Identifying factors for walkable cities based on sequence landscape analysis

Walkable cities are expected to improve residential appeal and prevent diseases. It is necessary not only to make the city easy to walk but also to create an environment that is enjoyable to walk in. This study therefore aimed to identified the factors that make a city enjoyable to walk in, based on the relationship between the physical environment of walking spaces and the enjoyment experienced while walking. Using three walking courses from the Sakai City Higashi Ward Walking Map, we identified street characteristics and landscape characteristics as physical environments and additionally conducted a walking experience survey, Participants photographed locations they found enjoyable and provided overall impressions of each section. Sequence diagrams of the walking environment were then created, integrating these physical characteristics. The results indicate that factors contributing to the enjoyment of walking through the city included not only scene landscapes, such as the appearance of historical resources, but also sequence landscapes. These sequence landscapes encompassed changes in the planar and three-dimensional street space, such as variations in sky visibility ratio creating a sense of openness or enclosure, and changes in width and gradient generating anticipation of what lies ahead. It is considered that the sequential unfolding of these elements during walking contributes to the evaluation of enjoyment.