Influence of Visual Integration and Pedestrian Mobility on Everyday Experience of Public Space

Abstract

During the previous decades, non-implementation of legal regulations has led to unrestrained arrangement of inadequate physical and visual obstacles that have induced great negative effect on the pedestrian mobility and visibility at the public spaces of Novi Sad (Serbia). On the other hand, visual integration and effectiveness of mobility at the visited public space can induce a positive or negative effect on the visitors’ perception of that space, which represents valuable input factor for further analysis. Therefore, a space syntax methodology is used in order to comprehend complex links between morphological and spatial characteristics of built environment and pedestrian movement and visibility at the selected public spaces in Novi Sad, by applying visibility graph analysis (VGA). The study is based on analyses of how are all fragments of public space visually intercon-nected, and what is its relation to the pedestrian movement and usage of public space. The analysis is done both at the ground level and at the eye level, with the focus on fixed and mobile physical and visual barriers. Obstacles are grouped into different categories, with the focus on immovable public furniture and moveable furniture of private cafes and restaurants that have particularly discouraged people from moving freely around public space with greater selection of walking routes. Improved visual integration of space and unobstructed pedestrian mobility are reassessed with the aim of promoting walking without interruptions and impediments, and as a starting point for other public activities.