THE STREET IMAGEAN URBAN ANALYSIS OF NKRUMAH ROAD, MOMBASA I The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 THESIS DECLARATION: This is my original work and has not been presented for the award of a degree in any other university. Signed:........................................................................................ Maseghe Tairo Martin - Registration Number B02/0267/2003 The thesis is submitted in part fulfillment of the university examination for the degree of Bachelor of Architecture of the University of Nairobi. Signed:...................................................... Adnan Mwakulomba Abdi - Tutor Signed:......................................................... Erastus Omil Abonyo - Year Coordinator Signed:................................................. Kigara Kamweru - Chairman, Department of Architecture and Building Science, University of Nairobi, Kenya. II The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 To my mom, Eva Makafui Tairo and Dad, Aggrey Mazdin Maseghe. III The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the course of my investigation, I have incurred many debts of gratitude and I cannot possibly acknowledge all of the support and the indebtedness but this is my chance to at least try. Firstly, to the love and support of my family; beloved mum, dad and sisters Mary and Vicky for your steady encouragement, moral and financial support, and to the love of my life, Kathambi for always being there for me. We are this far because of the faith that we live. In the course of my research, I have built up intellectual relationships of which I could not have dreamed of. I would like to thank the lecturers in the Department of Architecture and Building Science, at the University of Nairobi: My tutor Adnan Mwakulomba Abdi and year master, Erastus Omil Abonyo for their diligent guidance. I owe as much to all the other lecturers in the department. Like most scholars, I was inspired by precedent research and documentation in the course of my investigation. I could write much about all of those authors whose published work influenced my thinking, but I hope that the list of references truly reflect what I learnt from them. I am also very grateful to Said, the Kenya National Museum’s Mombasa Librarian and Tabitha, the University of Nairobi’s Department of Architecture and Building Science technologist for according me all the help and support I needed. I acknowledge the support and criticism from my friends in academic and nonacademic circles. To my classmates Kimmy for all the help and support, to Waggz for always being willing to sort out our computer troubles and the rest of my buddies for a time well spent together. Whilst every effort has been made to acknowledge all contributions, the point is clearly made that those whose help has made this study possible are in no way responsible for the views expressed or its shortcomings. IV The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Table of Content: Cover Illustration...................................................................................................I Thesis Declaration...............................................................................................II Dedication...........................................................................................................III Acknowledgements............................................................................................IV Table of Contents................................................................................................V Chapter One: Proposal........................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................1 1.2 Problem Statement........................................................................1 1.3 Aims and Objectives......................................................................2 1.4 Scope and Limitations....................................................................3 1.5 Significance of the Study................................................................3 1.6 Research Methods.........................................................................4 1.7 Structure of the Research Paper....................................................6 Chapter Two: Urban Study Methods....................................................................7 2.1 Urban Study Theories....................................................................7 2.2 Methodology for an Urban Study of Nkrumah Road....................12 Chapter Three: Urban Analysis of Nkrumah Road............................................15 3.1 Historical Analysis of Mombasa...................................................15 3.2 Visual Analysis of Nkrumah Road................................................25 3.3 Legibility Study of Nkrumah Road................................................46 3.4 Summary of Findings...................................................................62 Chapter Four: Conclusions and Recommendations..........................................65 4.1 Conclusions..................................................................................65 4.2 Recommendations.......................................................................68 Chapter Five: References..................................................................................70 5.1 Published Sources.......................................................................70 5.2 Unpublished Sources...................................................................71 V The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Chapter One: Proposal 1.1 Introduction Before the twentieth century, cities were better in terms of legibility. Important places were well articulated and ‘looked important’. This was achieved by having the largest open spaces relating to the most important public facilities. Places of the greatest public relevance could be easily identified as they stood out from the rest. The legibility of the modern city however relies on the principle that ‘buildings cannot lie’; this is seen through the position occupied by large companies with financial muscle, they own the largest, most imposing buildings which occupy key city centre positions (Figure 1.1). Such structures, which are highly irrelevant of how people use the cities, visually overwhelm publicly relevant places and facilities thus confusing important activity patterns. In addition, important public buildings and publicly irrelevant private ones often look alike worsening the confusion. This research focuses on Nkrumah Road on the contemporary part of Mombasa and evaluates the legibility of its environment at the levels of physical form and activity patters. 1.2 Problem Statement Nkrumah Road, which runs approximately one kilometre East from its junction with Digo Road, Nyerere Road and Moi Avenue to Fort Jesus Museum, is a street of major significance in Mombasa due to its function and the nature of activities it hosts. Figure 1.1: TSS Towers at the centre of Mombasa CBD. Despite this building having less public relevance to the residents of Mombasa, it occupies an important location and is highly imposing, reflecting the financial muscle of the owners. Source: Author. Despite its seemingly strong character and prominence, it suffers from underutilization as other streets viewed as less prominent seem more successful as having images that users can easily identify such streets with. 1 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 It is with this background that this research ventures into a legibility study of Nkrumah Road (Figure 1.2) and identifies the aspects that make it prominent and investigates whether these have been utilized to the maximum in an attempt to make the street more legible to its users. The street has been visually analysed and then studied under the formal elements of paths, nodes and landmarks as described by Kevin Lynch in the Image of the City. 1.3 Aims and Objectives The main objective of this study is to carry out an analysis that would determine the legibility or otherwise of Nkrumah Road with the view of identifying forces that influence development along the street as well as predict the future of its urban fabric. Figure 1.2: An image of Nkrumah Road as it approaches the Treasury Square. This street is the subject of study. Source: Author. Before the evaluation of the urban qualities of Nkrumah Road, a historical review of the form of Mombasa urban setting is done with an aim of assessing its impact on the current urban form. This is an attempt to determine how the current urban setting may have evolved. The urban qualities of Nkrumah Road are then evaluated through a visual analysis and a legibility study in accordance with the methodology developed from various urban study methods. Finally, conclusions are arrived at on the image of Nkrumah Road and recommendations are made on how this could be enhanced in later developments along the street so as to maximize its legibility potential and increase its prominence in the minds of the users. Figure 1.3: The NSSF building plaza, an open space adjacent to Nkrumah Road which changes the spatial quality of the street at this point. Source: Author. 2 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 1.4 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Scope and Limitations 1.4.1 Scope The research paper is limited to a discussion of urban design concepts with particular focus on the following I) II) A generic overview on the imageability of a city and its formal elements A discussion on the above elements in relation to Nkrumah Road in Mombasa. 1.4.2 Limitations Nkrumah Road is exceedingly expansive and complex owing to its general structure and form comprising of elements from the late 1800s up to date. An in-depth analysis of the entire street would involve far much more than can be adequately covered within a thesis. The author has therefore chosen to dwell on the concepts of urban design around which the image of the street evolves. The analysis is also limited to the effects of physical, perceptible objects despite knowledge of existence of other influences on imageability, such as the social meaning of an area, its function, its history or even its name. These are only glossed over. 1.5 Significance of the Study This study is largely an urban analysis of Mombasa and specifically a visual and legibility analysis of Nkrumah Road. The analysis adds to the already existing studies of Mombasa and may thus set the basis for further research in this coastal city. 3 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Mombasa is also the second largest city located off the Kenyan coast. It is the centre of the Kenyan Coastal tourism industry and the main entry port to Kenya. Its rich historical background and current cultural and architectural diversity makes it a very unique and interesting city to study. The study brings to the fore the characteristics of Nkrumah Road that make it more prominent to the minds of observers and thus improves the image of the street. It then analyses the success or otherwise of these unique characteristics, thus assessing the legibility of Nkrumah Road with an aim of forming a basis for future developments within the study area. 1.6 Research Methods 1.6.1 Literature Review on Published Materials Urban study methods that are core in this study have originated from various books and have been compiled with a view of developing a framework for the study of Nkrumah Road. These books include:I) II) III) Urban Design: Methods and Techniques by Moughtin C. et al Image of the City by Lynch K. Responsive Environments: A Manual for Designers by Bentley I. et al Several critical books and documents have aided in the provision of background information on Mombasa and, to some extent, Nkrumah Road. These documents include:I) II) III) IV) Mombasa: The Friendly Town by Jewel J. H. A. The 1926 Mombasa Planning Scheme The 1962 Mombasa Master Plan The 1971 Mombasa District Physical Development Plan 4 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 1.6.2 Literature Review on Unpublished Materials This includes contributions from papers generated both as academic research material as well as from professional consultancy, precedent thesis papers on urban design elements of a city image and research papers on current trends in planning and design urban centres. Of particular interest were the following papers:I) II) Munyua A. (1999), Discerning the Urban Design elements in Nairobi Birol G. (2004), An Alternative Approach for Analysis of Traditional Shopping Spaces 1.6.3 Internet Sourcing Much of the published and unpublished material is sourced from the internet resource; these include all support documentation and articles unavailable locally, graphic representations in form of photographs and drawings of existing case towns as well as icons of relevance in urban design and planning. 