The (aesthetic) experience of urban pedestrian spatial sequences

This dissertation explores the role of aesthetics in the experience of urban spatial design from the point of view of the person walking in the city. The goal of the study is to elucidate to some empirical degree how spatial quality relates to the emotional responses of individuals and their assessment of the physical qualities of spaces as they walk along routine urban paths. This exploratory research is a necessary step toward a larger goal of creating urban places that are not only pleasant places in which to walk, but places in which people want to walk. Based on existing research, which suggests that physical spatial qualities can influence individuals' behavior in urban space, a study of the aesthetic experience of urban paths was undertaken. Dresden, Germany was selected as a test site, which provided the necessary variety of spatial typologies within close proximity. Two separate field tests were conducted with 18 subjects participating in the first and 24 participating in the second. A combination of quantitative and qualitative analysis was used to interpret the data which came from open-ended survey questions and nominal ranking scales. The results point to two different kinds of favorable pedestrian experiences within the urban context. One kind is a high stimulus experience with a high degree of aesthetic value, in which the physical space dominates. The other kind of experience is of a lower degree of aesthetic value, where the physical environment is comfortable, but more neutral. The first may be more desirable as a special condition, while the second may be more desirable for most aspects of daily life. Both types of pedestrian sequences need to be considered as parts of a pedestrian network, which allows individual choice in the experience of a rich urban environment.