Abstract:
Aesthetic improvements to roadside landscapes presents many challenges to the
road professionals. Lack of documented knowledge of local landscape
preferences force them to import design treatments that may not evoke any
preference feeling within the locals. Landscapes with high prospect/ refuge
values show high preference levels. Prospect can be defined as being able to
see/understand more information while Refuge is defined being able to have a
refuge. This study is aimed to identify preferable roadside design elements due to
the high prospect/ refuge value associated. In an experiment participants viewed
a set of 15 streetscape videos and identified prospect and refuge landscapes
giving reasons for selection. Using, a standard qualitative content analysis two,
three-step hierarchical conceptual models were developed to describe prospect
and refuge landscapes.
The prospect symbols were evoked from natural and artificial landscape
elements At a more detailed level many Sri Lankan specific symbols were
identified for the designers to work on. These included presence of coconut/
mango trees or painted structures, bus stand, fruit stalls, fish stalls. The refuge
symbols resulted from natural &artificial landscape elements, space
demarcation, road safety items, well designed & constructed roads, well
maintained roads, place to stay, activities, road boundary demarcation, road
structures, separated walking spaces. The outcomes of this work can be
extended to design preferable roadside landscapes that are meaningful to road
users.
