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This is why African cities are not legible.

12/26/2013


Legibility of the city - Legible cities are cities which are clear enough to read. Aim is to improve peoples’ understanding, experience and enjoyment of the city.
There are five elements of Legibility of city which are;

Paths - Familiar routes followed- “Are the channels along which the observer customarily, occasionally, or potentially moves.” E.g.-streets, walkways, transit lines, canals, railroads. The continuity depends on: Width, Gradient, activity.

Edges - Dividing lines between districts which are the linear elements not used considered as paths by the observer but they are boundaries between two phases, linear breaks in continuity. E.g. - shores, railroad cuts, edges of development, walls. Example in Dar es salaam at the east side, the ocean is the edge of the city.

aerial view of Dar es salaam

Districts - Areas with perceived internal homogeneity which are medium-to-large sections of the city, conceived of as having two-dimensional extent, which the observer mentally enters ‘inside of,’ and which are recognizable as having some common identifying character." These can be used to zone activities within a city. E.g. - city-center, midtown, residential areas, industrial areas, train yards, suburbs, college campuses etc.
districts of Nairobi city.

Landmarks - Points of reference which are another type of point-reference, but in this case the observer does not enter within them, they are external. They are usually a rather simply defined physical object which makes one orient oneself. E.g.-building, sign, tower, or mountain

eiffel tower in Paris

Nodes - Center of attraction that you can enter- “Are points, the strategic spots in a city into which an observer can enter. The nodes may be simply concentrations, which gain their importance from being the condensation of some use or physical character, as a street-corner hangout or an enclosed square.” E.g.-primary junctions, places of a break in transportation, a crossing or convergence of paths, moments of shift from one structure to another.

Why African cities are not legible.

Rapid growth of cities.

Some areas grows and become city without planned, so these city automatically will lack element of legibility example landmarks. Other buildings are constructed randomly because there is no clear plan about that city also this contribute for cities to lack legibility

Unplanned construction.

This is construction without following regulations, in many African countries any construction can not take place without being approved by authorities, but in some cases a building may be constructed in area where road is supposed to be, this happen due to poor consultation of authorities before. This also cause to lack legibility.

Lack of professionals.

These are people who are specialize in urban design, they are very few in Africa due to few colleges available. Example in Tanzania there is only one college which offer urban design which is Ardhi University, and two colleges which offer architecture which are Ardhi University and Mbeya University of Science and Technology.

Misuse of power.

This is caused by people who has wealthy. Due to their power they can choose to do anything in a city, example changing land use, they can decide to put a building in an open public space.

Rapid population growth.

This is fast increase of population growth. When people increase in a city they need to find spaces for residential and another activities. As we see in Africa, the speed of people to come into cities is higher than the speed of authorities to manage those people. This can cause some places which was planned for path or public places to change and become residential. This will cause city to lose its legibility.

Political factor.

Politicians can do anything to clean themselves before the society. Planned land used example areas for sports, public area and residential area may be changed due to political factor example new road may be established in planned residential area, or they may decide to build school in public space, so that a politician may get votes from citizens.