Gordon Cullen Concise Townscape Updated Online

| Term | Explanation | |-------|-------------| | | Ugly or out-of-scale elements disrupting harmony (e.g., a pylon in a historic square). | | Here / Then | A sketch sequence showing two linked views—one immediate, one around a corner. | | Gesture | Buildings or spaces that “point” or lead the eye (e.g., a curved street, a stepped gable). | | Pinch and swell | Alternating narrow and wide spaces to create rhythm and surprise. | | Change of level | Stairs, ramps, or terraces used to create drama or separation. |

| Cullen Concept | Modern Application | |----------------|---------------------| | Serial vision | Wayfinding, walkability audits, cycling path design. | | Enclosure | Street sections with tree canopies, active frontages, low setbacks. | | Content | Tactical urbanism, street furniture, public art, paving patterns. | | Visual intrusion | View corridor protection, signage rationalisation, underground cabling. | gordon cullen concise townscape