What is a Street Section? A vertical slice through a street showing the relationship between buildings, the ground, and the sky. It reveals proportions that are invisible on a map.
The H:W Ratio (Height to Width): This is the ratio of building height to the total street width.
- 1:1 = Strong sense of enclosure (Old European cities).
- 1:2 to 1:3 = Comfortable, human-scaled.
- > 1:4 = Weak definition, feels open or "placeless".
Human Scale: Active edges (shops, doors) and elements like trees and lights break down large spaces, making them feel safer and more interesting to pedestrians.