Neighborhood Legibility Analysis: Beherawi, Addis Ababa

Beherawi is a densely populated urban neighborhood in Addis Ababa that has a mix of commercial,
cultural, and residential buildings. The neighborhood has major landmarks, modern office skyscrapers,
and simple services that make it a point of centrality in the city. In order to examine the legibility of
Beherawi neighborhood, we can draw on the ideas of Kevin Lynch about legibility as well as city planning
principles and test the various aspects of the area such as routes, landmarks, nodes, borders, etc.

1. Pathways and Connectivity

Pathways:

Beherawi’s primary pathway is Churchill Avenue, which runs centrally through the neighborhood. This
avenue connects major institutions, such as the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), Ethiopian Hotel,
Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, and more. It's a significant road for both vehicular and pedestrian
traffic. The wide, well-trafficked road also links to the Sengatera business district to the northwest,
enhancing its connectivity.

Small avenues and roads off Churchill Avenue, like those leading to Sengatera, Wemezeker Library, and
Tikur Anbessa School, provide alternative access.

Connectivity:

- It is excellently connected to the rest of the city.

- Public transport routes are present within the region, and traffic flow is typically good, but subject to
jamming around busy intersections, particularly around the CBE building and Ministry offices.

- Proximity to other areas such as Sengatera and the Business and Office District promotes internal
connectivity within the area. Pedestrian neighborhood infrastructure continues to be open for
improvement in an effort to facilitate easy walking.

2. Landmarks

Beherawi landmarks serve to guide natives and foreigners alike, to leave in their minds a branded
picture of the neighborhood:

- Beherawi Theatre: The theatre is a cultural landmark that is under repair. The theatre will continue to
be a culture landmark after repair, drawing natives to the area.

- Lion of Jude Statue: Situated near the Beherawi Theatre, the statue is a landmark that is easily seen
and serves to bridge cultural and historical elements of the area.

- Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE): The dramatic architecture of the landmark building signifies a
reference landmark in the district. The CBE Headquarters office building and adjacent marble-facade
bookshop are references since they are instrumental in stabilizing the district.
- Ras Hotel and National Theatre are other landmark spots across Churchill Avenue.

- The Large TV Screen between CBE and the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure is a moving landmark
that captures attention and forms a focal point.

3. Nodes

Nodes are key locations where routes meet and focus activity:

- The CBE branch, Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, and Ethiopian Hotel intersection is a pinch point,
attracting both directions from Churchill Avenue.

- The second node is comprised of the Lion of Jude Statue, Beherawi Theatre, and surrounding cultural
and commercial locations, and the passersby and visitors who like to gather there.

- The large TV screen located in the node between CBE and Ministry offices also adds to the vibrancy and
becomes a popular landmark.

4. Edges

Edges in Beherawi are characterized by:

- Churchill Avenue, the central edge, dividing the northern and southern halves of the district.

- The Sengatera business district northwest creates a transition from the commerciality of Beherawi to
more business-focused areas.

- The Wemezeker Library and Tikur Anbessa School create strong cultural and educational boundaries,
assisting in the creation of the feeling of enclosure within the area.

5. Scale and Proportion

The neighborhood provides a combination of high-rise buildings (e.g., those that house upper banks and
offices) and low-rise buildings (the Beherawi Theatre, private shops). It is precisely such a combination
which provides a balance between verticality and human-scale interaction. The CBE buildings, the office
towers, and the giant electronic billboard on main crossroads still have an effective visual impact.
However, public areas are perhaps something the district lacks in providing respite from otherwise
overly dense urban surroundings.

6. Signage and Wayfinding Aids

- Signage in the neighborhood is both functional and attractive, with street signs along main roads,
commercial signs, and wayfinding elements that direct users to important destinations like CBE and the
Ministry offices.

- The large TV screen is an innovative directional component, providing sight and sound direction to
visitors walking in the vicinity.
- Additional information boards or digital interactive maps would help pedestrian navigation, particularly
for international visitors.

7. Visual Interest

- Contrast between historic buildings (such as Beherawi Theatre and National Theatre) and new
skyscrapers (such as bank headquarters and office complexes) makes it attractive to the eyes.

