PERMEABILITY

Mahmud Zaman
Jan 04, 2018 CE
Introduction

■ Places which are accessible to people can offer them choices;

■ The quality of Permeability – the number of alternative ways through an environment;
■ Visual and Physical;

■ Accessibility α Choices α Permeability;

■ Must be considered early in design:
- how many routes,
- how they should link together,
- where they should go and end,
- how to establish rough boundaries for blocks.
Introduction (contd.)

■ Key measure of Responsiveness

(n. the quality of reacting quickly and positively);

■ A must quality to achieve for an urban designer.

Permeability: Public vs. Private

■ Public Domain/Space and Private Domain/Space;

■ Privacy.
Permeability: Public vs. Private (contd.)

■ Complementary not Rivalry;

■ You shall create an interface through smooth transition;
■ Harmony α Choices α Richness.
■ Visual

■ Auditory

■ Tactile

■ Olfactory
Permeability: Public Space

■ Offer Alternate routes;

■ Routes should be visible (Visual permeability);
■ Present unknown spaces to urban dweller;
■ Choices α Awareness.
Victoria Harbor,
Hong Kong
Advantages of Small Blocks

■ Smaller blocks gives more choices (Alternate routes);

■ Smaller blocks α Physical and Visual Permeability.
City Blocks
Decline in Public Permeability

■ Scale of development;
■ Hierarchical street network;
■ Segregation of Public space;
■ Monolithic

■ Large blocks

■ Segregated
References

McGlynn, S., Smith, G., Alcock, A., Murrain, P., & Bentley, I.
(1985). Responsive Environments: A Manual for Designers.
London, UK: The Architectural Press.