Spotted.
I find what Margaret Crawford characterizes as “Everyday
Urbanism” very relatable, especially as she describes it as: “existing in
between such defined and physically identifiable realms as the home, the
workplace, and the institution, everyday urban space is the connective tissue
that binds daily lives together.”
This sentence prompted me to reflect on the everyday urban
spaces I’ve experienced in cities I’ve visited and lived in. I realized that
these moments/spaces – the informal, unintentional, unplanned - are what I
value most about places. Frequently when people ask “what was your favorite
thing about your trip?” or “what did you like most about living in this place?”
it’s honestly the everyday urbanism (And now, thanks to Margaret Crawford, I
can actually accurately describe it). I’m starting to appreciate what makes the
quotidian urban experiences – whether positive, negative, or neutral: the ding
of the “stop requested” bell on the bus; the energetic morning and leisurely evening
paces of people – whether white-collar or blue-collar, old or young, English speaking
or not – meandering through the sidewalks and traffic circles; stumbling upon a
grouping of buildings that look especially beautiful in the evening sunset; how
people scramble for relief in the event of an unexpected rainstorm; that one
street corner that has become the unofficial neighborhood hangout spot; and
this even applies to rural areas, where often the high school kid’s social spot
of choice is the local Wal-Mart parking lot (https://soundcloud.com/user-641369439/talesfromwalmartpodcast).
Sure, there are a lot of contributors to “everyday urbanism,”
whether politicians, businesses, and infrastructure, but architecture is definitely a key participant. As designers we’re typically tasked with modeling
buildings to fit a specific program, but I think it’s important to consider the
other roles they’ll take on, whether being place schoolchildren gather before class,
a popular space pedestrians run to in the event of an unexpected rainstorm, or
a spontaneous live music venue.
I think its great that you are considering everyday urbanism for more than just parks and planned spaces. Meaning that everyday urbanism is created by people and not always planned by designers. I believe that this is what makes architecture, and overall design so satisfying..... The idea that you can plan and predict all you want, but there will always be something that is not in any stat book or any code book that society will create. Or even an environment in which society might not be drawn to because they see an even better environment in the same design.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me think about my favorite places and then what specifically I enjoy the most. It is not the planned spaces or a singular building but rather the fabric of the community and the spaces created by that community. The planned program is nice but it is the unplanned spaces that really stand out and create a real sense of place.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds of studying Jane Jacobs, and her mentality of "urban fabric" as applied to cities. What makes a city is all of its intricacies, its unplanned moments and flaws. Its hard to design the "feeling" of a city, yet the feeling an urban environment exudes is very much a real thing. It can either be positive or negative feeling, but I don't think it can be designed.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you quoted Gossip Girl to me makes your point even more valid. The steps to the Met would just be steps, that are a pain to go up and a waste of space, if the people hadn't made them into the social scene that they have become.
ReplyDelete