THE HUMAN SCALE IN PUBLIC SPACES.

1. April 2019
THE HUMAN SCALE IN PUBLIC
SPACES.
AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF NEW CAIRO SETTLEMENTS
EG 150
Ahmed Hosney Radwan*
Ahmed Abdel Ghany Morsi*
Associate Professor of Architecture & Urban Design
Helwan University – Faculty of Fine Arts – Arch dept.
Presentation
8th April 2019 – 5:30 PM

2. In the shades of high technology, and with the fast development of
constructions & automobile industry, modern cities urban planning is turning
to be more vehicle oriented rather than being human-oriented, leading in an
indirect ways to cities that lacks being human with their high rise buildings,
huge malls & Shopping centers, in addition to office blocks and even
residential blocks, with wide street networks, fast public transportation s and
large areas public spaces, thus developing a dramatic problem of non-
belonging to place between people and their cities, public spaces represented
in streets, plazas, parks and others, as shown in figure 1.
Introduction

3. the difference between vehicle and human-oriented transport systems

4. Research problem
In the last three decades,
Egypt is witnessing the growth of many new settlements, with:
• new vision of wide streets.
• large areas used as public spaces.
• vast parks.
in most cases do not take into consideration the human scale on many
aspects, whether natural or man-made.

5. • Creating good public urban spaces among Cities requires a multi-sectoral
& comprehensive approach that deals with such spaces from various
perspectives and on different levels, not only the physical interface of the
space including its different components or elements.
• Human scale of a public space as a term incorporates various meanings
rather than the direct definition of being a space with a suitable scale for
users, that can be easy of friendly used, this is extended to includes the
feeling of belonging to the space, safety and security, livability and intensity
of usage and users.
• Based on that the researchers assume that a human-scaled space would
lead to a better public urban space that crosses the functional
requirements to many other impacts on the communities.
Research Debate and Hypothesis

6. In general, the research is questioning and addressing the following
questions:
- The various means that make a public urban space human, from different
aspects and on various levels, as a primary objective.
- Studying the different factors that could positively lead to a positive Human
scale in public space, with a focus public spaces as the case study in New
Cairo settlements’
Research Objectives.

7. FACTORS
Studying the different factors that
could positively lead to a positive
Human scale in public space
NEW CAIRO
SETTLMENTS
with a focus public spaces the case
study in New Cairo settlements’
WHAT'S HUMAN
The various means that make a
public urban space human
ASPECTS
different aspects and on various
levels
01
02
03
04
Research objectives

8. • A pragmatic approach is used starting by discussing various concepts.
• a literature review for some theories.
• a study for some international and local practices and models.
• exposing them to an analytical study to find out the lessons learned
• devising criteria that can be used to formulate the foundations and
standards for designing the urban spaces with an actual human scale,
• developed furthermore to supply the urban designer by what could be a
criteria for a more human-scaled urban space
especially in the case of New Cairo settlements.
Research Methodology.

9. Human scale refers to a size, surface, and
verbalization of physical components that match the
size and dimensions of people and similarly
essential, compared to the speed at which people
walk. In its least definition, making a human scale
means that we need to create objects, surfaces,
volumes that is suitable or appropriate to be user-
friendly by people
Human scale from conceptualization to practice

10. Human scale is the arrangement of physical characteristics, and amounts of
data, describing the human body, its engine, tangible, or mental capacities,
and human social establishments,
The generic definition of Human Scale.
The human scale on
Architectural & Urban levels.
relation between people,
technology and place

11. Human scale in urban spaces.
using natural and manmade elements to create a human scale (Source: Miralles Tagliabue)
The term “human scale” is used in urban spaces to distinguish
between those accessing the city on foot and those viewing it through
a car window. Although both involve people, human scale refers to
pedestrians, which leads to a companion term: automotive scale.
human scale automotive scale

12. Direct meaning of scale as a relation between human measurements and the space dimensions.
Human scale in urban spaces.

13. Researches in the areas of public spaces have shown that megastructures stress people out and was
described by people by being “boring” when compared by more human-scaled. Dictators took advantage
of the impact architecture can have on the mind. By creating architecture at a monumental scale, rather
than a human one, they inspired fear and awe in their citizens. (Burke, 2016). A human scale can refer to
how people perceive a city. We have known for a long time that architecture affects emotions and vice
versa. With the well-designed urban space, many values can be achieved, such as social mixing, civic
participation, recreation, safety, and a sense of belonging, ultimately contributing to urban prosperity

14. different treatments for sidewalk
access and smooth transition solutions
Human Scaled public spaces

15. different functions and light to provide security
Human Scaled public spaces

16. Human Scaled public spaces
using trees to give a human scale
Using elements that promote child engagement to give a human scale

17. Using art elements to give a human scale

18. The proposed public space elements

19. The human scale indicators

20. New Cairo 5th settlement

21. Space indicator Measuring tool Analysis
Good Average poor
Family park Function Pedestrian flow and vitality *
People attractors *
Uses & users’ diversity *
People watching *
form Green and water elements *
Building to street ratio *
Furniture and building details *
Image Symbolism *
receptivity *
Overall status **
Government-owned public
spaces
Function Pedestrian flow and vitality *
People attractors *
Uses & users’ diversity *
People watching *
form Green and water elements *
Building to street ratio *
Furniture and building details *
Image Symbolism *
receptivity *
Overall status **
Swan Lake
as an example of Gated
communities
Function Pedestrian flow and vitality *
People attractors *
Uses & users’ diversity *
People watching *
form Green and water elements *
Building to street ratio *
Furniture and building details *
Image Symbolism *
receptivity *
Overall status **

22. Conclusion
The Scale of a public space is not only defined by the physical aspects on spatial level,
including space dimensions, proportions, and areas, but also there are many factors that
could lead to a more human-scaled public space, and as mentioned before in details that
includes a complex relationship between a set of variables, starting from the activity(s) that
is practiced within the space and the density of the presence of people and users, as well
as the existing attractions that make that public space attractive and welcoming to the
users.
The emotional dimensions could be a terminology that describes the feeling of being safe
in a public space, through using the suitable streetscape including street furniture with all
of its components, in addition to the feeling of having a living (vibrant) public space through
the use of greenery within the space landscape or the spacescape.
Integrating community members including children, eldery, people with special need(s)
gives any public space a very high sense of being human providing the fact that this public
space is designed considering accessibility of people with special need(s).
The philosophical dimension, which is clearly evident in the symbolism and the capacity of
the public space, cannot be ignored to achieve and deepen the sense of belonging to the
users.

23. achieving the human scale in public spaces can be divided into
two levels. First, to be achieved on the level of an existing urban
space, which will be through:
- Localization of attractive activities suitable for the types/needs of
users,
- The use of natural elements in the coordination of urban space,
especially plant elements, which will help to control the sense of
dimensions and heights within the urban space.
- The use of street and space furniture & Streetscape suited to the
activities practiced in the space, on one hand, and users on the
other hand.
- Use appropriate types of materials to finish the facades of
buildings overlooking the urban space.
Second, the design of a new urban space, which should consider
all the above, in addition to the building to street ratio.
Recommendations

24. Thanks