1.6.4 Visits to Mombasa Town Official calls to the town will include documentation of Nkrumah Road as it exists; this will provide information regarding the status of the street, its structure, its layout, its size and the functions it accommodates. This in turn is aimed at aiding an evaluation of the street’s image in context, enabling an in depth grasp of the real concerns affecting the image of the street and the possible solutions or means of intervention to address the issues so unveiled. 5 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 1.7 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Structure of the Research Paper 1.7.1 Chapter One: Proposal This chapter introduces and gives a background of the study discussing the aims and objectives of this study, its significance, its scope and limitations and the various research methods utilised in the study. It also gives a summary of the structure of the research paper. 1.7.2 Chapter Two: Urban Study Methods This chapter examines various methods of analysis of urban spaces. It looks at the various theories developed by different urban design experts including Kevin Lynch’s image of the City, Bentley’s Responsive Environments and Moughtin’s Townscape Analysis in Urban Design Methods and Techniques. It then formulates a method for the urban analysis for the study of Nkrumah Road which has been used to develop chapter three of this paper. 1.7.3 Chapter Three: Urban Study of Nkrumah Road This chapter presents an urban analysis of Nkrumah Road according to the methodology developed in chapter two. A historical analysis is done followed by a visual analysis and a legibility study in that order. A summary of the findings of the urban analysis is also presented. 1.7.4 Chapter Four: Conclusions This section of the Research paper outlines relevant conclusions logically deduced from the study and the recommendations regarding the future development of Nkrumah Road. 1.7.5 Chapter Five: References 6 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Chapter Two: Urban Study Methods: 2.1 Urban Study Theories Some critical theories investigating spatial values in cities that have been studied in this report include; Image of the City by Lynch (1960), Responsive Environments by Bentley et al (1985), and Urban Design Methods and Techniques by Moughtin et al (1999). They are summarized in the tables below:Author & Title Key Issues Noted I) II) III) Public image of a given city is evaluated in terms of identity, structure and meaning. Design can enhance or adversely affect mental adaptation of an individual to any situation. The components that aid in orientation in a city are paths, edges, districts, landmarks and nodes. Component Description Transportation routes of the city. Most common points from which the city is experienced. Prominence of paths in increased by:- Kevin Lynch - Image of the City (1960) Paths Figure 2.1: Image of Nkrumah Road, a street which is the subject of study. Source: Author. I) II) III) IV) V) VI) VII) VIII) Customary travel through it. Concentration of special use. Characteristic spatial qualities. Proximity to special features. Facade characteristics. Pavement texture. Details of planting. Visual exposure. 7 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Author & Title Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Key Issues Noted Component Description They are linear elements providing boundary between two phases. They maybe penetrable or not and hold together generalized areas of a city. Edges They are uniting seams rather than isolating barriers thus strong edges are not necessarily impenetrable. When an edge is also a path, the circulation image dominates. Figure 2.2: A view of Old Town, Mombasa, which has characteristics of a district. The unique identity of the district is due to its surface finishes, open spaces, building type and details. Source: Author. They are large areas that have enough identity to be named and are conceived as having an extent which a person can mentally enter into. Kevin Lynch - Image of the City (1960) Districts Figure 2.3: A view of the buildings along Nkrumah Road showing a distinctively different characteristic from those in the Old Town District. Source: Author. The following thematic continuities are key in determining the identity of a district:I) II) III) IV) V) VI) VII) VIII) Texture Space and form Details Building type Distinct use or activity Inhabitants Degree of maintenance Topography 8 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Author & Title Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Key Issues Noted Component Description These are points that require extra attention from the observer and can either be a junction of paths or concentration of some characteristics. Nodes Kevin Lynch - Image of the City (1960) Figure 2.4: Treasury Square along Nkrumah Road. This is one of the nodes along the street at its junction with Makadara Road. Source: Author. Landmarks Bentley I. et al – Responsive Environments (1985) Figure 2.5: Giant Elephant Tusks along Moi Avenue are the city’s most famous land mark: two pairs of crossed tusks created as a ceremonial arch to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Source: Author. Nodes are mostly junctions since decisions have to be made at junctions, people heighten their attention at such points and perceive nearby elements with more than normal clarity. It is a prominent structure or geographic feature that identifies a location and may serve as a guide to finding it. It could either be a building, sign, stone or even mountain. There are key qualities which, once achieved in design of buildings and outdoor spaces, will make places responsive. These qualities include but are not limited to the following:I) II) III) IV) V) VI) VII) Permeability Variety Legibility Robustness Visual Appropriateness Richness Personalization. 9 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Author & Title Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Key Issues Noted Quality Description Permeability This is the availability of a large number of alternative routes within an environment. The key to accessibility of an environment is in the choices it offers. This means the range of uses that an environment can be put to. Variety Figure 2.6: Nkrumah Road can also be said to be a robust environment as it offers more than a single use. The building above houses both a commercial and a residential function to its users. Source: Author. Bentley I. et al – Responsive Environments (1985) Robustness Visual Appropriateness Richness It is a key supporting quality to permeability as easily accessible environments are irrelevant unless they offer a choice of experiences. It describes environments which can be used for many different purposes and thus offer their users more choice as compared to environments whose design limits them to a single use It's a quality describing environments which are interpreted as having meanings that help people aware of the choices available in terms of alternative routes and range of uses. It is a quality that increases the choice of sensory experiences that a user can enjoy. At this level, the smallest details of the environment are considered. 10 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Author & Title Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Key Issues Noted Quality Legibility Bentley I. et al – Responsive Environments (1985) Figure 2.7: An image of part on Nkrumah Road showing how a user has used paving tiles to personalize this environment to their own taste and style using tiles of different shapes and colours. Source: Author. Description It describes the ease with which the quality of an environment can be easily understood. The formal elements described by Lynch (1960) are the main features that impact on legibility. These include:I) II) III) IV) V) Paths Nodes Districts Landmarks Edges It's the ability of a person to put a unique Personalisat- stamp in their own environment. This has been necessitated by the fact that most ion people live and work in environments designed by others. Moughtin et al Urban Design Methods and Techniques (1999) Survey techniques for moderate to large projects have been discussed aiming at building an analytical framework for future sustainable development. These techniques have been discussed under the following sections:I) II) Historical Analysis - Offers a basis for conservation and promotion of ideas compatible with a developing culture Townscape Analysis - Tackles issues of urban legibility, permeability and visual analysis 11 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 2.2 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Methodology for an Urban Study of Nkrumah Road: Based on the various urban design methodology illustrated in the table above, a summary of the key points is presented in order to guide a comprehensive urban analysis of Nkrumah Road. This study takes into consideration the crosscutting variables in the different literature and attempts to adapt them to the area of study. With this, the study hopes to create a methodology that is comprehensive enough to adequately cover the area of study. Attempt to figure out the urban structure of Mombasa during the Islamic period from the statements by explorers who visited Mombasa and writers on Mombasa during the period. These include Ibn Batuta, Dom Francisco and Duarte Barbosa among others. Figure 2.8: The Captain’s House which was a very important building during the Mazrui period. Such aid in hinting at the state of the urban form during this historic period. