Calculating characteristic visual complexity in the built environment: an analysis of Bovill's Method

In the 1970s, the mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot argued that natural systems frequently possess characteristic geometric or visual complexity over multiple scales of observation. In mathematics this observation lead to the formulation of fractal geometry and was central to the rise of the sciences of complexity. During the 1990s, researchers Michael Batty and Paul Longley (1994), Bill Hiller (1996) and Carl Bovill (1996) separately developed this concept in relation to the city, urban neighborhoods and individual buildings. More recently architectural scholars and building scientists have suggested that such arguments might be used to determine quantitative measures of regional, local or neighborhood character, to assist in the building approval and analysis process. At the heart of this approach is a procedure, that was initially demonstrated in architecture by Bovill, for analyzing buildings. However, despite its growing importance, the values implicit in Bovill’s method have never been adequately questioned. The present paper returns to the origins of Bovill’s analytical method to question his assumptions and arguments. Bovill’s method is of practical significance because many lengthy delays in the building procurement process are caused by disagreements over the visual character of a development. The Bovill method is one approach to seeking quantitative data that can assist architects, developers, town planners and the community to better understand the visual impact of a future development. In addition, this same method can be used to determine a measure of ‘visual character’; something that major new developments in Australasia are increasingly being directed to consider as part of their procurement process. The aim of the present paper is to begin the process of developing a more refined understanding of Bovill’s method that will better inform the design and approval process for the procurement of new buildings.