The image of a city : a place for the people

Abstract

This thesis is a proposal to create ''The Image of a City: A Place for the People." The study begins by exploring the notion of an image, studying the various images that may already exist, and creating a place from the chosen image or images that becomes a recognizable symbol of the city. Images of a place are the impressions of specific objects left with the individuals who visit it, live in it, or see it in pictures. I asked people about their images of different cities and most of the answers were built structures; therefore, architectural features play an important role in defining the image of a place. If the images of places are structures, what is the built image of Boston? It became evident that Boston does not have one clear specific built image. This thesis will develop a built form for the city of Boston. The site for the development of the image of Boston is Central Wharf, located on the waterfront. Images are open to personal interpretation and the success of this design is in one's ability to associate the design to the intended image. The design is successful if it is suited to the location and one can comfortably associate the image. Because the built image of the city is an image for the people, the built image must also be a place for the people. It is people that make a place and the formal design decisions of a place can create the impressions and images of a city.