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town. Historical Analysis of Inventory of notable buildings from the Portuguese period to the Nkrumah colonial period in the mid twentieth century, with a bias in the Road colonial period during which notable developments along the current Nkrumah Road took place. Note the issues tackled in the various master plans and development plans of Mombasa. Visual Two Base maps of Analysis of Dimensional Nkrumah Road Nkrumah Study Road Nolli’s map of Rome (1748) as a basis. In this map, buildings are represented with black while streets and opens spaces are white. Gibberds alternative where buildings are white while streets and open spaces are 12 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Study of enclosure of public spaces along Nkrumah Road Sections and elevations along Nkrumah Road. Roofline of building along Nkrumah Road Study of ground floor spaces along Nkrumah Road Three Dimensional Study Figure 2.9: A ground perspective of Nkrumah Road. Photography has been greatly utilised in the visual analysis of Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. Visual Analysis of Nkrumah Road Study of street corners along Nkrumah Road Study of ground floor spaces Ground Perspectives along Nkrumah Road Study of points of weak connections along Nkrumah Road Aerial Perspectives Study of the general character of spatial composition Study of the general surfaces that enclose public spaces. These include building walls surface finishes and openings. Study of Study of the materials used to finish the paved Architectural surfaces Details Study of the materials used to finish the paved surfaces Study of the general character of open spaces and streets. 13 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Study of the intensity of use of Nkrumah Road as a path Paths Study of the different functions of Nkrumah Road and identification of any which is highly concentrated within the street Study of the Nkrumah Road’s proximity to special features that are of great relevance to the residents of Mombasa Study of the different spatial qualities of Nkrumah Road Legibility Study of Nkrumah Road Nodes General functions and uses of the Streets forming street the nodes Importance of the streets to the residents of Mombasa Buildings around the nodes General functions of the buildings and their public relevance General character of the buildings in terms of details and finishes A brief historical analysis of the landmark in terms of construction and function Landmarks A study of the landmark to determine its classification (whether it's a building or otherwise) A photographic study of the landmark showing its initial and current state A study of the functions and uses of the landmark if any 14 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Chapter Three: Urban Analysis of Nkrumah Road 3.1 Historical Analysis of Mombasa 3.1.1 Overview Various authors have categorised the history and transformation of Mombasa into different periods. Jewell J. H. A. in his book ‘Mombasa; The Friendly Town’ has classified the history into the Pre-Islamic, Early Islamic, Height of the Islamic Culture, Portuguese, Mazrui, Al Busaid, British and Independence periods. The first three periods have had a fair share of literary zeal expended on them about which virtually nothing is known. Fairly documented history dates from the Portuguese period. Figure 3.1.1: An image of Mbaraki Hinawy Street taken in the 1890s when the Old Town was growing. Seen at the end of the street if the minaret of Mandhry Mosque. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. PERIOD Height of the Islamic Culture. (AD 1200 to AD 1500) DATE 1331 The history has been analysed on the basis of accounts given by different people who visited Mombasa or wrote about it during the period under study. Some of the periods specified above are however not mentioned as the historical information they contain is more of human activities rather than that of urban structure of Mombasa at that time. STATEMENTS “Mombasa was a large city abound with bananas, lemon and citron. It had well built wooden mosques whose inhabitants were of the Shafite Sunni sect of Islam.” REMARKS There was abundant food (banana, lemon and citron) Well built wooden structures existed. Ibn Batuta describing his visit to the Coast. 15 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The Portuguese Period (AD 1498 to AD 1698) DATE STATEMENTS 1505 Dom Francisco describes Mombasa as; “A very large town lying on an island from one and a half to two leagues round. The town is built on rocks on the higher part of the island and has no walls on the side of the sea, but on the land side, it is protected by a wall as high as the fortress. Some of the houses are three storeyed and all are plastered with lime. The streets are very narrow so that two people cannot walk abreast in them. All the houses have stone seats in front of them, which makes the streets yet narrower.” Captured by G. S. P. Freeman Grenville in his book The East African Coast, “When they entered the town, they found that some of the houses had been deserted as a result of the fire they set. Further on, they found three storeyed houses from which stones were thrown at them. But the stones which were thrown fell against the walls of the narrow streets, so that much of the force of their fall was lost. There were also many balconies projecting over the streets under which one could shelter.” Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS There existed three storeyed houses plastered with lime. Houses had stone seats in front of them. The streets were narrow. The houses were three storeyed. Houses had balconies that could provide shelter to passers by. The streets were narrow. 16 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The Portuguese Period (AD 1498 to AD 1698) Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 DATE STATEMENTS/MAJOR SHIFTS 1517 to 1518 Duarte Barbosa, writing of the coast said this about Mombasa; Houses were made of good quality stone and mortar. “Advancing along the coast towards India, there is an isle hard by the mainland on which is a town called Mombaca. It is a very fair place, with lofty stone and mortar houses, well aligned in streets after the fashion of the Quiloa. The wood is well fitted with excellent joiner’s work. This is a place of great traffic and has a good harbour.” The houses were well aligned along the streets. 1593 to 1597 REMARKS Woodwork was done with excellent workmanship. there was a good harbour and many people in the town. The construction of Fort Jesus was undertaken during this period. Fort Jesus is a massive and impressive landmark to the Southern end of Old Town which was built in an attempt to consolidate Portuguese hold on the beat harbour along the Coast. Figure 3.1.2: An image of Fort Jesus taken in the 1950s. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. Mandrhy and Barsheikh mosques were constructed at around the same time time that Fort Jesus was built. These mosques are still standing today. Figure 3.1.3: An image of Mandrhy Mosque taken in the 1950s. The image omits the landmark minaret of the mosque. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. 17 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE MAJOR SHIFTS Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS 1824 to 1826 Several public works projects that had an influence on the urban fabric of Mombasa were carried out at this time. The notable ones which exists to date include Leven House and the Leven Steps. Figure 3.1.4: An image of the Leven Steps as they are today. The steps lead up to the Leven House from the Indian Ocean. Source: Author. 1890 The first railway line, a small gauge track, was laid inland for seven miles This track improved the transportation of people and cargo within the island increasing efficiency. Mombasa Memorial Cathedral and Bishop’s house were constructed in this year. Figure 3.1.5: An image of the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral taken in the 1950s. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. 1891 The first telegraph connecting Mombasa to Malindi and Lamu was laid. This improved the speed of communication and thus its efficiency. 18 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE 1892 MAJOR SHIFTS Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS The Catholic mission was officially opened and a church capable of hosting 400 people was built. It is still in use today as a bookshop. Figure 3.1.6: An image of the Holy Ghost Cathedral as viewed from Nyerere Road taken in the 1950s. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. 1895 Work begun on what was to become the Kenya-uganda railway. It reached Nairobi in 1899 and Kisumu in 1901. 1896 Mombasa club was founded and was moved to its current location at the approaches of Old Town Mombasa. This was a major shift that accelerated the growth of the city. Figure 3.1.7: An image of the Mombasa club as it was in the 1950s. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. 19 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE 1900 MAJOR SHIFTS Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS Mombasa Railway Station was built at the current Treasury Square. Figure 3.1.8: Image of the first Mombasa Railway station that was located at the current Treasury Square. 1902 The Law Courts, built on the hill between Old Town and Treasury Square was officially opened. Figure 3.1.9: The High Court building which is currently housing part of the Kenya National Museum of Mombasa. Much of the building is in its original state except for the interiors that were renovated to accommodate the new functions. Source: Author. 1906 The Treasury Building was put up and the Government Square was moved from Old Town to Treasury Square. Figure 3.1.10: Treasury building which is currently the District Commissioner’s office. Source: Author. 20 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE 1926 MAJOR SHIFTS Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS First comprehensive planning scheme for Mombasa was developed and tackled the following main issues;1. Pooling and redistribution of land into regular shaped plots. 2. Establishment of road reserves. 3. Zoning rules locating industrial/nonindustrial zones and providing a maximum density rule limiting number of dwellings to 20 dwellings per acre. Figure 3.1.11: An image of what was to become the contemporary part of Mombasa taken in the early 1900s. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. Development of deep water births at Kilindini and with this, business focus shifted from the Old Port area. Shipping industry moves out of Old Town and business begins to shift towards its present location along Moi Avenue, Digo Road and Nkrumah Road. Figure 3.1.12: An image of the Kilindini Harbour that was taken in the mid 1900 right after the construction of the port. Source: Mombasa: The Friendly Town, Jewel J. H. A. 21 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE 1930s MAJOR SHIFTS Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS Major construction work was done as the contemporary part of Mombasa grew. One notable building is Oriental House which was constructed at the junction of Nkrumah Road and Mwenye Aboud Road in 1936. Figure 3.1.13: Oriental House located along Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. Kaderbhoy Building which was built in the same style as that of Oriental House was also constructed in the 1930s. this building lies opposite Oriental House along Nkrumah Road. Figure 3.1.14: Kaderbhoy House located along Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. Currently known as the Palm Tree Hotel, this building was also constructed in the 1930s. It located next to Kaderbhoy Building along Nkrumah Road. Figure 3.1.15: Palm Tree Hotel buildign located along Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. 