Transitions
and Boundaries
Most people feel a deep need to know
where one neighborhood or district ends
and another begins. A logical world with
good spatial definition orients us and
gives us information to help us make decisions
about where to go and what to do.
Elements such as the shape of buildings,
doorway design, paving materials,
curbs, landscaping, street furniture,
changes in the elevation of the ground,and signage let us know where one category
of uses gives way to another.
The transitions and boundaries of the
urban world tell us when we enter and
leave the town, what is public and what is
someone’s private space, where to sit and
meet people, where to stroll, where to
shop, and where to drive or park. Using
urban design to clearly show these transitions
and boundaries can be the difference
between comfort and confusion; and
between feeling invited and feeling
unwelcome.