ABSTRACT
The art of urban design fundamentally lies in the maintenance of a productive dialogue achieved through a process of continual revision of visions and projects without sacrificing their essential qualities and characteristics while also strengthening their qualities, coherence and persuasiveness. Social spaces have been the subject of study by some urban researchers, such as Alexander and Hillier and Hanson, with the latter describing social spaces as either 'convex' or 'concave'. Related to the findings of another survey, conducted by William H. Whyte, certain invariants in the behavioural pattern of people in small urban spaces were established. Standing and conversing or simple social intercourse are promoted where pedestrian streets can be incorporated into the urban setting. The discrete use of colour and its potential enhancement of the aesthetic appeal of an urban space cannot be overrated. Colours and textures can be used to articulate, distinguish and enliven surfaces and objects, and so help to enhance the urban social space.
