Brasilia, Brazil, 29 March - 3 April 1999
The Role of the Monument
Polly s. p. Fong
The Bartlett School of Graduate Studies
(Torrington Place Site)
University College London
Gower Street
London WC1E 6BT
England
tel (44) (0)171 813 4364
fax (44) (0)171 813 4363
email Pspfong@btinternet.com
www http://www.spacesyntax.com
This two part study, examines the role of the late nineteenth century
monument in the urban fabric. Part I investigates the symbolic role of
the monument as expressed through space and time. Part II investigates
the monument's new role as a cultural artefact for tourist consumption
in the Late 20th century through observational studies and statistical
analysis. A study of how symbolism is expressed by the placement of sculptural
monuments in two archetypal urban settings; a city of instrument and a
city of symbol, is presented. Two groupings of monumental statues were
studied; the Royal Exchange Square, in the City of London (instrumental)
and Waterloo Place, in the City of Westminster (symbolic). Comparisons
between convex isovists and properties of synchrony have been extremely
useful in the syntactic description and spatial analysis of monuments
in two differing urban morphologies. This study suggests that the synchronous
nature of the monument constructs an 'optimal field' dependent on the
quality of information content from the viewer's angle and proximity.
It demonstrates that patterns of static space use between locals and tourists
are related to the optimal synchrony field constructed around monuments
in public squares.
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