Abstract:
This study focuses on public spaces of residential neighbourhoods in the City of
Nairobi. It establishes various spatial characteristics, hence patterns, that have a
bearing on the distribution of pedestrians therein. A higher encounter rate of
pedestrians is a desirable public space quality given that the higher degree of
surveillance accorded to space has the attendant benefit of deterring crime.
Whereas the public spaces are intended to be a physical setting for people to
socialize, move from one place to another, engage in business or recreational
activities, some spaces are devoid of or have sub‐optimal encounter rates of
pedestrians due to weaknesses in spatial planning of the settlements. Such spaces
have consequently failed to fulfill the roles ascribed to them and instead have
become neglected and unsafe to operate in. Space syntax and structured
observation have been used to collect data. Multiple regression analysis establishes
that nine public space variables significantly predict the distribution of pedestrians
in public space. The significant public space variables are grouped into the following
four public space planning patterns that thus explain human distribution in public
space: integration, constitutedness, land use planning and connectivity. The
patterns inform generation of spatial planning policies whose utilization in layout of
residential neighbourhoods results in desirable distribution of pedestrians in public
space environments.
