Thesis (BS Architecture) -- University of the Philippines Mindanao, 2012

Public markets give a distinct identity to any community. This manifests a perfect example of a society's culture and lifestyle: how people behave, the materials used for constructing the building, the commodities sold, and the building's aesthetic value. This research studied on the visual and user appeal in Davao City's major public markets ? Agdao Public Market, Bankerohan Public Market and Toril Public Market - through the Kevin Lynch's concept of imageability and legibility. It also looked into the safety and security issues in the public markets affected by the markets legibility. The research showed an aesthetically appealing marketplace induces a strong image to the observer. The cognitive maps in the study showed that abandoned areas in the market are avoided since it poses safety and security risks to the buyers. Legibility and imageability are the main concepts used in this study. These concepts were used to determine the visual and user appeal in public markets. In the end, there is a need to enhance the visual appeal of the marketplaces in the city, which will instill an aesthetically appealing image in the minds of the locals and visitors alike.