22 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 14. 15. 17. 18. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 42. 44. 45. 46. 68. Rex Hotel Carlton Hotel Manor Hotel Ralli House Catholic Church Labour Department Native Civil Hospital H. M. Customs Queens Cinema Barclays Bank Netherland Bank PWD Oriental Building Mombasa Cathedral National Bank Standard Bank Treasury Gardens Municipal Office Education Department General Post Office European Hospital Government House Bank of India Bank of Baroda Fort Jesus Mombasa Club Palm Court Hotel Figure 3.1.16: A map of Mombasa drawn in 1950 by S. L. Patel showing Nkrumah Road, then known as Fort Jesus Road with its surrounding streets and buildings. Most of these buildings exist to date some still carrying the same functions. Source: Seif Bin Salim Library 23 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. PERIOD The British Period (AD 1820s onwards) DATE 1962 MAJOR SHIFTS A new Master Plan was developed with a comprehensive long term development scheme. The issues tackled included:- Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 REMARKS The development of Mombasa was pegged on this master plan in an attempt to tackle the issues raised. 1. Upgrading of transportation and roads. 2. Suggestions for improved housing. 3. Upgrading of several areas in Mombasa. Post Independence Period (1964 onwards) 1971 A draft physical development plan was Improvement of infrastructure prepared whose main aim was to look at ways of improving the urban fabric and infrastructure. 1971 to date Major constructions also took place during this period. Some of the notable buildings that were put up after independence include the General Post Office Building along Digo Road and NSSF Building and Ambalal House which are both along Nkrumah Road. Figure 3.1.17: The NSSF House located along Nkrumah Road that was constructed in the 1970s. Source: Author. 24 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 3.2 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Visual Analysis of Nkrumah Road 3.2.1 Nkrumah Road Nkrumah Road runs east from Mombasa’s CBD towards Old Town. It stretches approximately 750m and its joins with Moi Avenue, Digo Road and Nyerere Road to the Western edge and Mbaraki hinawy Street and Makadara Road towards the Eastern edge. Figure 3.2.1: Holy Ghost Cathedral located at the junction of Nkrumah Road and Nyerere Road. Source : Author, Before the development of Kilindini Harbour which led to a shift of business out of Old Town, Nkrumah Road was a four foot dirty road that was surrounded by forest and bushes. Periodically, a lion or leopard would be spotted along the road. It is currently a major street in Mombasa well known for its unique character of hosting majority of the banks in the city. These banks include the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank, Cooperative Bank of Kenya, National Bank of Kenya, Consolidated Bank of Kenya and a myriad of other private banking institutions like Habib Bank, Gulf African Bank, Dubai Bank, Bano of India and Family Bank among others. Figure 3.2.2: Kenyatta University, Mombasa campus located along Nkrumah Road. Source : Author, Other publicly relevant facilities along this street include Dc’s office, City Hall, Treasury Square Gardens, Kenyatta University, Holy Ghost Cathedral and buildings like NSSF Towers and Ambalal House which, albeit privately owned, accommodate functions which are publicly relevant. 3.2.2 Overview This analysis has three main parts. Figure 3.2.3: Central Bank of Kenya, Mombasa branch located along Nkrumah Road at the Treasury Square. Source : Author, (I) (II) (III) A two dimensional study of surfaces that enclose public space. A study of three dimensional public spaces. A study of architectural details which give special character to an area. 25 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 3.2.3 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 TWO DIMENSIONAL STUDY MA KA DA RA 04 02 05 NYE RE ROA RE D 06 07 NKR UMA 02 38 08 09 10 11 H RO 12 13 14 25 21 ET 36 34 33 KAUNDA AVENUE TRE INDA NI S 35 TREASURY SQUARE 22 15 16 17 18 19 26 20 28 NKRUMAH ROAD 32 31 01 ROAD 23 AD 37 MIK 01 COAST GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL MGOMANI LANE 03 24 MAH NKRU MWAGOGO ROAD 02 BAL UCH I RO AD DIG ROA O D AD 01 39 RO 29 27 TREASURY SQUARE GARDENS 30 Figure 3.2.4: Map of Nkrumah Road showing the location of buildings and open spaces along the street and the other major and minor streets adjoining Nkrumah Road. Source: Geomaps (Modified by author) NKRUMAH ROAD - LOCATION OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER MAJOR AND MINOR ROADS 26 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Buildings Along Nkrumah Road Figure 3.2.5: Stanbic Bank House. Source : Author. Figure 3.2.6: Taiyebi House (left) and Kenya Cinema (right). Source : Author. Figure 3.2.7: Kaderbhoy Building. Source : Author. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Stanbic Bank House TSS Towers Electricity House Makena House DL Building Faiz Pharmacy Building Taiyebi House Kenya Cinema National Bank House Barclays Bank House Hassanalis Building Furaha Plaza Cooperative Bank House Oriental Plaza Charterhouse Bank House Najat Plaza Habib urich Bank House Consolidated Bank House Mixed Use Building 1 Mixed Use Building 2 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. Kenyatta University Campus Central Bank of Kenya Standard Chattered Bank Bank of India Kenya National Museums District Commissioner’s Office City Hall Kenya Commercial Bank DHL Mombasa Memorial Cathedral Fort Mansion Kaderbhoy Citi Group New Palm Tree Hotel Telkom Exchange NSSF Mombasa Water Company Ambalal House Holy Ghost Cathedral. Figure 3.2.8: Citigroup (left) and New Palm Tree Hotel (right). Source : Author. 27 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 TWO DIMENSIONAL STUDY 02 01 02 01 Figure 3.2.9: Map of Nkrumah Road, prepared in the format of the map of Rome by Nolli (1748) depicting the streets and open spaces as voids and buildings in solid black. This map shows the external public spaces and their connection with the main internal spaces of churches and other buildings used by the public along nkrumah Road. Source: Geomaps (Modified by author) NKRUMAH ROAD - RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND OPEN SPACES/STREETS 28 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 TWO DIMENSIONAL STUDY 02 01 02 01 Figure 3.2.10: Map of Nkrumah Road, prepared in an alternative format suggested by Gibberd depicting the streets and open spaces as solid black and buildings as voids. Nkrumah Road has a large percentage of space which is open but some of it is private and earmarked for development. Source: Geomaps (Modified by author) NKRUMAH ROAD - RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND OPEN SPACES/STREETS 29 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Points of Weak Connection: Figure 3.2.15 Figure 3.2.16 Figure 3.2.17 Figure 3.2.18 Figure 3.2.15: A map of Nkrumah Road and a series of images showing the points of weak connection along the street. Mombasa Water Company offices (Figure 3.2.16) are completely blocked off the street by the use of high walls. The NSSF plaza (Figure 3.2.17) has been fenced with a visually permeable fence which allows for visual connection but blocks physical access. Mombasa Memorial Cathedral (Figure 3.2.18) has a similar fence. Source: Author. 30 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.2.4 Enclosure of Public Spaces(Streets): Figure 3.2.12: Nkrumah Road at a low enclosure point between Oriental House and Kaderbhoy. Refer to Section 01-01. Width to Height ratio of 1:1. Source : Author. ORIENTAL HOUSE ELECTRICITY HOUSE AMBALAL HOUSE KADERBHOY HOUSE Figure 3.2.11: Nkrumah Road at a high enclosure point between Ambalal House and Electricity House. Refer to Section 02-02. Width to Height ratio of 1:2. Source : Author. Figure 3.2.13: Section 01-01. Width to Height ratio of 1:1. Source : Author. Figure 3.2.14: Section 02-02. Width to Height ratio of 1:2. Source : Sketch by author. 31 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Roofline of buildings to the North of Nkrumah Road: Figure 3.2.43 0 10 20 1 30M 2 Figure 3.2.44 1. Stanbic Bank House - 2 floors. 2. TSS Towers - 13 floors at its tallest wing. 3 4 5 Figure 3.2.45 3. Electricity House - 11 floors). 4. Makena House - 6 floors 5. D. L. Building - 2 floors. 6. Faiz Pharmacy Building - 3 floors. 6 7 8 9 Figure 3.2.46 7. Taiyebi House - 4 floors. 8. Kenya Cinema Building - 3 floors. 9. National Bank of Kenya Building - 3 floors. 10 11 12 13 Figure 3.2.47 10. Barclays Bank of Kenya Building - 2 floors. 11. Hassanalis Building - 3 floors. 12. Furaha Plaza - 7 floors 14 15 16 17 18 19 Figure 3.2.48 13. Co-operative Bank of Kenya Building 3 floors. 14. Oriental House - 3 floors. Figure 3.2.49 15. Charterhouse Bank Building - 2 floors. 16. Gulf African Bank Building - 2 floors. 17. Habib Bank Building - 3 floors. 18. Consolidated Bank Building - 4 floors. 19. Mixed Use Building 1 - 2 floors. 32 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.19 33 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.20 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.2.19 (previous page): The Treasury Square is a wide open space which opens up from a narrow section of Nkrumah Road. This is a dramatic shift in spatial character which gives this space a unique characteristic. The square is largely hard landscaped with a parking space at the centre of the square. This hard surface has however been countered with the plants and lawns at the treasury Square Gardens. The image of this square is prominent due to its rich history, its mix of functions and details of the surface finishes. It is a popular spot in Mombasa city. Figure 3.2.20: Image of Nkrumah Road as it approaches Old Town (Fort Jesus). This stretch is unique due to the character of its enclosure. Whereas most of the street is enclosed by buildings, this stretch has a thick plant enclosure which compliments the hard landscaped road and pavements. The buildings along this stretch are old colonial buildings put up in the early 1900s. They are grandiose and raised from the street level to increase their prominence. One such building is the old law court which is currently the Mombasa Museum. Image source: Author. 34 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.21 35 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.22 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.2.21(previous page): A birds eye view image of Nkrumah Road at the area around NSSF building and its surroundings. This is the point at which the street is widest and the space is enhanced by the plaza outside the NSSF building which has attempted to introduce some form of soft landscaping and plants. Figure 3.2.22: A ground level image of Nkrumah Road taken from a point at which the street is widest. Here, the street is a dual carriage with plants in the middle. At the NSSF Building’s side, there is an open plaza fronting the building. This whole space is largely hard landscaped with traces of plants at the centre of the street and the NSSF Building park. Image source: Author. 