The City as a Mosaic of Little Worlds: How I Understand Urban Legibility

A drawing of the Silver Spring Civic Building - Tzivia Schwartz

In a written work titled, “The City: Suggestions for the Investigation of Human Behavior in the Urban Environment,” American sociologist Robert E. Park describes the city as “a mosaic of little worlds” (Park 1915, p. 608). As I understand it, this description perfectly encapsulates the beautiful complexity of cities and reminds me of an urban space I consider my home: Washington, D.C. The very mention of The Capital evokes within my mind an image of a colorful mosaic that serves as a representation of my emotions and memories associated with the D.C. area. Applied to the physical realm, however, the phrase “a mosaic of little worlds” impeccably encapsulates my former perception of the D.C. area as a seven-year old child. 

I spent these formative years living in a mixed Muslim/Christian African-Latino-Arab-Caribbean community in Silver Spring, MD where I was constantly surrounded by diversity in nearly every form: language, music, food, and religion. I could hear choruses of the beautiful linguistic melodies of French, Spanish, Creole, and several dialects regardless of what neighborhood I was in, what street I walked, and what public spaces I entered. Everyday I was reminded that I was one unique person in a sea of unique people. I truly believe that this environment fundamentally shaped me as a person: my beliefs, assumptions, and understanding of people were constantly challenged at a young age. This pushed me to seek the perspectives of others to realize the “truth,” rather than relying on my limited perception.

In addition to the social elements of this community, my perception of the built environment was heavily influenced by the businesses I visited. Many of the neighboring homes in my apartment complex were informal mixed-use businesses: hair salons, daycare centers, etc. Together, we formed an informal market. A neighbor would pay a mechanic who lived a floor above them to repair their car, whilst another neighbor picked up their child from the in-home daycare two doors down. In addition to increased income and financial stability, these exchanges created deep amity between groups of people that likely wouldn’t have come together. My upbringing in this community taught me the value of having a group of friendly faces you can trust and the power of unique collectivity. Thus, like many people, community and sense of belonging became a pivotal factor in how I perceived cities. This concept is also referred to as city legibility.

In his book, “The Image of the City,” Kevin Lynch defines city legibility. He argues that it extends far beyond the physical and literal act of easily navigating an urban environment: it also encompasses the sense of belonging. It is precisely this feeling that urban planners seek to evoke within residents of a community. But how? As I reflect on the public spaces I hold dear to my heart, I find that people-centered environments often foster a sense of belonging. An example of this would be the Silver Spring Civic Building, which is situated upon Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, MD. This physical structure serves as a multipurpose event space with over five spacious rooms used by the local community in a variety of ways: from a bustling public event to a private gathering for students. This building’s versatile nature acts similar to a blank slate, allowing residents to see a reflection of themselves and their community through the building and the events in it. This provides everyone who utilizes the space a sense of identity and belonging. 

I wish to experiment with this concept throughout my career as an urban planner as it is my goal to use urban planning as a means to connect residents to their communities in the same way I was connected to mine.

References

Lynch, K. (1960). Image of the Environment: Legibility. In The Image of the City. MIT Press.

Park RE. 1915. The city: suggestions for the investigation of human behavior in the city. Am. J. Sociol. 20:577612