AN ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF URBAN SPACES - THE CASE OF A SHANTYTOWN IN BRASILIA

An emphasis on environmental image construction and the consequent stu dy of internal mechanisms that lead to the creation of environmental m eaning have been pervasive themes in person-environment studies. By dr awing upon J.J. Gibson's ''Ecological Approach to Perception,'' this p aper focuses, by contrast, on the direct interaction between people an d their environment. Instead of an investigation of mental images, a s tudy of the relation between people's patterns of movement and space l ayouts is proposed here. A shantytown in Brasilia is used as a case st udy in a more detailed elaboration on the way such patterns of movemen t relate to spatial configurations and upon their role in the generati on of spacial meaning. Parallels are drawn between morphologies and fo rmation processes of the shantytown in question and those presented by vernacular settlements such as York (England).