36 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.23 Figure 3.2.23 is an aerial perspective of the NSSF Building Plaza. This park creates less enclosure on the open space around the buildings but has a weak connection to the street as there is a fence in between. This fence, though visually permeable, discourages people from using that space as it increases the sense of privacy of the space. In addition to the weak connection, the plaza is hardly used as the edges of the flower beds which people would normally use to sit on have spikes which make them uncomfortable as a sitting space (Figure 3.2.24). The character of the space brought about by the mix of colours and choice of material makes it interesting and more prominent in the minds of users. It is a ‘breathing space’ as most of the street right before and after it is highly enclosed. Figure 3.2.24 Image Source: Author. 37 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. The General Character of Spatial Composition: Figure 3.2.25 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.2.25: Image of Nkrumah Road towards the Treasury Square. At this point, the street has a low enclosure as the buildings average three floors high. This is a unique characteristic of the street at this point. The street is narrower at this point as compared to other points. The surfaces are hard landscaped and there is complete lack of trees except as the street approaches the Treasury Square. Pedestrian walkways are covered by canopies of the buildings. Most of the buildings fronting the street at this point are of colonial style and were constructed between 1920 and 1950. They have a similar character in terms of form and building materials used. This gives this part of the street some prominence. Image Source: Author. 38 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 NKR H RO AD NYE RER E UMA MWENYE ABOUD ROAD ROA D BAL UCH I RO AD 3.2.5 Surfaces Enclosing Public Spaces: AD O HR MA U KR N NKRUMAH ROAD Figure 3.2.26 Figure 3.2.27 Figure 3.2.28 Figure 3.2.29 Figure 3.2.30 TSS Towers: Electricity House: Makena House: Taiyebi House: Walls-Granito & Ceramic tile finish. Openings-Tinted glass for shading. Walls-RC plastered and painted. Openings-Glass & concrete shading. Walls-RC Openings-Glass Building still under construction. Walls-RC with plaster and paint. Openings-Glass with concrete shading. Figure 3.2.31 National Bank of Kenya Building: Walls-concrete and masonry with a paint finish. Openings-Glass windows Figure 3.2.32 Figure 3.2.33 Figure 3.2.34 Barclays Bank Building: Oriental House: Kenyatta University Campus: Walls-concrete and masonry with a paint finish. Openings-Glass windows Walls-Masonry with a plaster and paint finish. Openings-Glass windows. Boundary wall-Masonry with a plaster and paint finish. Concrete paving with flowers along pedestrian pathway. Figure 3.2.35 Figure 3.2.36 Central Bank of Kenya: Standard Chattered Bank Building: Concrete walls with glass openings. Masonry walls with a plaster and paint finish. Glass openings with sun shading. 39 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Paved Surfaces: Figure 3.2.37: Coloured concrete paving tiles along part of the pedestrian walkway. This colour gives this part of the street some prominence to the pedestrians. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.38: At a point along the street, some flowers and lawns are used to soften the monotonous concrete paving tiles. This gives a unique character to this part of the street. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.39: Cabro concrete paving tiles have extensively been used especially at the plaza outside Fort Jesus Museum. These tiles with their unique patterns give the space an interesting character. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.40: A retaining wall and staircase outside the old law courts (under conservation). The old coral finish gives this space an ancient outlook. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.41: Concrete paving tiles with a mix of colours at the plaza of NSSF Building. This mix in a unique pattern with the combination of plants enhances the park character of this space. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.42: The plaza at Fort Jesus Museum is paved using Mazeras Stones. The irregular pattern of the joints is a unique shift from the rectangular paving tiles utilised in other parts of the street. Source: Author. 40 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. OR OAD 3.2.6 Street Corners: Corner 1: Located at the junction of Digo Road and Nkrumah Road. The building along this corner is the Stanbic Bank House (Figure 3.2.51). Other than a diagonal chamfer on the side of the building facing the corner, the attitude of the buildings towards the corner is poor, with most of them having barriers preventing access to the road. DIG 1 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.2.51 ELECTRICITY HOUSE STANBIC TSS NKR UMA H RO AD 2 Corner 2: Located at the junction of Mikindani Street and Nkrumah Road. The building along this corner is the Ambalal House (Figure 3.2.53). Treatment of this corner is relatively better as a shops on the ground floor of this building have oriented their entrances towards this corner. MIKIN DAN I STR EET AMBALAL HOUSE HOLY GHOST CATHEDRAL Figure 3.2.52 Figure 3.2.50 Figure 3.2.53 41 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3 NSSF PLAZA COOP BANK NKRUMAH ROAD TELKOM NEW PALM TREE HOTEL CITI GROUP 4 ORIENTAL HOUSE MWENYE ABOUD ROAD CHARTER HSE BARCLAYS BANK KAUNDA AVENUE NATIONAL BANK FURAHA Street Corners: 5 KADERBHOY HOUSE NKRUMAH FORT MANSION ROAD MOMBASA MEMORIAL CATHEDRAL Figure 3.2.54 Corner 3: Located along Nkrumah Road at its widest point. It is surrounded by National Bank Building (Figure 3.2.56), Barclays Bank Building, Telkom Exchange and NSSF Plaza. Barclays Building has responded positively to the corner by placing its entrance facing it (Figure 3.2.57). The NSSF Plaza has also enhanced the character of space at the corner. The National Bank Building and Telkom Exchange have completely ignored the corner. Figure 3.2.55: Citi Group Building at the junction of Kaunda Avenue and Nkrumah Road. It responds positively to the corner. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.56: National Bank Building along Nkrumah Road. It does not respond positively to the corner. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.57: Barclays Bank Building along Nkrumah Road. It responds positively to the corner. Source: Author. 42 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Corner 4: Located at the junction of Nkrumah Road and Kaunda Avenue, this corner is surrounded by Citi Group Building, Cooperative Bank and Kaderbhoy House (Figure 3.2.58). Both buildings at the corner have oriented their entrances towards the corner making it more prominent. The wall finish of the Citi Group Building with its unique colour combination and form has also enhanced the image of the space, making it more memorable to the users (Figure 3.2.55). Figure 3.2.58: Kaderbhoy Building at Corner 4. This building has responded positively to the corner by orienting its entrance towards it. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.59: Charterhouse Bank Building at corner 5 has responded positively to the corner using its entrance and unique mix of colour on its walls. Source: Author. Corner 5: Located at the junction of Nkrumah Road and Mwenye Aboud Road, the main buildings around it are Oriental House and Charterhouse Bank Building (Figure 3.2.59). This is an extensively used corner as Mwagogo Road connects Nkrumah Road to Makadara Road. Both buildings have responded positively to the corner by orienting their entrances towards it. The wall finishes and play of colours on the surfaces of the buildings has also increased the prominence of this corner making it more memorable to the users (Figure 3.2.60). Figure 3.2.60: Corner 5 showing Oriental House and Charterhouse Bank Building. Oriental House has oriented its entrance towards the corner. Its design and mix of colours has also enhanced the image of the corner. Source: Author. 43 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.2.7 Ground Floors: Most buildings have internal courts which are however not linked to the main streets in any way with the exception of a few which have alleyways. Most of these courts are not visible at all. However, some have made an attempt to link their ground floors to the streets using entrances and shop windows. Other buildings can be described as having dead areas as their frontages do not generate any activity at all. Figure 3.2.62: The ground floor of Ambalal House along Nkrumah Road. The ground floor has been well linked to the main street by allocating activity generating roles to the ground floor spaces of the building. Here, many retail shops have attracted large numbers of people. Source: Author. Figure 3.1.61: An alleyway connecting the internal court of Furaha Plaza to Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.63: Ground floors of Faiz Pharmacy Building and Taiyebi House along Nkrumah Road which have also generated activity at their ground floors by allocating user friendly roles to the spaces at this level. Source: Author. 44 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.2.64: the Old Law Courts Building along Nkrumah Road has a very poor connection to the street. Its ground floor has been raised high above the street level probably as a show of power. this intimidates pedestrians at this spot. The building is also far off the street line. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.65: Barclays Bank Building which, although located at the street line, has roles which don't generate activities at its ground floor. Its ground floor is also raised off the street level making it less friendly to pedestrians. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.66: Consolidated Bank Building along Nkrumah Road. Despite having a role that generates less activity at its ground floor, its large openings connect the interior spaces to the street visually making it more friendly to pedestrians. Source: Author. Figure 3.2.67: A Mixed Use Building along Nkrumah Road. other than having pedestrian friendly roles at its ground level, it has opened up its interior spaces to the street using large openings generating more activity. Source: Author. 45 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 3.3: Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Legibility Study of Nkrumah Road: Nkrumah Road has been found to be one of the most prominent streets in Mombasa. This study identified the following characteristics as having greatly contributed to the prominence of this street:I) II) III) IV) V) Figure 3.3.1: People customarily use Nkrumah Road to access the different publicly relevant activities which are located along the street. Source: Author. VI) Many people customarily use this street as it is a major link between Old Town and contemporary Mombasa. The street has no obstacles as it is wide enough with adequate parking spaces, well designed junctions and convenient turning points. The street has a concentration of bank and other financial institutions and this activity has made it very prominent. The street has varying spatial qualities with some points having large enclosures while others having smaller enclosures. The street has a close proximity to special features and buildings within the city of Mombasa which are of greater public relevance. The street has a unique facade characteristic with a mix of old colonial architecture and the contemporary modern architecture. Figure 3.3.2: Nkrumah Road is popular with motorists also as it has ample parking space. The street is also wide enough and has properly designed junctions and roundabouts which are convenient for many drivers. Source: Author. 