An Investigation to Physical Aspects of Middle Area in Squares as a Useful Indicator for Designing Community-Oriented Urban Plazas (Case Study: Italian Piazzas of Campidoglio in Rome, Del Campo in Siena and San Marco in Venice)

Middle of squares, one of the components of physical aspect is considered as an appropriate indicator in designing successful urban squares, which consequently promotes visual quality. The present study aims to determine how the above mentioned aspect was presented in the Middle-Ages and Renaissance within Italian squares. Considering the aim of the investigation, library studies as well as visual documentations, with a historical-descriptive approach were applied in studying Italian community-oriented squares, Campo located in Siena, Del Campidoglio in Rome and San Marco in Venice. Results showed that, urban designers have employed some indicators, including physical aspect and its factors such as proportions, shape, surface design, materials, colors and topography in order to promote aesthetic-visual qualities, as well as human scale and unity of space to successfully design attractive middles in squares. These all, efficiently influence users' presence, pause, movement type and trend, direction, speed and even their behavior. Accordingly, considering the mentioned aspect is of great importance in designing future squares.