Entrance Groups and Entrance Locations as a Factor in the Formation of Architectural and Spatial Identity of a Territory

Abstract

The article examines entrance groups and adjacent territories (entrance locations) as significant elements of the architectural and urban environment that participate in the formation of territorial identity. Based on a comprehensive study, including a questionnaire survey of the population (N=562), expert interviews with architects, urban planners, and representatives of local governments, as well as field surveys of entrance groups in 15 regions of the Russian Federation, the key architectural and planning characteristics influencing the visual perception and emotional evaluation of these objects are identified. A typology of entrance groups is proposed based on compositional solution, scale, materials, and lighting methods. Recommendations are formulated for the design of entrance locations as integral architectural and landscape complexes, taking into account the requirements of visibility, legibility, aesthetic expressiveness, and integration with the surrounding environment.