46 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.3.1 Nkrumah Road and the Banking Industry: Figure 3.3.5 Stanbic BankStanbic Bank Building Fina BankDubai BankAmbalal House Taiyebi House Figure 3.3.6 Figure 3.3.7 Figure 3.3.8 National BankNational Bank Building Barclays BankBarclays Bank Building Coperative Bank- Citigroup BankCooperativel Citigroupl Bank Bank Building Building Nkru Balu c hi R TSS Road Figure 3.3.10 Figure 3.3.11 Figure 3.3.12 Guardian Bank- Charterhouse Oriental House BankCharterhouse Bank Building Stree dani Mikin Figure 3.3.20 Habib Bank Limited-Fort Mansion Figure 3.3.13 Figure 3.3.14 Figure 3.3.15 Figure 3.3.16 Figure 3.3.17 Figure 3.3.18 Gulf African Bank-Gulf Bank House Habib Bank Zurich-Habib bank Building Consolidated BankConsolidated Bank House Central Bank of Kenya-Cental Bank building Standard Chattered Bank-Standard Building Bank of IndiaBank of India building DC Figure 3.3.19 ad o hR CBK ma ru Nk KCB t mah Figure 3.3.9 Mwenye Aboud Road Figure 3.3.4 oad Figure 3.3.3 Nkrumah Road Treasury Square Gardens KCBCommercial Bank Building 47 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 oad Mwenye Aboud Road 3.3.2 Nkrumah Road’s Proximity to Special Features in Mombasa City. Balu chi R TSS Nkru Road While studying the special features at close proximity to Nkrumah road, emphasis was given to buildings and spaces that have a greater public relevance and as such, they attract large numbers of people. They include; The Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa Memorial Cathedral, Treasury Square and gardens, City Hall, District Commissioner’s office and Fort Jesus. a m kru CITY HALL N TREASURY SQUARE & GARDENS dani MOMBASA MEMORIAL CATHEDRAL Mikin HOLY GHOST CATHEDRAL ad o hR FORT JESUS Nkrumah Road Stree t mah CBK OF DC FI ’s CE Figure 3.3.22 Holy Ghost Cathedral This is the centre of the Catholic mission in Mombasa. It is the oldest Catholic church in the city and is located at a major node where it attracts large numbers of people. Figure 3.3.23 Memorial Cathedral This is the oldest Anglican church in Mombasa located at a site near Treasury Square. It is also a major public place that attracts a lot of people. Figure 3.3.24 Treasury Square & gardens Figure 3.3.21 This is a major node and open space with parking and a garden where people can relax. It is surrounded by the DC’s office, City Hall, KCB, Standard Bank and the Central Bank of Kenya. Figure 3.3.25 City Hall Offices for the Mombasa City Council. This is the administrative arm of the city that runs the different departments of the city. It is a highly relevant building to members of the public. Figure 3.3.26 Fort Jesus An old Portuguese port built between 1593 to 1596. It is currently under conservation and is also the National Museum of Kenya’s Mombasa office. 48 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.3.3 Spartial Qualities Point of highest enclosure long the street. It is between Electricity House and Ambalal House. At this point, the street is narrow and buildings very tall creating an unpleasant enclosure. ORIENTAL HSE KADERBHOY HSE BARCLAYS BANK NATIONAL BANK ELECTRICITY HSE TSS STANBIC NSSF HSE AMBALAL HSE COAST CAR PARK HOLY GHOST CATHEDRAL Figure 3.3.27: A three dimensional model of a section of Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. This is a point of average enclosure. The building heights have been well matched to the street width. Although this space has not been enhanced using plant materials, it is more desirable compared to the point of highest enclosure. Point of lowest enclosure along the street. This is between the NSSF House and National Bank Building. NSSF plaza enhances the spatial quality of this space making it more desirable. Presence of plant material also increase the prominence of the space. 49 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.3.4 Nodes and landmarks MA KA DA MWENYE ABOUD ROAD DIGO ROA D Stanbic bank house Electricity house NYE RER E ROA D Node 01 NKRU Holy ghost cathedral Landmark 01 MAH RA National bank house ROA D Ambalal house Barclays house Node 02 Nssf buil plaz ding a Oriental house AD AH KRUM ROAD N Landmark 03 Dc Node 04 ’s Fort jesus museum of fic e CHARTERHOUSE BANK HOUSE Node 03 Kaderbhoy house Node 05 RO AD NKRUMAH RO Mombasa memorial cathedral City hall Treasury square gardens Landmark 02 Figure 3.3.28 50 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE STREETS BUILDINGS Node 1: Moi Avenue - The main link to Kilindini harbour, the chief port of Mombasa and the region. Figure 3.3.29: Stanbic Bank House - Has a banking hall and offices for the bank. The building also has an Automated Teller Machine and is frequented by members of the public since it has a canopy sheltering people from rain and sunshine. Nkrumah Road - Main link to Old Town Mombasa and Fort Jesus Museum. This street also has a concentration of banks. Nyerere Road - The main link to the Likoni channel which is the gateway to South Coast and Tanzania. Digo Road - An important commercial street at the centre of Mombasa CBD. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.3.30: Holy Ghost Cathedral - One of the earliest churches in Mombasa, it is a notable Catholic church located at this node. At the time of its construction, this vast area was a big forest. It draws large numbers of people on weekends for weddings and church services. Figure 3.3.31: Fontanella Building This is a popular bar and restaurant located at this node. It is one of the many restaurants owned by Little Chef Company. It draws large numbers of people everyday especially during meal times and in the evenings. As a result, the node remains a hive of activity until late when the restaurant closes. 51 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE Node 1: STREETS BUILDINGS Figure 3.3.32: Commercial Building - This building which is also at the node has a mixture of shops and offices. It also draws a notable number of people who visit the shops or offices. Node 2: This node is at the junction of Nkrumah Road and some two streets, one leading to the Coast Car Park and the other to the dispensary at the Makadara Grounds. Figure 3.3.33: Barclays Bank Building - It has a banking hall and offices for the bank staff members. The bank also has an Automated Teller Machine at the building. This building is however not pedestrian friendly since it has no canopy for shelter and its ground floor is not open to the street. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.3.34: National Bank Building - This building has a banking hall and offices for the bank staff members. The bank also has an Automated Teller Machine at the building. This building is also not pedestrian friendly since it has no canopy for sheltering people and its ground floor is also not open to the street. 52 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE STREETS Node 2: Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 BUILDINGS Figure 3.3.36: Telkom Exchange Building - This is a single floor building that currently has no activity. It is locked and has even run down. People tend to avoid it due to the filth that has developed around it. Figure 3.3.37: NSSF Plaza - This building and open spaces are probably the only ones enhancing this particular node. The plaza is well paved with a few plants and it is a space that people frequent most. It is a popular meeting point. Node 3: This node is at the junction of Nkrumah Road and Mwenye Aboud Road. Mwenye Aboud Road is an important interconnection between Nkrumah Road and Makadara Road and it is also one of the main gateways to the Central Police Station from Nkrumah Road. Figure 3.3.38: Oriental House This is a massive colonial building that was put up in the 1930s. It has banking halls and shops at the ground floor level and offices at the higher levels. It is three floors high. The building has a ground floor well connected to the street with a canopy providing shelter to pedestrians. 53 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE STREETS Node 3: Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 BUILDINGS Figure 3.3.39: Charterhouse Bank House - This is a banking hall and office building for Charterhouse Bank. Despite its unique finish, the building ignores the pedestrians. Its ground floor is not connected to the street and it has no canopy for sheltering pedestrians. Figure 3.3.40: Kaderbhoy Building - This is an old colonial building, three floors high. It has shops at its ground floor level with offices in higher floors. This building has attempted to respond positively to the street albeit with little success. Node 4: This node is at the Junction of Nkrumah Road and Makadara Road. It provides an important location where vehicles can make a 360° turn to the direction from where they came. Figure 3.3.41: Standard Chattered Bank Building - Formerly a hotel building, it directly faces and opens up to this node. It consists of a banking hall and offices. It also has an ATM machine. The building’s ground floor is however not connected to the street and has no canopy. 54 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE STREETS BUILDINGS Node 4: It is a very important node whose potential is however not fully exploited as many of the buildings around it have implemented security policies that are too unfriendly to pedestrians despite the public nature of their functions. Figure 3.3.42: District Commissioner’s Office - This was formerly the Treasury Building that was built in the early 1900s. It currently houses offices for the Mombasa District Commissioner. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.3.43: City Hall - Houses offices for the Mombaca City Council. All departments of the council are located in this building. Figure 3.3.44: Kenya Commercial Bank - Formerly the Standard Bank Building, it was built in the early 1900s. It houses banking halls, offices and Automated Teller Machines for the bank. Figure 3.3.45: Treasury Gardens This is an open park adjacent to the node. It has a lot of plants providing shade and is thus popular with pedestrians. 55 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Node 4: This is a very important and prominent node within the city. Its prominence has been greatly enhanced by the location of many publicly relevant activities within the vicinity. These include the Treasury Square Gardens, District Commissioner’s office, City Hall, Provincial Commissioner’s office, the Mombasa Hospital and various banking institutions. Figure 3.3.46: Treasury Square.This node is seldom used as can be seen in this image. Very few people can be seen walking around. Even the parking lot is underutilized. