Activating Architecture in Urban Spaces

38
The Square on the Street Corner
A city should comprise a certain measure of diversity.
Ideally, city spaces are a series of different experiences and
opportunities through which citizens move. The city should
project a varied urban image comprising many different
types of areas, neighbourhoods and experiences. City spaces
should be planned with an overview capable of ensuring that
correct efforts and actions are taken in the right places in
order to benefit as many residents as possible.
Several European cities use the strategy of focusing on
the unused areas of the city, such as smaller squares,
abandoned areas, rear sides and smaller streets. New York,
however, is also the stage for planning based on the action
plan, ‘A Greener, Greater New York,’ in which a central tenet
is precisely to generate qualitative public outdoor areas for
all city residents using simple means and measures.
Pearl Street Plaza, New York City
informal
recreation
affiliation social meeting
city space
place
800 m
The Greener, Greater New York plan has, for example,
led to the transformation of a corner in Dumbo, Brooklyn,
New York. Through simple efforts, the area which
previously served as a parking lot has been transformed
into an attractive plaza by painting the surface green.
The colours, plants and seating areas create an inviting
setting. Benches have been placed along the sides
making it possible to sit in the sun, and trees in large
planters create smaller intimate spaces while preventing
cars from entering.
Before its transformation, Pearl Street Plaza was a parking lot. Now the corner has become an informal recreational and meeting
place for area residents. Pearl Street Plaza, 2008, Dumbo, Brooklyn. NYC, DOT. Photo: Ryan Russo.
800m
P
remote
parking