recalling the real intersections of city life

On January 13, 2014January 13, 2014 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, pedestrianism, placemaking, sustainability, urban juxtapositions, urban views, urbanism without effortLeave a comment

Fifth in the new series, in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

This series has emphasized urban overlaps, overlays and, without saying so, the real points of convergence in city life. The photographs above recognize two variations of this convergence: a corner, and a place to sit and see, interact and do.

In two linked posts in 2011 and 2013 examined important characteristics corners and sit-ability (a.k.a. “sit-able city”) in the urban setting. Those two posts defined both crossroads and sit-able places as key, interdisciplinary focal points of human interaction with the city.

My point remains as stated—that these focal points offer challenges and opportunity, worthy of study and contemplation in the tradition of William H. Whyte‘s work (carried on today by the Project for Public Spaces), and in Jan Gehl and Birgitte Svarre’s latest summary of Gehl’s longstanding approaches, How to Study Public Life. And several others remind us of the latent “ecosystems” of humans, from Dannenburg, Frumkin and Jackson’s Making Healthy Places, to concepts inherent to my good friend Kaid Benfield’s new book, People Habitat. (Coincidently, all three book references–and my work—share a publisher and/or distributor in Island Press).

The “corner” and “sit-able city” posts were also viewed and endorsed by thousands of people around the world in both their original and repurposed forms. The idea of “sit-ability” compelled several follow-up articles by others.

Why?

For the same reason that the urban drummer in the photographs above latently knew, without guidance, where and how to place himself in a way that draws attention and charitable donations from passers-by. We inherently know the stages and windows and observation points of urban life—the entry points to everything from transportation modes to safety at night—and that knowledge is captured in scenes such as those shown here.

My examples of convergence points—corners and sit-able places—embody the premise offered in the opening post of this series, that in the urban world, juxtapositions matter.

For more information on the role of personal experience in understanding the changing city, see Urbanism Without Effort, an e-book from Island Press.

visualizing regulatory change in the urban setting

On January 11, 2014January 12, 2014 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, pedestrianism, placemaking, urban abstractions, urban juxtapositions, urban views, urbanism without effortLeave a comment

Fourth in the new series, in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

The first entry in this series described the importance of multiple forms of juxtapositions in urban settings, and emphasized the importance of reading such overlays and overlaps as a basic aid to policy, governance and regulation.

In particular, reading the overlay of regulatory change on urban spaces is easier than you might think. Ready snapshots illustrate changing socio-cultural practices, co-reflected in the evolving regulation of public venues.

The photographs above show two simple examples of this overlay. In summary, pictured here are two visual byproducts of overlaying and evolving regulatory schemes, focused at the human scale, rather than more typical parameters of building height, bulk and density.

In the first, more common example, an active sidewalk scene benefits from relaxation of enforcement practices regarding sidewalk spaces. Revised policies or regulations (either before or after the fact) enhance such visual results.

The second example results from legalized marijuana use in Washington State—call the scene “a vignette of tolerance”. Such scenes are not uncommon while cities around the state evaluate further regulatory approaches to venues for marijuana sale, use and consumption.

There are purposely no before and after images here—the point is to review the photographs and contemplate the appearance of different bounds of permitted uses in the not so distant past, from empty sidewalks to interventions of police and prosecutor.

Consider, also, the visual possibilities of the overlay of regulatory change some years from now.

For more information on the role of personal experience in understanding the changing city, see Urbanism Without Effort, an e-book from Island Press.

how to derive place capital from the overlapping dimensions of an urban view

On January 6, 2014January 12, 2014 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, placemaking, sustainability, urban juxtapositions, urban views, urbanism without effortLeave a comment

Third in the new series, in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

There are some moments in a city where the built environment—so much a focus of day-to-day urban affairs—dwarfs in comparison to the overlapping dimensions of other arenas.

In the photograph above, intensity of experience results from the components of boats atop the marine environment and the interaction of weather conditions and a mountain viewable from the city.

Such scenes are at the core of cities ranked for their beauty, or for their proximity to recreation and natural surroundings.

Taking notice of the juxtapositions of this photograph is to embrace the assets of a place. Value lies in the overlaps and blending that create an inspirational experience, not just in each element itself.

For more information on the role of personal experience in understanding the changing city, see Urbanism Without Effort, an e-book from Island Press.

how attention to overlays enhances our understanding of cities

On January 5, 2014January 12, 2014 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, infill development, infrastructure, lessons learned, pedestrianism, placemaking, urban juxtapositions, urbanism without effort1 Comment

Second in the new series, in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

On New Year’s Day, I suggested that juxtapositions, or overlays, are key to an understanding of cities, and offer focal points for discussion and resolution. The first example was of a physical juxtaposition that evoked the classic contrasts of old and new, nature and the built environment and natural and artificial light.

Today’s example bridges other urban qualities.

The photograph above is an intentional contrast of a static place and movements of both bus and musician. It also shows the common incursion of simple commerce in a public place—a subject of evolving regulatory focus in American cities—and an overlap that we should approach with a catalog of such imagery in mind.

Finally, the photograph suggests once again that the core of urban understanding is often in the small vignettes we all experience everyday—which, as I have often written, supply the basis for our own perspectives about city life.

For more information on the role of personal experience in understanding the changing city, see Urbanism Without Effort, an e-book from Island Press.

in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

On January 1, 2014January 12, 2014 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, infill development, placemaking, sustainability, urban juxtapositions, urban views12 Comments

First in a new series. Next installment appears here

The photograph above is an early evening rendition of an urban mixed-use project underway, next to an abandoned house.

Nearby streetlights highlight the shadows of branches against both new and old construction. This is an urban juxtaposition of the physical variety, that overlays new and old, trees and houses and natural and artificial light.

I have thought a lot about such juxtapositions on New Year’s Day, and why they are points of context, focus and catalysts for today’s urban issues and debates.

These overlays align us towards discussion of sudden and gradual change, generational differences, public and private preferences, merger of cultures and business types, and mixing of land uses, transportation modes, and housing approaches. They are more than transitions, but focal points for who decides the urban agenda and who gets versus who pays. Accordingly, they drive urban politics and professional services—and we should know how to recognize and work with them.

Consider a handbook of urban juxtaposition types and associated guidance, from case studies to typologies to regulatory reform.

But first, we need to read the city to see where the juxtapositions are. As the photograph shows, they are often in plain sight, in familiar patterns of overlap and/or interdisciplinary layers. Look at a juxtaposition—and see confronting dilemmas, flashpoints and ripples in time—all of which are recognizable in the faces, spaces and places of everyday life.

In such imagery we can predict policy debates, neighbor opposition, conflicts of parent and child in a way that can inspire dialogue, a search for consensus, or outright conflict and confusion.

In the weeks that follow, you’ll see examples and further discussion as part of an ongoing series. For now, it’s a tease, with a vernacular photograph to think about and consider. Stay tuned for more.

For more information on the role of personal experience in understanding the changing city, see Urbanism Without Effort, an e-book from Island Press.

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Category: placemaking

recalling the real intersections of city life

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visualizing regulatory change in the urban setting

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how to derive place capital from the overlapping dimensions of an urban view

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how attention to overlays enhances our understanding of cities

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in the urban world, juxtapositions matter

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