a postcard of a modern urbanist’s nightmare

On August 1, 2013 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, infrastructure, pedestrianism, placemaking, postcards, sustainability, urban viewsLeave a comment

In 2010—with “six postcards not to send to an urbanist“—I began a series of entries with often ironic messages about urbanist trends.

Three years later, in the era of activated alleys and reclaimed, underused urban space, it’s time to try again.

The above photograph would have had little significance to city dwellers of old. Plain and simple, the alley was closed. Today, however, in the era of active alley spaces, social events and renewed, scaled retail venues, a dedicated urbanist might ask, with emotion, “but why”?

Such are the ironies of new connotations in a changing world.

city pianos–little effort, much reward

On July 28, 2013July 28, 2013 By Chuck WolfeIn compact development, everyday urbanism, infrastructure, pedestrianism, placemaking, sustainability, urbanism without effort1 Comment

Given the right context, the simplest urban intervention enlivens public space, reaps enormous value, and fosters fundamental human expression and curiosity.

In recent years, American cities have seen a rebirth of several such street level activities, ranging from small “parklets” to food trucks. The public piano trend is among the latest–and to my mind the most successful—of the many pop-up catalysts now popular in small city spaces. Notably, one website inventories the appearance of street pianos around the world.

This summer, Vancouver’s CityStudio is bringing the False Creek seawall to life next to the Olympic Village, as part of the Keys to the Streets Project. The piano shown above complements a pedestrian and bike environment–with little effort and much reward.

Last month, to the south, a government-appointed Seattle task force alone recommended 37 different tools (PDF) for enhancing public space management.

The Seattle list reads like an inventory of items garnered from the urbanist blogosphere, e.g. sidewalk cafes, wayfinding signs and pole banners. Yet public pianos do not specifically appear in the Seattle accounting.

However, as the photo above clearly shows, with first inspiration from New York, Portland, Miami, and elsewhere around the world, the appearance of public pianos in Vancouver shows a classical musical instrument still translating well from city-to-city in a digital age.

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

the unstaged beauty of urbanism without effort

On July 13, 2013 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, infill development, infrastructure, pedestrianism, placemaking, sustainability, urbanism without effortLeave a comment

I have become a zealous advocate for each of us carefully observing the fundamental relationships between people and cities, particularly when it is possible to capture moments that work, seemingly without effort.

Here we see a downtown public space, and simple chess board intervention.

Witness the result, including the camaraderie of strangers and astute observers. The family at play seems as important as the post-match decorum, not to mention the transit stop in the background.

This is not a staged photo. But I would venture that it shows, spontaneously, the very stage sought by over-complex formulations and the populist tenets of today’s urbanism.

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

literal placemaking and alley activation in Victoria

On July 7, 2013 By Chuck WolfeIn compact development, everyday urbanism, pedestrianism, placemaking, sustainability, urban viewsLeave a comment

In Victoria, British Columbia, one alley “activation” takes the term literally, enabling ready observation and commentary by placemakers today.

the rural landscape, through an urbanist lens

On July 5, 2013August 1, 2020 By Chuck WolfeIn everyday urbanism, pedestrianism, placemaking, sustainability, urban views, urbanism without effortLeave a comment

My Facebook page usually caters to a distinctly urbanist clientele. But, the most “liked” photos on the page last week were far from urban, with subjects dramatically divorced from city life.

Almost all who clicked “like” are transit, bike or urban density proponents, leaving me pondering why my photographs attracted such sudden admiration of life “back on the farm”.

I took four days off to photograph the Palouse region at the border of Washington State and Idaho with 14 others–an organized road trip led by online photo personality Steve Huff, and a Seattle Leica enthusiast, Dr. Ashwin Rao.

….

Today’s post continues as an entry on Crosscut. For the remainder, click here.

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

a postcard of a modern urbanist’s nightmare

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city pianos–little effort, much reward

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the unstaged beauty of urbanism without effort

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literal placemaking and alley activation in Victoria

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the rural landscape, through an urbanist lens

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