Signs that do not comply with the above design requirements

should be modified or replaced.

Downloaded by RAM JAY ENDOZO (20-05663@g.batstate-u.edu.ph)