[openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website] Light base layer (#3244)

[cosmo-kray]

Hi everyone 👋

First of all, I'm a big fan of osm and I think this is an incredible tool, thanks for everyone who took part of it. It's quite amazing to be able to discover that tons of cartographic informations. But on a regular basis, I usually browse the map to navigate and find my way in the city and I feel it's a bit noisy and overwhelming.

It could be interesting to develop a base layer more suitable for all kind of user, more minimalist and sober, to be able to navigate and find your bearings easily. This also could provide more information about buildings, businesses, interesting points but a bit "later" on map zoomed.

On this screenshot of my city (217k inhabitants), I zoomed to include all the city center ("centre-ville" in french, placed in the middle). On the left is the default osm base layer, on the right, I've designed a mock-up of this idea of light and more spacious base layer.

![osm-renderings-test](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/50275995/124260132-9aae6b80-db2f-11eb-9cb9-b2b12ac4b60e.jpeg)

**Buildings** • I believe buildings shape are not necessary on this scale and scramble the lisibility.
**Parks** • I choose more vivid colors to contrast with the greyish ground of the city.
**Rivesr** • Same as parks, I think it's a powerful way to locate a spot on the map
**Facilities and private places** • Yellow and reds are emphasized and help locations in my opinion.
**Neighborhoods** • I really enjoy that neighborhoods are placed on osm, maybe it could be a bit more clear
**Ground** • Grey have been lightened to contrast with everything and give a bit more shiny feeling to the map that I feel today a bit drab.
**Tiny simbols, red dotted lines and others** • I've disabled some tiny elements that I feel are not revelant for large perspectives.

Let me know what you think !

-- 
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/openstreetmap/openstreetmap-website/issues/3244
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.openstreetmap.org/pipermail/rails-dev/attachments/20210702/79713e24/attachment.htm>