The Importance of Sidewalks
After this week’s lecture, I found myself fascinated by Margaret Crawford’s work. It made me think about the uses of sidewalks and the potential they have to host various activities. I think that sidewalks that only function as a space to move from place to place should have more purpose, which means that sidewalks should be wider to allow for more activities. When communities are given spaces that are unprogrammed, they can organize them to accommodate their needs, whether that’s a local restaurant wanting to expand their seating outside on a sidewalk, or kids having a lemonade stand, or even street vendors using a sidewalk to set up their business. As architects, we should start to think about these approaches when designing because the in-between spaces are just as important as the building itself and this begins to put the community in mind along with the design as it makes us think about what activities could happen outside of a building that cater to the local community.
I find this really interesting because I feel that something that always gets forgotten when making projects, specifically in academia, is the social interaction of the spaces like sidewalks on the perimeter of the buildings. Visually seeing this in a presentation really helps not only see the potential of future circulation but also future engagement from outside identities that coexist in different communities.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, after spending months in Europe, I totally agree that America should rethink sidewalk design. Where I was living in Barcelona, the streets are designed on a grid system for pedestrians, not for cars. In this way, there are blocks on every street that encourage informal social gatherings and other activities, which in turn increased my quality of life because I felt safe and able to gather freely.
ReplyDeleteThe unprogrammed walkable space is so important in the social function of European countries. Not only with brick and mortar shops but the mobile entrepreneur that sets up location on a day by day basis. I couldn’t agree more with the need to increase spaces like this in the United States.
ReplyDeleteLarge sidewalks are so important for walkable cities, a trend I am hopeful the US is/will gravitate towards. These larger spaces not only feel safer to walk through, but allow the space to congregate, encouraging shopping, eating, meandering and developing stronger personal connections within a community.
ReplyDeleteI agree that sidewalks should allow for more interactive and intentional uses, but I also wonder what policies could be in place to either encourage or restrict those uses. I'm sure there are plenty in place now that makes it more difficult to use a sidewalk to sell your products or even use as a bonus seating area for a restaurant.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I too love Margaret Crawford's theory of using sidewalks as in between spaces. I think planning for wider sidewalks as a way to enrich the community is a great way to use space in a city and create a sense of community.
ReplyDeleteBrittany, I too love Margaret Crawford's theory of using sidewalks as in between spaces. I think planning for wider sidewalks as a way to enrich the community is a great way to use space in a city and create a sense of community.
DeleteI find this compelling. Coming from living in Charleston where the street are so narrow I learned to appreciate and enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. It made it almost feel more lively from the close contact interactions always made walking down kings street. In opposition I do agree having wider space to program is nice. For instance, during my time in Genoa there where many places that offered street side seating where one could sit and read, maybe enjoy an aperitivo with a friend, or watch the kids kick around a ball. I think however, both these spaces are programed. Charleston and its congestion almost draws you into the storefront shops and the streets act as a corridor. And the streets of Italy provide moments of pause and reflection and allow for gathering spacers.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this 100%. Truly walkable spaces in the European sense are hard to come by in America currently. I actually think what we’re learning about in our Building Economics class about incentivized FAR rewards from reaching certain levels of public space is somewhat promising. Or at least whether or not that method in particular is working well to increase quality walkable space, perhaps the premise is right in that making walkable spaces more commonplace begins with zoning regulations or other policy-making.
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