Designed spaces for informal sector street activities : an examination of the street spaces to incorporate street operated informal sector activities within the urban built environment

Abstract

Up to recent times the street operated informal sector enterprises are mostly regarded as a nuisance to a city. At present a positive attitude towards their presence in the streets begin to grow, viewing their contribution to the user economy as well as to the character of a street. In the designing and development of streets or their fragments, the designer bas to bear in mind a street becomes a comfortable built environment, when the user senses and perceives it appropriately and inturn orientates himself within it. A street, that can be identified as a series of integrated spaces, is an attraction to informal sector activities, specially in some of its spaces. Out of observations it is found walkways, transitional spaces and squares as the most attractive spaces for street operated informal sector for many reasons. In the organisation of these spaces, the users perceivability is a more appropriate approach. In this manner, the physical elements of a space can be organised to form. relations to a centre, enclosure and a continuity as illustrated by many scholars. Within an organisation of this nature the informal sector activities too has a place. They can be comfortably accommodated within this following - the proper guidelines as discussed in this study.