Publications of the Joint Center for Urban Studies

Kevin Lynch

This influential study explores how people perceive, navigate, and emotionally understand the physical form of cities. Drawing on research in Los Angeles, Boston, and Jersey City, it introduces the concept of “imageability”—the capacity of an urban environment to form clear, memorable mental impressions—and examines how streets, landmarks, districts, edges, and other elements shape that experience. The book connects urban design with human perception, offering planners, architects, and citizens a practical framework for evaluating and improving the legibility and identity of cities. Insightful and foundational, it remains a landmark contribution to the study of urban form and city life.