VISUAL QUALITY EVALUATION

                              Sixteen pictures selected from an Aesthetic Survey are identified below.
            These pictures best represent the site of Blue's Restaurant located at 13th and Winstanley.
    Each picture has its own preference score determined by the quality and quantity of built form, vegetation,
space, amenities, contributed history/culture, and people in the picture. The present and previous visual qualities
       and quantities are  noted below each picture with an evaluation key below. The evaluation summary shows the
            development of Blues Family Restaurant has had a positive qualitative and quantitative effect in
                                                         the community of East St. Louis.
 
 

Evaluation Summary
 

 
NO OF PIC
TOTAL 
TOTAL 
AVERAGE 
AVERAGE 
 
 
Quality
Quantity
Quality
Quantity
Before
8
63
73
7.9
9.1
  After
8
139
122
17.4
15.3

Evaluation Key

To develop the evaluation key, we started with an existing method and modified it based on a collaberation of aesthetic values research.  The category "people" was added to emphasize the importance of humans in the built environment.  Also the scale was changed to rank from 0-5 for both quantitative and qualitative measurements.  This was done to maintain consistency within the evaluation key.  In addition, this scale of positive numbers allows for easier interpretation by the users.
 
BUILT FORM
VEGETATION
SPACE
AMENITIES
HISTORY/CULTURE
PEOPLE
Quantitative
Architectural features, colors forms and sitings. 5 Variety of vegetation, well 
 maintained, designed,orderly 
 or "natural", interesting 
 forms, etc.: 5
Spaces may be delineated by 
buildings, plantings, or 
 topography: 5
Pedestrian- friendly 
amenities, e.g., Sidewalks, 
parks, benches,boulevards, 
   banners, etc.: 5
Numerous places of 
 Historical, Cultural, or 
 Architectural significance. 
 Distinctive, rare. Landmarks:5
Well populated: 5
using the enpoints defined in this narrative, pick intermediate values same as Built form  same as Built form same as Built form same as Built form same as Built form
drab or dull color, little creativity in architectural style and forms. 0 Not maintained, overgrown 
and unkempt, or 
non-existent: 0
Little spatial definition. 0 Few or no sidewalks, 
 automobile dominated. No 
  parks, street plantings etc.: 0
No significant places or 
   structures -- common: 0
Few or no people present, 
overly dense: 0
Qualitative
Complimentary and harmonious with natural environment. 5 Native or appropriate 
species:  5
Environment is well organized 
and harmonious:

 

High quality fittings, clean, 
 maintained:

 

Cared-for, well maintained: 5 Diversity in cultural groups, 
shows various age groups: 5
using the endpoints defined in this narrative, pick intermediate values. same as Built form  same as Built form  same as Built form  same as Built form  same as Built form 
Clashing  colors and style, busy and overly ornamented. Noxious weeds, hazardous (e.g. falling limbs), dead: 0   Places are cluttered, 
  disorganized. Discordant: 0
Vandalized amenities, garbage, litter, graffiti: 0   Un-maintained, littered, 
  obstructed:
Showing very little diversity 
or age variance: 0

The quality of vegetation and space, history and culture are an important part of a community, however the amountof these factors can have a negative effect just as well as positive. When determining the aesthetics of a community all factors qualitative and quantitative need to be accounted for. From the evaluation conducted, the photographs taken previous to Blue's Restaurant construction depict a low qualitative and quantitative score.  The results are low due to little color and creativity in architectural style and form, unkempt or trashed yards, little spatial definition, few sidewalks or amenities for social gathering places, and lack of people.  The photos may also display little culture or historical clues.  Photographs based on expectations of the site after the establishment of Blue's Restaurant show higher scores of both quality and quantity. These photos received such scores because of signs of community pride, social gathering, well organized and maintained surroundings, good spatial definition, diversity in age and cultural representation, and complimentary and harmonious built forms among other things.
 

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