Rethinking Kevin Lynch�s Concept �the Image of the City� in Rethinking Kevin Lynch�s Concept �the Image of the City� in Contemporary Urban View; case study of kampungs, Surabaya- Indonesia

Kevin Lynch�s theory in the �Image of the City� (1960) is widely accepted in urban design and architecture education, practices and public policy. The concept is still discussed and applied because it widened the scope of practice: considering qualities of a place through identification of the five major elements in navigational ability (path, nodes, edges, landmarks and district). Lynch appears to put less emphasis on the category of �meaning� because of its social and cultural aspects that is very relative. However, in Lynch�s later writings, he places social, cultural and historical background of the setting and observers as important factors.
This article applies the contemporary urban view, especially in reading cities or neighbourhoods that is free from categorization of high-end, low-end and traditional conditions of post-colonial settings. It focuses on the concept of spaces as social production. The view will challenge the Lynch�s concept in reading neighbourhood, particularly in considering meaning perceived by the observers; will it be the same? The article is based on a study in kampungs (urban village) in Surabaya, Indonesia, with specific respondents of young adults aged 20-25 years old, and living in the kampungs since they were born.