Creation of appealing roadside landscapes using elements of prospect and refuge value

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.