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.47: The Central Bank of Kenya is one of the buildings that make this node unfriendly. As can be seen, it has been fenced off due to security reasons and the presence of armed security personnel intimades the pedestrians. Source: Author. Despite this imminent advantage, the node suffers from underutilized potential. Very few people appreciate the quality of this space and its importance. This is due to the unfriendly nature of the buildings around the node. All their ground floors are not connected to the street. The pedestrian walkways are also not sheltered. The security policies around the building are also very strict. Thus, pedestrians usually rush past this node towards a more friendlier Node 5. Figure 3.3.48: An aerial perspective of the node showing the roundabout with a parking space at its centre. The node is underutilized. Very few vehicles are also parked at the parking lot. Source: Author. 56 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. NODE STREETS BUILDINGS Node 5: This node is at the junction of Nkrumah Road, Mbaraki Hinawy Street and Ndia Kuu. Figure 3.3.49: Fort Jesus Museum - This is an old Portuguese fort that was built in 1593. It is currently a museum housing the fort’s ruins and offices of the Kenya National Museums. It is a popular tourist attraction centre bringing in many local and foreign tourists. Mbaraki Hinawy Street is an important street in Old Town Mombasa as it links to the Governmrnt Square and Old Port. Ndia Kuu, as the name suggests, was the main street in Old Town. It is lined up with mixed use buildings that have shops at their ground level. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Figure 3.3.50: Mombasa Club - A ‘members only’ club that was constructed in the early 1900s and has operated as a member’s club ever since. It has restaurants and recreational facilities that are accessed by its members. Figure 3.3.51: Fort Jesus Forex Bureau - This is a foreign exchange centre that is mainly used by tourists should they need to exchange currencies. 57 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Node 5: Of all the nodes along this street, this node stood out. This is mainly due to the nature of the main building at the node, the Fort Jesus Museum and its location at the gateway to Old Town Mombasa. The node also has various monuments and an open plaza that is well shaded and friendly to pedestrians. It is therefore a point of attraction for many people. There are a number of shops at the node selling snacks and curios, creating a lot of activity. Figure 3.3.52: Node 5 with Fort Jesus Museum in the background. There is a turning point enabling vehicles to make a 360° turn to the direction they came from. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.53: There are various shops at the node for curios and refreshments. There is also a foreign exchange bureau located here. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.54: A monument at the plaza in Node 5. This plaza has enhanced the prominence of the node. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.55: Unique furniture has been provided at the plaza. There is consistency in the materials used. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.56: Various artifacts of historical significance are also on display at the plaza. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.57: The plaza is well shaded from the harsh climate making it attractive to the public. Source: Author. 58 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Landmark 01: The Holy Ghost Cathedral: The site of the church was purchased for £30 per acre in 1891 by Fr. Le Roy who was later to become archbishop Superior General of his congregation. The area was initially made up of bush and forest. A church capable of accommodating 400 people was built and this still survives as a bookshop. In 1895, under the direction of Fr. Ball, work was begun on the spacious Presbytery which is still in use. A convent school facing what is now Nkrumah Road was also built during the same period. This school was later replaced by an office building, Ambalal House. In 1918, the church was found to be inadequate and the construction of a new church was approved. Building work started with the aid of African labour trained at the mission. This cathedral with its romanesque towers is one of the best known landmarks in Mombasa sited in the hub of the island. When the flamboyants and bougainvilleas are in bloom, the area around the cathedral is a mass of colours. Figure 3.3.58: An image of the Holy Ghost Cathedral taken in the 1950s. The two towers were an additional to the original design of the church. Source: Mombasa; The Friendly Town. Figure 3.3.59: A view of the cathedral as it is now taken from Nyerere Road. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.60: The open space at the front of the cathedral that borders Nkrumah Road. This space is filled with plants and flowers. Source: Author. 59 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Landmark 02: Mombasa Memorial Cathedral: The church was opened in 31st May, 1905 by the first Bishop of Mombasa, the Rt. Rev, Peel. It had been constructed at a cost of £4,400. The cathedral was built in memory of Hannington and Parker and the Rev. Henry Wright who were all pioneer bishops in Africa. The cathedral building has a distinctively Islamic appearance accentuated by its dome. Stained glass windows adorn both East and West ends of the church, and one of the most treasured pieces of furniture is Hannington’s chair on which the bishops of Mombasa are enthroned. Figure 3.3.61: Mombasa Memorial Cathedral in the 1950s. The dome above the building accentuates the Islamic feel of the church. Source: Mombasa; The Friendly Town. Figure 3.3.62: The entrance to the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral. There is a large open space around the church filled with plants and lawn. Source: Author. Figure 3.3.63: The Hanningtons Chair found inside the church. Source: Mombasa; The Friendly Town Figure 3.3.64: The Mombasa Memorial Cathedral as it is today. The arches on the entrance, windows and around the domes at the roof accentuate the Islamic look of the cathedral. Source: Author. 60 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Landmark 03: Fort Jesus Museum: This is a massive and impressive landmark set out at the Southern end of Old Town, Mombasa. It was built on a coral ridge set high above its surroundings. The chief architect was Joao Batista, an Italian, who was chief architect of Portuguese India. The fort conforms to the general plan of forts in the 16th Century and is reckoned to be one of the finest remaining examples. From the air, it looks like a frog with its arms turned in and its back legs almost ready for a leap (Figure 3.3.65). Figure 3.3.65: Plan of Fort Jesus Museum. From this view, it looks like a frog with its arms turned in and its back legs almost ready for a leap. Source: http://www.tourism.go.ke Inside the fort is some two acres in extent. These were barracks for the troops sited along the straight side walls. The museum inside the fort was built recently under the guidance of Mr. Kirkman. It is set out attractively with items of interest pertaining to the Coast. Figure 3.3.66: An image of Fort Jesus taken in the 1950s. Source: Mombasa; The Friendly Town. Figure 3.3.67: Fort Jesus as it is today located at a prominent node at the gateway to Old Town Mombasa. It has a plaza with various artifacts and monuments that attract people. Source: Author. 61 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 3.4 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Summary of Findings 3.4.1 Historical Analysis Mombasa seems to have been a notable urban centre as early as 1331 as it is said to have had abundant supply of food and well constructed wooden structures. There is also evidence on the existence of an urban centre in Mombasa during the Portuguese period. Fort Jesus Museum and Mandrhy Mosque are some of the buildings standing today which were constructed during this period. The houses were three storeyed, plastered with lime and had balconies and stone seats in front of them for people to sit. The streets were narrow. Figure 3.4.1: Fort Jesus Museum is a building with a rich historical background that was constructed during the Portuguese period. Source: Author. The British period saw the development of major public works projects which largely define the current urban structure of Mombasa. Nkrumah Road is specifically characterised by buildings that were constructed during this period. A master plan for Mombasa was developed in 1962 and tackled issues of urban transportation and housing. A draft physical development plan was later developed to improve urban fabric and infrastructure. 3.4.2 Visual Analysis Nkrumah Road, though with a highly built up area, has a substantial area of open space fronting and surrounding buildings with a permeable network of streets joining it thus connecting it to different parts of Mombasa. Figure 3.4.2: Part of Nkrumah Road where the building has been fenced off the street thus providing a point of weak connection between the building and the street. Source: Author. Points of weak connections were found in some areas. The notable ones were adjacent to NSSF Building and the Mombasa Memorial Cathedral. In these cases, fences were used to bar connection between buildings and open spaces especially those used by the public like streets and pedestrian pavements. 62 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Enclosure of public spaces varies along the street. To the Western edge of the street, enclosures of up to a width to height ratio of 1:2 were found. Towards the Eastern edge, enclosures lowered to a ratio of 1:1. The roofline, which is related to enclosures, is high to the western edge where buildings rise up to 35metres. Towards the Eastern edge, the roofline reduces to a low of about 6metres. Spaces also vary in character. Towards the western edge, surfaces are largely hard landscaped with minimal traces of plant cover. Towards the Eastern edge, plant cover can be seen to overshadow the buildings. Street width also varies at different locations with the widest point being outside the NSSF building. Most buildings were found to have RC walls finished with plaster and paint. Openings are made of glass except for one old building with wooden windows. Paving is of concrete blocks and tiles of different shapes, sizes and colours giving the various parts of the street different character. Figure 3.4.3: Nkrumah Road towards its Western edge at the point of highest enclosure. Source: Author. Various street corners were treated differently. While some were ignored by the designers, most received positive responses through having main entrances, major building openings and pedestrian friendly activity oriented towards the street corner. Unique materials have been used in some instances to give the corners a unique character. Most ground floors except those of banks, were found to be well connected to the streets. This has been done through use of transparent material on the ground floors and allocation of pedestrian friendly activities in spaces at the ground floor. Canopies that provide shade also offer an attractive environment to be used by pedestrians. Figure 3.4.4: Charterhouse Bank Building that has oriented its main entrance towards a street corner. Source: Author. 