01.02

Jean Paul Riopelle is located at St. Antoine and Placè Jean Paul Riopelle. The space is a rectangular area that is defined by the surrounding buildings. Square Victoria is located right down the street from Jean Paul Riopelle at St. Antoine and Rue du Square Victoria. Square Victoria is also a rectangular place´, but unlike Jean Paul Riopelle Square Victoria is defined by the streets rather than the surrounding buildings. Paths, symmetry, and use, are all important considerations in the design of a place´. Square Victoria is a better-delineated place than Square Victoria.
Jean Paul Riopelle has no definite path. The path weaves in and out of the seating and there is really no definite flow of movement. Even though there are a lot of unpaved areas, the paving allows you to cover most of the space in the place´. In opposition to Jean Paul Riopelle, Square Victoria has a definite path and direction. The path has a definite flow of movement and restricts you from straying from that flow by lining the path with seats on one side and fountains on the other.
Because of the directional path of Square Victoria, there is an axis created down the length of the place´. The axis is well delineated by the fountains in a linear sequence down the center of the path. The benches also help illustrate the axis by lining the outside of the path the entire length of the square. Jean Paul Riopelle does not have the line of symmetry. There is no element the place´ that is used enhance any axis. The benches are scattered along the unorganized path and the path continues to open up into a series of areas that lead you to the sides of the place´.
These two elements discussed help illustrate the uses of the place. Because of Square Victoria’s strong axis and directional path, this place encourages movement and flow. It encourages its users to walk the length of the place´ by restricting lateral movement. On the other hand, Jean Paul Riopelle has not direction or definite path. It allows the user to walk from side to side and almost roam the entire area of the space.
Clearly, the three elements, path, symmetry, and use, are used in different ways for these two places. Because of its informal elements of path, symmetry, and use, Jean Paul Riopelle is not a well-defined place. Square Victoria has a direct path, a definite symmetry, and because of these things has an obvious use. These elements help to strongly delineate the space of Square Victoria.