Aesthetics in Transportation: Guidelines for Incorporating Design, Art and Architecture Into Transportation Facilities

GENERAL

Research Abstract
Aesthetics in Transportation: Guidelines for Incorporating Design, Art and Architecture Into Transportation Facilities

This report contains few generalized discussions or theoretical statements and puts forward no fixed standards, guidelines or formulas for aesthetics. Rather, it is based on observations of the aesthetic problems and opportunities in different transportation-related situations. The report relies heavily on built examples and lessons that can be drawn from them.

The five chapters form the major divisions in the book. Chapter 1 addresses all the issues related to the use of artworks in transportation facilities, including procedural issues and examples. Chapter 2 deals with the design of facilities by mode. Chapter 3 presents a selection of critical issues in integrating transportation facilities with the built environment. Chapter 4 identifies procedural problems related to administration, funding, consultant selection or management that may now impede aesthetic design, and recommends improvements. Finally, Chapter 5 provides references, sources, legal issues, a bibliography and case study contacts.

Case studies are used in Chapters 1 through 4. Most of the case study discussions are based on direct site visits and analysis, but a few were excerpted from published literature. At the conclusion of each case study a list of lessons is provided to highlight some of the transferable successful aspects of the projects. The Case Study Reference in Chapter 5 lists all of the case studies and provides the name and address of a person to contact for more information.

Though the case studies and the examples represent successfully works or projects, this is not to say that transportation projects are usually successful in their aesthetic design. Missed opportunities are much more common than those fully realized. Persistent problems are discussed in the report to some extent. It is clear, however, that the most promising way to promote aesthetic design and art in transportation is to show what has worked well and discuss the practical benefits for sponsors. (p. x-xi)

CONTENTS
Introduction.

1. Art and transportation.

1.1 Benefits of sponsoring art.
1.2 Sites and opportunities.
1.3 Finding suitable art.
1.4 Choosing a program.
1.5 Working with artists and artworks.
1.6 Sample procedures.

2. Facility design.

2.1 Streets, pedestrians and traffic.
2.2 Off street parking.
2.3 Highways.
2.4 Buses and streetcars.
2.5 Rapid transit.
2.6 Railroads.
2.7 Air terminals.
2.8 Harbors and water transport.
2.9 Bicycles.

3. Integration with the built environment.

3.1 Assessing potential impacts.
3.2 Urban highways and guideways.
3.3 Station parking and feeder service.
3.4 Joint development.
3.5 Common but neglected elements.

4. Model procedures.

4.1 Increasing aesthetic concern.
4.2 High priorities.
4.3 Facility owners' needs.
4.4 Funding agencies' procedures.
4.5 Designer selection.
4.6 Planning and preliminary design.
4.7 Final design and construction.
4.8 Maintenance and management.

5. References.

5.1 Funding sources.
5.2 Annotated bibliography.
5.3 Case study contacts.
5.4 Picture credits.

This report contains few generalized discussions or theoretical statements and puts forward no fixed standards, guidelines or formulas for aesthetics. Rather, it is based on observations of the aesthetic problems and opportunities in different transportation-related situations. The report relies heavily on built examples and lessons that can be drawn from them.
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Report
Heder, Lajos
283 p.
December, 1979
PUBLISHER DETAILS

U.S. Department of Transportation
400 7th Street, SW
Washington
DC, 20590
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