63 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 3.4.3 Legibility Study Nkrumah Road was found to have a concentration of banking activities with more than 20 banks and other financial institutions located along the street. Major banks include the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Commercial Bank and Barclays Bank among others. The street was also found to have close proximity to some special features within Mombasa. Those noted include the Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa Memorial Cathedral, Treasury Square, Treasury Gardens, Mombasa City Hall and the Fort Jesus Museum. Figure 3.4.5: Consolidated bank is one of the many banks that are located along Nkrumah Road. Source: Author. Several nodes were found to exist along Nkrumah Road. The most prominent one is the Treasury Square. The buildings and activities located at this node are the most publicly relevant along the street. These include the City Hall, District Commissioner’s office and the Treasury Gardens. The node also has unique spatial characteristic and is also the junction of very prominent streets in Mombasa, Makadara Road and Nkrumah Road. The landmarks found along the street inluded Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa Memorial Cathedral and the Fort Jesus Museum. Of these, two are located at nodes. Only Mombasa Memorial Cathedral is located away from a node. All the landmarks noted were iconic buildings of great public relevance with a rich historical background. Figure 3.4.6: Treasury Square is one of the major nodes located along Nkrumah Road. It has a car park and an open park. Source: Author. 64 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Chapter Four: Conclusions and Recommendations 4.1 Conclusions Objective Methodology Historical Analysis Reference to statements of explorers and authors Assess the impacts during the Islamic period. of the city’s history Inventory of buildings on the current urban during the Portuguese form. period. Findings Meaning By 1331, Mombasa was an urban centre with abundant food and well constructed structures. Mombasa is a very old city with a rich historical background. Fort Jesus and Mandrhy mosque constructed during this period The current urban structure of Mombasa, especially that of Old Town is similar to that described during the Portuguese period. Houses were three storeyed, plastered using lime with balconies and stone seats on the fronts Streets were narrow Inventory of buildings Major public works projects undertaken. Current structure of Nkrumah Road is a during the British period. direct resultant of projects undertaken Most buildings along Nkrumah Road were during this period. constructed during this period. Interrogating the 1962 Mombasa master plan. Tackled issues of urban transportation and housing. Since no other comprehensive master plan for Mombasa has been done, this document has been the basis of the development of the city. Interrogating the 1971 draft physical development plan. Suggested improvements to the general urban fabric and in particular the infrastructure. Infrastructural development in Mombasa has been on the basis of the 1962 master plan taking into consideration the issues tackled in this draft physical development plan which touched on urban planning issues. 65 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Objective Methodology Findings Meaning Visual Analysis Nolli’s 1748 map of Rome and Gibberd’s alternative. The street has a substantial area of open space and a permeable network of streets joining Nkrumah road. Whereas open spaces enhance the image of an environment, their connection to buildings is of great importance. Points of weak connection which deter such connections impact negatively on the image of the environment Points of high enclosure are less preferable as their massive scale overwhelms the pedestrian on the street. This would at times be disadvantageous as people tend to avoid such areas making them deserted and insecure. Assess the visual qualities of Nkrumah Road and their impact on the image of the street. Points of weak connection to the streets were noted. Street sections and elevations High enclosures and rooflines noted towards the Western edge of the street and these reduce towards the Eastern edge. Aerial and ground photography Areas towards Western edge are highly built up with minimal plant cover. Eastern edge has a substantial plant cover. Hard landscaped areas maybe less preferred as they are generally hotter with more reflection of light. Street is widest at a point outside the NSSF building. Wide streets reduce enclosure levels making an area more preferable by pedestrians. Building have RC walls with plaster and paint finish. Openings are of glass. Paved surfaces vary in character due to materials of different shapes, sizes and colours used. Successful ground floors of buildings which embrace the pedestrian create a great connection of the building with the street thus enhancing the general image of an environment. Most ground floors, except those of banks, are well connected to the main street. 66 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Objective Methodology Findings Legibility Study Study of Nkrumah Road as a path The street was found to be intensely used The concentration of banking activities due to availability of publicly relevant has increased the prominence of the activities. street in the minds of users as it can be easily related to this activity. A concentration of banking activities was noted along the path making it identifiable The security installations associated with banks has however intimidated as a banking street. Major banks including the Central Bank of Kenya were pedestrians as they cannot pass by the path with confidence. found along this path. Assess the legibility or otherwise of Nkrumah Road and its impact on the image of the street Meaning The path was also found to be in close proximity to some special features in Mombasa. These include the Treasury Square Gardens and the landmarks noted below. The special features in close proximity to the street result in massive use of the street as people try to access these features. This heightens the prominence of the street. Study of nodes along Nkrumah Road Five major nodes were noted in the study. These were junctions of prominent streets in the city and in some of them, the buildings located there were of great public relevance. One notable node is the Treasury Square. Nodes are junctions in which people would stop and make decisions thus they perceive elements in junctions with greater attention. Properly articulated elements increases the prominence of such junctions and thus the image of the environment. Study of landmarks along Nkrumah Road Three main landmarks were noted along Nkrumah Road. These are Holy Ghost Cathedral, Mombasa Memorial Cathedral and the Fort Jesus Museum. Landmarks enhance the image of an environment as they are points of attraction which people can relate with and thus relate with the environment they are in. All landmarks noted are iconic buildings of great public relevance with a rich historical background. 67 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 4.2 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Recommendations Due to various limitations, the study could not get into a survey of the impact of the streets legibility against the prominence that users have attached to it. Further research on the impact of legibility to the users is thus recommended following the methodology developed by Kevin Lynch in Image of the City which he used to study Boston and Los Angeles. Other recommendations which may have direct impact on current and future developments along Nkrumah Road include:I) II) III) IV) V) Elimination of points of weak connections through removal of fences barring buildings from streets. More appropriate security options which do not impact negatively on the urban fabric should be considered. Future developments should have limitations which prevent creation of points of high enclosure. Buildings with greater heights should only be allowed in areas where there are wide streets. The areas to the Western edge of Nkrumah Road should be ‘softened’ through increased plants and soft landscaping. This, other than positively changing the character of the street, will provide shade, reduce some heat and make the area more preferable to the users. Future developments at street corners should be required to have publicly relevant activities and orient their entrances and main activities towards the corners. Material finishes in such developments should also be unique and outstanding. Developments that do not respond to street corners in the ways described should not be allowed. All ground floors should be opened up to the street through use of transparent materials or having wide openings facing the main street. The activities located at ground floor should be mainly retail and pedestrian friendly. Developers should be encouraged to utilize canopies which provide shade and thus attract pedestrians to walk along the buildings. Restrictions should be made on heights with which groung floors can be raised off the street levels. 68 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. VI) VII) Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 Junctions which are considered as major nodes should have only important developments of greater public relevance allowed. These developments should positively respond to the junctions and street corners in which the fall. Mainly landmark developments should be allowed in nodes. Future landmark or special feature developments should be done in very close proximity to the streets or at nodes and streets corners. This would work towards enhancing the image of the street in general and of the specific nodes and corners. 69 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. 5.0 Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 References 5.1 Published Sources Bentley, I. et al. (1985), Responsive Environments; A Manual for Designers. CABE, (2004), Designing Streets for People; How Highway and Transportation Professionals Can Make Better Places, Institution of Highway and Transportation. Ching, F. D. K. (1979), Architecture: Form, Space and Order, Van Nostrand Reinhold Publishers, New York. Cuthbert, A. R. The Form of Cities; Political, Economy and Urban Design. Fyfe N. R. (1998), Images of the Street, Routledge. Jewell, J. H. A. (1976), Mombasa: The Friendly Town, East African Publishing House. Letizia Del Bue, Preservation and Presentation of the Cultural Heritage of Kenya: Mombasa old Town and Fort Jesus - Final Implementation Report 1991 - 1992. Lynch, K. (1960), Image of the City, MIT Press. Lynch, K. (1981), A Theory of Good City Form, MIT Press. Moughtin, C. et al. (1999), Urban Design: Methods And Techniques, Architectural Press, Oxford. Newman, O. Creating Defensible Spaces 70 The Street Image: An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa. Maseghe T. M. B02/0267/2003 5.2 Unpublished Sources Birol G. (2004), An Alternative Approach for Analysis of Traditional Shopping Spaces. Kimani B. The Market Image; A Legibility Study of the Toi Open Air Market Kibera. Merril D. St. Leger-Demian, Urban Rhythms; A School of Music and Mixed Use Project for Washington DC. Munyua A. Discerning Urban Design Elements in Nairobi CBD. 5.3 Other Documents The 1962 Mombasa Master Plan, Ministry of Planning and National Development. The 1971 Mombasa draft Physical Development Plan, Ministry of Planning and National Development. Draft Zoning Plan for Northern Mainland Mombasa and its Environs, Mombasa District Physical Planning Office and the Municipal Council of Mombasa. 71
Report "The Street Image - An Urban Study of Nkrumah Road, Mombasa"