Urban Shape | Paolo Gianfrancesco

Urban Shape is a set of graphic maps designed by architect Paolo Gianfrancesco. The maps are based on Open Street Map data.
The Open Street Map (OSM) is a collaborative project set up to create a free map of the world that can be edited by the user.

The series covers all the European capitals and American most populated cities. The aim is to visualize in a vibrant and modern approach a classic urban map focusing on the urban shape through communication flows. Each capital has its own rhythm and balance, a hidden equilibrium between void and buildings. The research goes through a data reduction to better emphasize the core of the urban environment. Many capitals are shaped by natural phenomena such as a river or a mountain, or a coastline; some by a military division. The maps show the actual status of the open source mapping. As with old traditional maps, these describe a view of reality and not reality in itself. The cities are in continuous evolution; the urban reality is fluid and reshaped daily by man´s actions. As in past centuries, these maps are not telling the truth, but offering a point of view. The choice of color is based on the Pantone color palette fading from the highest to the lowest population.

URBAN SHAPE are for sale at SPARK | DESIGN SPACE - folded - limited edition of 50 - ink jet print on Munken pure paper - 96 x 66 cm. Signed and numbered by the author.