lines of movement

©2006 mark laurence

design principles note no. 1030

This area was suggested by a client as a courtyard area for seating. However, there are too many lines of movement dissecting the space for this to be successful. the kitchen door (shown) is used to access the bins, wood store, outdoor storeroom and washing line. The access to the rear garden is through a door in the fence behind the washing line. This space is too busy to be a main Still-Point, except perhaps for a small bench against the sunny wall as a spot to grab a quick break and cup of coffee. Otherwise, this space is a Nodal Point (1032) area, with many paths diverging from it.

Lines of movement are simply routes along which people pass to move through the landscape. This could be the route from car to back door, from back door to washing line, a child's route to the swing or sand pit, pedestrian routes through a town square or a dog-walkers route through a public park.

problem:

These lines must be fully reconciled with the use and function of the site or there will be constant tension and discord. How often do we see tracks worn through grass which ignore the official paved route? This may not matter much but it is when these lines of movement clash with other uses, especially "still points" (design note 1040) that trouble occurs.

On a larger scale, lines of movement include vehicular traffic (and even driveways in a garden); here issues become even more crucial and it must be clear which has predominance - vehicles or people. Certainly any still points should be located well away from road traffic.

solution:

Study of the site will reveal much of how it is currently used. Observe all the entrances and exits and the routes between them. in a small space, such as a courtyard, this can carve up the area considerably, leaving little space for still points (seating). this often turns key zones into no more than through-ways, destroying their intended usage. In small areas such as this, the combined functions of movement and sitting often have to be accommodated. It is essential therefore, to do this with extreme care, or neither function will work smoothly.

In small spaces, try to route the entrances and lines of movement from corner to corner along one or at most, two sides of the area. This will leave space that is not walked through as a still-point. Only do this however, if the function of the site requires such a still-point. if it is not possible to resolve this, then remove either the still-point or one or more lines of movement. It is usually the former that has to go, as most access ways are fixed in location and necessity.

If redirecting routes, be sure to do it in such a way that it does not disturb the flow too severely, or so that the pedestrian is not aware of this. Planting beds, or especially, raised beds are an ideal way to do this as it becomes difficult for the pedestrian to short-cut through.

Keep in mind that the more utilitarian the access, the less meanders and diversions will be tolerated. No-one wants to walk twice the distance when carrying heavy shopping, for example, or emptying your waste bins. Where this cannot be entirely avoided, make the experience a pleasant one by good design.

However, when strolling through the garden or a park, no-one minds wandering around zigzagging paths, especially if they reveal new delights at each turn. Indeed that can be a deliberate part of garden design (2031: meandering paths).

problem: Lines of movement dissect still-point, causing conflict of use.	best solution: Move one entrance to corner & add planter, keeping movement to sides.	partial solution (where entrance cannot be relocated): Planter directs access away from centre but increases path distance. Planter reduces still point size.

This courtyard area to the side of a house was dissected by several lines of movement. The solution was to recess a seating bay into the bank which gave plenty of room to walk through the area without it effecting those seated. The width between table and house wall was about 3.6 metres (12ft). I would suggest any minimum width for this situation where a line of movement has to be accommodated is 2.4m (8ft).