Public Squares.
Public space is, as defined by urban planner D.K. Specter (1987) a public realm which is the dwelling place of our civilisation, and a physical manifestation of the common good. Public spaces serve the people. They exist for the purpose of allowing people to, at a primal level, interact with each other, socialize, and form meaningful connections with each other. They stand as a platform for social movements and building a sense of community. They allow people to come together.
From an Urban planning perspective, Public spaces are vital to the life of a city. Any city which sees itself as the idealised centre of the nation will offer a large number of quality spaces. These public spaces are incredibly powerful tools for an inclusive society. It stands as a measure of equality amongst the people and informs them of who they are.
Architecture of the public squares greatly influence how these spaces are received by the public and are used. “Your Ability to create places that are meaningful, and places of quality and character depends entirely on your ability to define space with buildings, and to employ the vocabularies, grammars, syntaxes, rhythms and patterns of architecture in order to inform us who we are.” (Kunstler, James, 2004, ‘how bad architecture wrecked cities’, Ted talks, Monterey, California).
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Freestanding buildings in space shape these places, influencing us at the very basic level. Buildings are the makers of these spaces. The architecture surrounding these spaces will dictate the manner in which the public use it. Harsh elements overlooking into a square will cut it off from the rest of the city. A dark and cold environment will lack the attraction needed to make people want to use the space. Larger open spaces overlooked by soft facades and a dynamic use of ground floor programme bordering the space will create an vibrant friendly area
The book argues that by promoting inclusivity and diversity, social differences cannot stand in the way of ethnic groups interacting in positive ways. Some other key themes in The Cosmopolitan Canopy include the importance of diversity and inclusivity; the role of public spaces in promoting social cohesion; the challenges of creating a cosmopolitan canopy in different urban settings; and the need for people to interact with those who are different from themselves in order to reduce social tensions and promote understanding. In addition, Anderson utilizes folk ethnography to explore the dynamics of public spaces in different urban settings, and to understand how people from different backgrounds interact with each other in these
Question#1 Some people might think that abandoned, “ghetto” sites have become useless, uninspiring, invaluable and should be demolished to create a building in which people could inhabit or use with a purpose. Although, that is not always the situation, some places could be transformed into a building that is advantageous to all. To support this, it clearly states in Source#2 that “Through government partnerships, public art can also transform dull or run-down public spaces and inspire the people who live and work there. We believe that art is educational and belongs to all people.
The impact of gentrification on the older generation of adults in Oakland, California has been profound and multifaceted. Gentrification refers to the process of urban revitalization, typically accompanied by an influx of wealthier residents and an increase in property values. While it brings certain benefits to neighborhoods, such as improved infrastructure and economic growth, it also presents challenges for older adults, especially those on fixed incomes. One of the most significant ways gentrification affects older adults is through the rising cost of living.
Inner city neighborhoods are often thought of as a place of violence. People appear tough, and they act against others before others can act against them. While their way of life may seem odd to those of that did not grow up in the inner city, I believe that the code of the street acts as informal social control. How an individual acts or looks can have serious consequences, and sometimes those consequences can be deadly. The code of the street is simply a response to unemployment, available jobs that pay less than living wage, and a general lack of hope.
A higher land use mix was determined to improve landuse perception. In addition, features that enable quick and easy access to the variety of land uses was is likely to improve not only directness but land use perception as well. This would imply flatter sidewalk gradient, smaller parking lots in front of commercial premises and better access at and in enclosed communities. 4. Aesthetics and amenities perception was influenced by walking environment infrastructure including directness, continuity, as well as appealing environment.
Sanctuary cities act as safe havens for many undocumented immigrants, but they are being regulated between the various levels of our federated government system. President Donald Trump did not waste any time and as he vowed to crack down on undocumented immigrants living in the United States, he took immediate action as soon as he was in office. As president of the U.S., Trump has executive powers granted by Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, therefore he has the authority to execute an order from the executive branch about societal issues. Being that Trump has this power, he did not hesitate to sign an executive order about immigrants. Based on the article, “Sanctuary Fight Viewed as Having Limited Fiscal Impact on Cities” by Keeley
The building follows intimacy gradient eg homes. Thus having a balance between both. For example, the rosa park elementary school is designed with the participation of the
Delirious New York – Rem Koolhaas In a celebration of New York, Koolhaas’s delirious New York depicts the city as a metaphor for the incredible diversity in human behavior. He suggests that the city holds infinite possibilities for material and fictional activities and events and that the ‘culture of congestion’ is ultimately the essence of a metropolitan lifestyle. He pays homage to Coney Island, "the laboratory", highlighting the vital role it played in the building philosophies that would emerge later in Manhattan.
Introduction As the world’s population continues to migrate and live in urban areas, planners, engineers, and politicians have an important role to ensure that they are livable and sustainable. But what defines an urban area and what makes it so attractive? In my opinion, urban areas are places that consist of a variety of land uses and buildings, where services and amenities are easily accessible to the general public, and includes an established multimodal transportation network. Also, it should be a place where people can play, learn, work, and grow in a safe and collaborative manner.
In Rasmussen’s Experiencing Architecture, the author differentiates architecture from sculpture through utility. Therefore, the eye-catching curvilinear shapes of the hall’s exterior are more than bizarre geometric shapes. Surrounded by an urban setting, the concert hall’s undulating contours invigorates the cultural atmosphere of downtown Los Angeles. Spectators feel free to creatively interpret its ambiguous and novel shapes; whether the curves represent the crashes and clashes of orchestra or the frenzied hand gestures of the conductor, the concert hall ultimately reshapes the cultural landscape of LA as a unique architectural statement. Additionally, the materials used to construct the hall are stainless steel panels that hover above an asymmetrical band of glazing at the building’s base.
Public Space Observation Rachael Blouw Doctor Henderson World Urban Sociology For this project, I went to the University Center main lobby to observe people’s behavior. In this space, there are many people who were walking around, sitting at tables, and going to classes. This public area can be accessed by anyone for most of the day, except at night. I decided to sit toward the back of the lobby area, so I could watch everyone while they went about their business. I noticed several different behaviors between people.
As a photographer, Vivian Maier 's street photography is interesting because it captures everyday life on the street, but her work always seems to have a purpose. All of her photos have interesting subjects and focuses, which allows a lot of diversity in her photography. Her street photography and self-portraits are very similar, in my opinion. They are similar because they capture many emotions in an array of settings. Since many of the pictures are candid, they show true, raw emotions that do not over-glorify the reality of the situations caught on film.
The term “safe space”, a supposed haven where students of minority and marginalization can feel free to express their ideas and be themselves has started a movement across college campuses nationwide. The newfangled movement is driven largely by students who wish to scrub campuses clean of offensive or discomforting topics. Safe spaces emerged during the post-Civil Rights era where women, LGBTQ, and racial minorities grew in presence on campuses; however, today they serve as refuges for like-minded people who don’t feel the need to explain or defend their personal beliefs. Recently, the safe space debate has taken a controversial turn: arguments and cases have been created over whether safe spaces provide a supportive environment or cultivate
In the architectural realm these nonvisual experiences become important in how our space is perceived, how it makes people feel and even perform. The scale of architecture in relation to the person, the sensation a hand feels while touching a handrail, or the sound a person makes on the building as they walk: all of these
From walking your dog, to playing with your kids, the park is the perfect place for endless outdoor activities and events. The park is a door to escape the harshness of the world and return to reality with a new mind set on the world. Most public parks offer amazing sceneries of nature from plants and trees to wildlife. The presence of nature warms my heart bringing relaxation and peace upon my body and