A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50
This paper takes the reader on a road trip, travelling the longest highway routes of the European continent and drawing conclusions based on a methodology of practical observation. The paper introduces a phenomenalist approach to highway design research, based on using photos and observations as a s...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Stichting OpenAccess
2015-04-01
|
| Series: | Research in Urbanism Series |
| Online Access: | https://www.rius.ac/index.php/rius/article/view/72 |
| _version_ | 1797760578377220096 |
|---|---|
| author | Michel Heesen |
| author_facet | Michel Heesen |
| author_sort | Michel Heesen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper takes the reader on a road trip, travelling the longest highway routes of the European continent and drawing conclusions based on a methodology of practical observation. The paper introduces a phenomenalist approach to highway design research, based on using photos and observations as a source of evidence in its own. The research is based on twelve weeks of driving, shooting photos, sleeping along the road, eating only in road-side restaurants and interviews with waitresses and shopkeepers. There used to be a lot of attention for the scenic experience and spatial quality of highways. In contemporary designs, however, highways are regarded more and more as sewage systems: something not to be seen, heard or smelled. Functional aspects such as noise reduction and traffic capacity prevail above spatial design. This paper shows how different countries are coping with these conflicting issues. It shows best practices and how these relate to the contemporary practice of highway design in the Netherlands.The paper argues that a technocratic and economically driven approach to highway design is a poor and vulnerable strategy. The paper further demonstrates that contemporary design policy in the Netherlands, with a strong focus on the aesthetics of built structures, neglects aspects that have much more impact on the spatial experience. The paper zooms in on five aspects that heavily affect the spatial experience of a highway: the sense of travelling on one continuous route, the sense of surveillance and state control, the sense of being part of a high quality public space, the existence of educating elements along the road and the level of technology. The paper draws conclusions based on methodologically collected observations and translates these into recommendations for designers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:00:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bad3849afae64bd2a02d7a0af2b43a03 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1875-0192 1879-8217 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T19:00:37Z |
| publishDate | 2015-04-01 |
| publisher | Stichting OpenAccess |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Research in Urbanism Series |
| spelling | doaj.art-bad3849afae64bd2a02d7a0af2b43a032023-08-02T06:40:17ZengStichting OpenAccessResearch in Urbanism Series1875-01921879-82172015-04-01315917710.7480/rius.3.83646A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50Michel Heesen0Michel Heesen Architecture & Landscape designThis paper takes the reader on a road trip, travelling the longest highway routes of the European continent and drawing conclusions based on a methodology of practical observation. The paper introduces a phenomenalist approach to highway design research, based on using photos and observations as a source of evidence in its own. The research is based on twelve weeks of driving, shooting photos, sleeping along the road, eating only in road-side restaurants and interviews with waitresses and shopkeepers. There used to be a lot of attention for the scenic experience and spatial quality of highways. In contemporary designs, however, highways are regarded more and more as sewage systems: something not to be seen, heard or smelled. Functional aspects such as noise reduction and traffic capacity prevail above spatial design. This paper shows how different countries are coping with these conflicting issues. It shows best practices and how these relate to the contemporary practice of highway design in the Netherlands.The paper argues that a technocratic and economically driven approach to highway design is a poor and vulnerable strategy. The paper further demonstrates that contemporary design policy in the Netherlands, with a strong focus on the aesthetics of built structures, neglects aspects that have much more impact on the spatial experience. The paper zooms in on five aspects that heavily affect the spatial experience of a highway: the sense of travelling on one continuous route, the sense of surveillance and state control, the sense of being part of a high quality public space, the existence of educating elements along the road and the level of technology. The paper draws conclusions based on methodologically collected observations and translates these into recommendations for designers.https://www.rius.ac/index.php/rius/article/view/72 |
| spellingShingle | Michel Heesen A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 Research in Urbanism Series |
| title | A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 |
| title_full | A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 |
| title_fullStr | A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 |
| title_full_unstemmed | A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 |
| title_short | A road trip on European highways. Considering the spatial qualities of E75 and E50 |
| title_sort | road trip on european highways considering the spatial qualities of e75 and e50 |
| url | https://www.rius.ac/index.php/rius/article/view/72 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michelheesen aroadtriponeuropeanhighwaysconsideringthespatialqualitiesofe75ande50 AT michelheesen roadtriponeuropeanhighwaysconsideringthespatialqualitiesofe75ande50 |