THE UNIVERSITY WORLD

A quarterly journal of research and documentation: academic, physical and financial

planning in higher education in the developing world
September 2001
PERCEPTION IN URBAN DESIGN
Arc. Bemsodi Linda Eke,
Department of Architecture
Godfrey Okoye University
Ugwuomu Nike
Enugu

Abstract
Most cities in the developing world, in spite of good beginnings- whether during the colonial
period or pre-colonial- are, at present growing very haphazardly, most of the time without a plan
or design, and fast growing into slums. Not only are these unhygienic but also visually ugly. The
only exceptions seem to be the new capital cities, the government reserve areas and the planned
housing estates. But for these, urban ugliness has become the norm of the day. That intangible
quality called urbanism is fast disappearing. Urbanism creates an urban environmental quality to
which human beings are sensitive and receptive in deriving satisfaction. Quality of buildings and
the spaces in between are very important to the city dweller as well as the visitors to the city.
They experience the urban quality through visual perception and evaluative responses.
Experiencing the visual environment is a creative act and it depends on the disposition of objects
in the space perceived.
It is not enough to have impeccable planning approaches and design. If the physical structures in
spaces are objectionable and do not constitute a vigorous environment, then all attention given to
feasibility studies and decision making become wasted effort.
This paper discusses the important role perception plays in drawing up urban design schemes.
This, it is hoped, will influence the planners, architects and the administrators and impress upon
them the role perception plays in understanding, analyzing evaluating and creating urban
environment and images that can be conducive to urban living.

Perception
Perception is defined as the use of human memory to make sense of phenomena to calculate the
requisite motor responses needed to negotiate the objects in space’ (Smith 1974). In other words,
perception can be said to be the proper understanding and analysis of a particular system or
environment by the human mind and the synthesis of alternative solutions to the existing
problems, formulated through analysis and forecasting of impending problems yet to be
encountered.
Psychologists cite three known factors that contribute to the totality of perception. They are:
(a). Motivation (b). Memory
(c). Learning

Motivation:
Human beings want and need to understand the environment, which may be linked to hunger
needs they experience. One can be motivated to do something due to an inner desire e.g.
somebody eats when there is an inner desire or urge that is referred to as hunger. In other words,
a motive is that internal factor that arouses, directs and integrates a person’s behaviour. For the
purpose of this study, the motives that operate in human nature that lead to perception are
discussed. These motives occur as drives, biogenic and psychogenic.

(i). Biogenic drives these are oriented towards satisfaction of organic needs.
(ii). Psychogenic drives — these deal with explanation drives or needs. It is the psychogenic
drive or need that enables a human being to desire to do something. The psychogenic needs are
channeled towards power, wealth or status, a physical feat of strength and endurance or a
supreme work of art. In a situation where the urban environment is involved, the psychogenic
drive pushes one to understand the existing forms of the environment and his desire to change or
design as well as add certain features to enhance the aesthetics of such an environment.
Perception is almost as positive a process as creativity. Thus, mental or psychogenic needs call
for new and ever changing sensations.

MEMORY
A memory is what is left behind when something happens and does not completely unhappen.
Perception is based on memory because it is difficult to understand phenomena, which are not
partially related to past experiences. Mechanics of memory are an essential aspect of perception.
There are three different types of memory, viz(i). Short term memory
(ii). Medium term memory (iii) Long term memory
Short-term memory: This has to do with such experiences that are had and forgotten quite easily
e.g. when one checks time on his wristwatch and forgets it after a while. Short term memory
depends on reverberation of neuronal impulses.
Medium — Term Memory:
Medium term storage is based upon the changes in the concentration of cerebral ions
or small molecules or upon changes in the configuration of pre-existing macromolecules. This
type of memory lasts for two or three days.
Long-Term Memory:
Long-term memory is established by connection between cells to form patterns. Concentrated
problem solving situations indicate a significant rise in the ribonucleic acid (RNA) and protein
content of the brain. Thus long-term memory can be defined as a permanent trace on the brain,
which consists of physical connection of perception fragments to form a coherent memory
pattern.

Learning:
Learning is a physical, internal representation of external reality. In early years of mental
development, basic patterns and pathways are established. The importance of these basic
schemas is that they provide a life-long datum of perception.
Datum of perception within the urban situation is formed by the accumulated experiences of
houses, churches, shopping centers, streets, town square et cetera.
Subliminal PERCEPTION
As noted earlier, perception is largely and exclusively a matter of learning. Past experience
enables the mind to establish probabilities about visual array. The same goes for perception on
the higher intellectual levels. Perception below the level of consciousness is termed subliminal
perception.
Subliminal perception was first conceived as a sinister form of mental conditioning, expertly
exploited by manufacturers in their advertisements. Subliminal perception possesses certain
advantages. It has a sinister significance in relation to built environment. Because of low
frequency and variety of visual events, the mind slips into the subliminal gear, with conscious
awareness merely focused on avoiding hazards. Such a state results from urban monotony and is
positively harmful with serious social consequences.

MODES OF HUMAN ENVIRONMENT TRANSACTION

There are different dimensions of the processes of the optimization theme. The optimization
theme suggests that people orient to the environment in terms of existing information, goals and
expectations; they operate on the environment in an effort to achieve their goals and maintain
desired levels of satisfaction; they are directly affected by environmental forces (e.g. situational
supports, constraints); and they evaluate the quality of the environment as a context for future
activity and goal attainment. These processes presumably occur within individuals, groups and
communities.
The dimensions of the process of optimization themes are:
1. Cognitive (or symbols) vs. behavioural (or physical)
2. Activities vs. Reactive
The modes of human environment transaction are products of the optimization themes. These
are:
a. Interpretive (active-cognitive)
b. Evaluative (reactive-cognitive)
c. Operative (active-cognitive)
d. Responsive (reactive- cognitive)
Interpretive- involves the individual’s cognitive representation or construction of the
environment.
Evaluative- Individual’s evaluation, of the situations against predefined standards of quality.
Operative- Individual’s movement through or his direct impact on the environment.
Responsive- The environment’s effect on the individual’s behaviour and well-being.

CONCLUSION
Perception as a tool in urban design helps in the areas of recognizing and analyzing
relevant ecological behaviour of certain factors when introduced into an environment. It also
helps for better understanding of the environment both chemical, biological and otherwise, and
create urban schemata that has newer and ever changing sensations.
The proper identification of the aforementioned optimization themes and their corresponding
impacts on the existing environment and the proposed urban design scheme is essential. For an
urban design scheme to be certified viable, it must pass through the thought processes that follow
the above-described forms of transaction, which are modes of human environment and products
of the optimization theme.

References
Bartlet, (1957), Reniebering. Cambridge University Press.

Lynch, Kevin (1960), The image of the City. MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Miller, G. A. (1964) Psychology: The Science of Mental Life, Hutchinson, London.

Smith, Peter (1974), Dynamics of Urbanisrn. Hutchinson, London.