Measuring urban slum area imageability through visual indicators

Abstract

Imageability is the quality of a place that makes it recognizable, memorable, and different from other places. It determines the character and identity of city space. On the other hand, slum settlements are a severe problem in several countries worldwide. Urbanization makes urban space denser and causes disorder if there is no good urban spatial development. This condition then affects the image of the city, which becomes less good, disorganized, and has no character. In its role, good quality (non-slum) urban settlement will improve the image of the city. However, in the context of slum settlements in Indonesia, under certain conditions, it can have good imageability as part of the identity of urban settlements. This paper aims to assess the imageability of the slum area of Mojo Village, Surakarta City, which will be used as a basis for settlement upgrading. This study uses a qualitative method with a visual assessment survey using the main parameters of the condition of the open spaces and buildings. A visual assessment survey is a survey to assess visual quality by observers with predetermined assessment criteria. This study found that predominantly settlement neighborhoods have low imageability, but some places have high imageability.