The role of characteristics of identification signs in integration of urban scene - Sara square as case study

Abstract

Identification sign means elements added to the urban scene in order to guide individuals toward certain points in the urban environment, the existing theses discussed characteristics of identification sign in terms of its ability to direct individuals and sometimes cause some distortion and visual pollution, but they rarely discussed them as a factor to facilitate the improvement of visual image of the urban scene. So this research highlights the identification signs in a way that they contribute to the integration of urban scene and also enhance its visual aspects. The research illustrates the difficulties in determining the characteristics which are the most influential ones in the integration of the urban scene of the squares. As the research seeks to find the reasons behind the positive impacts of certain identification signs which promote the integration of urban scene while some of them do the opposite. The research assumes that certain characteristics of certain identification sign have different effects on integration of urban scene. In order to achieve this, the research relied on clarifying some principles related to the identification sign in terms of their (types-characteristics) and principles related to the integration of urban scenes and its components, within the theoretical framework and then investigated within the practical study based on the evaluation of the measurement form in the study area of Sara square in the city of Sulaimani. The results showed some differences in the strengths of the effect of characteristics depending on the mechanisms they control. The research finds that the mechanisms of continuity, diversity, and the rhythm have a high impact at the partial level to achieve integration, in a way that the continuity mechanism controls the location of sign while the diversity mechanism controls the size, proportion, and the location of the sign, the rhythm mechanism controls the location of the sign. The mechanisms of complexity, harmony, unity, continuity, diversity, and rhythm have a high impact on properties at the level of the issue as the whole, to achieve the integration mechanisms which together with the characteristics at the level of the issue as the whole control the integration of urban scene. In other words, the relation between the parts / wholeness has the highest impacts, which determines whether the scene is integrated or not.