Technische Universität Berlin - kd-visions

6. Closing Words
6.1 Retrospection
This work dealt with the topic of roundabouts in the focus, specifically randabouts as a traffic
planning instrument from a landscape architectual point of view. The fundamental motivation
for this study was a discourse which led to the remark that while roundabouts have
recieved a lot of traffic planning euphoria in the last decade, landscape architectual design
benefits have not recieved the same amount of positive feedback. At this point in time the
majority of these areas are still not designed to satisfaction.
According to this remark several questions evolved which went beyond the boundaries of
landsacape architecture. Essential questions like: „What is the definition of the term roundabout?“;
„Which types of roundabouts can be distinguished?“; and more specific questions
such as: „What is a location/ non-location?“, and „How can roundabouts be easier/ better
organized in the future?“. To answer these questions it was essential to undertake a multidisciplined
analysis.
The primary question was how to treat the topic in a way that considers all discplines together
in one piece of work.
Based on this objective, a classification was made which seperated the work into three thematic
parts: traffic planning, sociological considerations, and landscape architectural aspects.
To meet this objective literature reviews, inquiries to persons or bodys in charge of traffic
planning, evaluations of photo databases, and on-site reviews of roundabouts were used to
do a complete and comprehensive assessment.
6.2 Findings
First of all, it is to be held that all planned processing steps have been carried out successfully.
The only exception ist that the initial objective of the typology key could not be realised
sensibly and therefore, was adapted over the course of the work.
The focus of the second chapter was on traffic planning aspects, more specifically to reduce
the complicated and extensive process of intersection design into a substantially more clear
and simple process. Especially for the characteristic of the intersection type roundabout,
definition, design and decision steps were developed which provide quick on demand access
to the desired information. Finalizing the chapter, a legal framework for accessible center
islands of roundabouts has been presented and interpreted for the first time. This includes a
comprehensive overview and discussion of possible crossing facilities for the opening of the
central islands.
The focus of the third chapter was on the sociological aspects of roundabouts, most specifically
the sociological considerations of the movement and perception by individuals of a
roundabout. This chapter successfull addresses the central issues: „How do individuals
move in a roundabout?“ and “Roundabout - location or non-location? “; and “ Wh people
use certain spaces and avoid others?
The focus of the fourth and most comprehensive chapter is the landscape architectural aspects
of roundabouts. It begins with a brief overview about the assignment methods for the
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