Jelled by recent public presentations and early Spring weather, late February Seattle is alive with the prospect of enhanced street life and the need for perceived safety among prospective street users.
Foreign inspiration from Denmark and Australia has defined a potential first step–dumpster removal, simple addition of patio furniture and other inexpensive implements to enhance use of improved alleys–all to exemplify how to reclaim public spaces.
The Seattle Times‘ “Sketcher”, Gabriel Campanario recently highlighted Nord Alley in Pioneer Square as evidence of the possible, and noted AIA-Seattle’s “green alleys competition” will unveil winners on March 4.
Indeed, regulatory barriers, property rights and maintenance issues are negotiable by motivated parties. City guidance for alley enhancement is readily available.
Seattle is poised to move from the setting of Pompeii’s past to the “laneways” of Melbourne.
What qualities might Seattle adapt from afar to implement “laneways”, enhance public space and create its own “post-modern Post Alleys”?
Here, in the first of a series, myurbanist proposes seven initial qualities, mindful of context, climate and topography.
1. Emphasize an alluring focal point.
2. Use hanging green.
3. Use simple, green plantings and encourage ornamental building features in the path of view.
4. Where possible, enhance multi-level exposure to vernacular buildings amid the urban fabric.
5. Provide varied forms of encounter with surrounding commercial uses.
6. Celebrate exotic signage.
7. Provide for a multi-color, mixed use environment.
urbanists at work
New post: bringing placemaking home, safely: what qualities will land in Seattle spaces? (http://cli.gs/QJBVH) http://cli.gs/QJBVH
@mclawyer thanks for the RT of the myurbanist piece on #placemaking bringing placemaking home (http://cli.gs/QJBVH) http://cli.gs/QJBVH
@saramdinges thanks for the retweet of the myurbanist piece on #placemaking in Seattle (http://cli.gs/QJBVH) http://cli.gs/QJBVH
Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need to enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57 (by MyUrbanist) #urbanism via @ehooge
material rhetoric of alleyspace: RT @urbandata: Visual inspiration for #placemaking: qualities to enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57
RT @urbandata: Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need to enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57 (by MyUrbanist) #urb …
This is super cool: RT @urbandata: Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need to enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57
RT @urbandata: Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need 2 enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57 by MyUrbanist via @ehooge
Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need to enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57 (by MyUrbanist) #urbanism via @ehooge
RT @allentownedc: RT @urbandata: Visual inspiration for #placemaking: 7 qualities you need 2 enhance urban alleys http://ow.ly/1cR57 by …
See the two-part series, "Bringing Placemaking Home" at http://bit.ly/dsXDiD and http://bit.ly/dC4xZZ for thoughts on #Seattle #urbanism
@gosner Thanks for the RT for sequel in myurbanist series, "Bringing Placemaking Home" at http://bit.ly/dsXDiD and http://bit.ly/dC4xZZ
RT @crwolfelaw: best of myurbanist 2010: bringing placemaking home, safely: what qualities will land… http://is.gd/jD8t2 #urbanism #ci …