- There is sometimes, however, an atmosphere of architectural lack of cohesion, in that some of the
buildings are constructed to fit a broad contemporary style while others become famous for
nonconformist aspects.

- The Lion of Jude Statue, CBE, and Ethiopian Hotel are positive visual indicators of orientation.

8. Cohesion and Character

- There is a clear urban character of Beherawi that unites modern bank architecture with landmarks and
public spaces.

- There is clear blending of contemporary commercial buildings and Ethiopian traditional architecture
that gives the space a rich urban feel, although there are certain areas that would be enhanced by
greater architectural blending.

9. Land Use Diversity

- The zone benefits from a mix of varied uses:

- Office commercial (CBE, Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, NIB Bank).

- Public spaces (Beherawi Theatre, Lion of Jude statue, National Theatre).

- Shopping spaces and bar spaces near theaters.

- Public spaces (Wemezeker Library, Tikur Anbessa School, Ghandi Hospital).

- This building provides a lively atmosphere with something for different groups of consumers.

10. Public Spaces

- There are public spaces like the area around the Beherawi Theatre and Lion of Jude Statue. These
spaces offer space for congregation and socialization.

- The area could, however, require more pedestrian spaces or parks to serve as complements to
socialization and play.

11. Comfort and Safety

- Comfort and security can be promoted through lighting up of roads and offering security presence,
particularly in crowded or unlit areas.

12. User Experience

- The user experience at Beherawi depends on the extent of mobility within the region, accessibility of
activities provided, and natural beauty. The area possesses a high **lively atmosphere**, especially
within public icons like CBE, the National Theatre, and Beherawi Theatre, where natives and foreigners
congest functional and cultural centers to.

- There can be improvements made to pedestrian facilities, and the area would be enriched with
additional public spaces that are conducive to comfort and social interaction.

13. Districts Impacting Beherawi's Legibility

1. Sengatera (Business and Office District)

- Location: North-west of Beherawi.

- Character: Office and commercial zone with office buildings and banks.

- Impact: Contributes business identity and connectivity to other business districts to Beherawi.

2. Wemezeker Library and Tikur Anbessa School (Cultural and Educational District)

- Location: East of Beherawi.

- Character: Schools and cultural institutions.

- Impact: It brings diversity, which makes Beherawi rich in educational and cultural events.

3. Central Business District (CBD)

- Location: Vicinity of Beherawi.

- Character: Highly populated with corporate office buildings, banks, and government administration.

- Impact: It makes Beherawi an economic hub node, thus urban in liveliness.

4. Residential-Commercial Mix (South of Churchill Avenue)

- Location: South of Beherawi.

- Character: Hotels, hospitals, and residential buildings.

- Effect: Deters business intensity at the expense of residential and service activities.
Beherawi Urban Design Principles

1. Character: Good identity is provided by the mix of new and old structures. Greater continuity of
building type would, however, improve the visual cohesion of the place.

2. Continuity & Enclosure: Roads and big buildings provide a sense of continuity, but there is no enough
public space to facilitate enclosure of individual spaces.

3. Quality of the Public Realm: The streetscape is fairly delineated, but the site falls short in ensuring
adequate concern for urban greenery and public spaces that offer more comfort to the users.

4. Ease of Movement: Pathways are generally well-connected, but traffic congestion and the lack of
pedestrian-friendly routes could hinder*movement in certain parts of the neighborhood.

5. Legibility: Beherawi’s legibility is strong due to its landmarks and the clear structure of major roads.
However, more signage and clearer wayfinding aids could make the area more navigable.

6. Flexibility: The site lends itself to future development and adaptive reuse of present buildings like the
Beherawi Theatre, and it is therefore a resilient site for other purposes.

7. Diversity: The range of uses, from commerce and culture to public services, creates a diverse urban
landscape for a variety of needs and functions.

8. Personalization: There can be a certain level of personalization, especially through the cultural
landmarks and public spaces that can be developed in the course of time.

Lastly, Beherawi is a vibrant neighborhood with tremendous development and growth potential.
Enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, increasing public space, and adding more signage will enhance
legibility and accessibility for all users. The diversity of land use and the strong landmarks of the
neighborhood make this a fascinating and vibrant urban district in Addis Ababa.