Place Observations

Cataloging Place Characteristics and Experiences

A Good Pairing: Urban Density and Parks

by Kimberly on category ,

As I made it to France and England on my trip, I noticed that parks and other areas of green space have a more prominent role throughout the cities. I think this is a result of more development in the nineteenth century. Cities started getting bigger and were seen as unhealthy places to be when the industrial revolution started. Parks were developed as a response at the edges of cities. What we think of when we think of city parks started as a designed “rural” area that gave people a break from the built urban environment.

Today, they still perform this function. Although now, they are in the center of urban areas instead of at the edges. Throughout all the walking that I did, it was always nice to come to a park. I was always assured that there would be somewhere to sit and rest. In so many ways it gave a break away from the density and pace of the rest of the urban area.

There is a duality to parks. They are a destination, but within the destination they are made up of many paths and smaller places and destinations. They are planned, but need to be flexible. They are meant to bring nature to the city, but are “tamed” areas.

In Paris, after so much walking, I needed a place to wait until it was time to start another tour.  As I wandered through the Tuileries garden, I found a variety of places to sit. I watched an elementary age group of kids and teacher playing a game. There were tourists and locals. But everyone was taking a minute to have a break from the busy pace of the rest of the city.

In London, I wandered into Kensington Park. It was rainy and cool, but there were people walking home from school, feeding ducks and geese, and sitting and visiting with coffee.  The weather also didn’t stop others from running, biking or soccer practices.  In dense areas, having a place where people can go to get outside – alone or in a group – is important to support culture and the mental and physical well-being of the citizens.

Great urban areas are about balance. Having parks to balance out the built environment and density. And the parks need a balance as well – destination and pathways; events and quiet, planning but flexibility. The pairing of planned green space with a city creates a vibrant and healthy community. Why do you love a city park? Is there one in your town that you love to visit?

Streets Through Time

by Kimberly on category ,

After several weeks traveling, I have seen streets from various time periods. I travelled through Pompeii on a street unchanged since 79 AD. I have walked medieval streets of Italy and France. I have wandered down boulevards from the 18th and 19th century. And, I have seen modern streets designed primarily for car traffic.

Pompeii
Rome
Paris

And what I have noticed is not so much the differences but the similarities.  Dictionary.com defines a street as, “a public thoroughfare, usually paved, in a village, town, or city, including the sidewalk or sidewalks.” But more than the strict definition I believe streets have the following purposes:

A way to transport people and goods from place to place

A street’s primary purpose is to provide access. Within a city or town, this includes getting to not only other towns but to all the buildings and public areas within the city. The more buildings, public spaces, and other streets are accessible from a street – the more vibrant the street feels. Walking down a street with a new window to see into, a new street to glance down, a new small place to sit, is a much more pleasant experience than walking next to a blank wall for an entire block. The same half a mile feels so much shorter on a vibrant street.   

A way to organize a city or town

Secondarily, streets give a hierarchy and organization to a city. Different primary uses differentiate one area or street from another. Streets connecting the most important places within the city may also feel more important. Residential area streets can feel quieter and more intimate. The hierarchy doesn’t necessarily mean that all the different types of streets can’t also be great places. Just as variety on the street creates interest – a variety of different types of streets makes the city as a whole more dynamic and interesting.

A local expectation of behavior for mixing a variety of types of traffic

Most streets have at least a couple of different types of traffic. In Pompeii it would have been carts and foot traffic. In a modern street, you would see cars, trucks, bicycles, scooters, and pedestrians. The similarity across time includes the understood way each type of traffic behaves. In some medieval streets in Rome, people have the right of way in the entire street – only moving for the occasional car. In Strasbourg, bicycles had very clear paths and the right of way over pedestrians in many areas. In many areas cities are still trying to figure out if scooters belong with car traffic or on the sidewalk or both. Dealing with this variety seems to be the biggest struggle of all cities.

In the next couple of blogs, I will go into what makes one street better than another and highlight a couple of streets that I have particularly enjoyed in my travels.

Are there any streets that you love? Why? Let me know in the comments!

Protected Pathways

by Kimberly on category ,

In Bologna, some streets have sidewalks with a special detail. Starting in the 12th century, the city began increasing the upper stories of buildings and creating covered walkways – porticoes – at the street level. Over 38 miles of porticoes are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Porticoes of Bologna – UNESCO World Heritage Centre

What started as a useful way to increase available space, has become an amazing way to transverse the city center. Walking along protected from the sun or the rain, the rhythm of the columns and arches carries you along your way. This in between space – out but in; street but not – transforms the sidewalk into a place in its own right. Not just part of the street, not just part of the building, but a flexible space in between that can be used in a variety of ways.

It will be interesting to see if there are other ways that places achieve the same sense of sidewalk as a place in itself besides these amazing porticoes.

Meet Me at the Piazza

by Kimberly on category ,

I have been in Italy now for about a week, and this is a pretty common direction. Every tour I have taken has started at a piazza and you see friends and family and coworkers all coming together at the piazza too. It seems the whole purpose of the piazza in Italy is to come together.

Walking along the streets of Rome, all of a sudden, the narrow streets open up and expand into the piazza. The buildings create an active perimeter to the open area. Looking at the perimeter you can see a variety of services for the neighborhood:  government, religious, or commercial – such as shops and cafes. Activity spills from inside the buildings into the piazza. People crisscross the piazza on their way somewhere. Friends meet at the fountain before going out for dinner. The piazza hums with activity. One of my favorite things to do has been to stop at café in piazza and sit with drink watching this constant hum of activity in front of me.

These flexible multi-purpose areas play an important role in the city, acting as a kind of front porch or lawn for the neighborhood. The absence of buildings in a dense built environment makes these places comfortable to be in – and useful in a way that often a building isn’t. You have a place to stop and rest or wait without being in the flow of other traffic (pedestrian or vehicular). You can see most of the space and catch sight of the person you are meeting. You can just have a moment to pause and feel part of the community.  On top of all of that, the open space is flexible for all types of activities. In my brief time here, I have seen markets, concerts, soccer games, mini tennis courts (as part of a Davis Cup activity), card games, playgrounds, sitting, talking, eating and drinking. Neighbors and strangers all coming together for a rich variety of activity and life.

Many cultures have a similar idea to the Italian Piazza…there are plazas, squares, parks, etc. Each with its own style and local features. But the purpose is the same. As humans we need places where the community can come together for a variety of activities…or just to meet up.

In a world where we are becoming more disconnected locally as we connect globally through technology, I hope we don’t forget the benefit of having great public spaces that act as anchors and meeting spots for our communities.

Is there a place in your town where you come together? What makes it special?

Knowing You’re Home

by Kimberly on category

The other day my dad told me that, when he was younger, seeing the Edna Theater meant that he was close to home. Edna, Texas has been my father’s family’s hometown for several generations, and I moved back during the pandemic. As I start a journey, taking a long sabbatical trip to reset and reenergize, I thought it fitting that one of my first blog posts is about home, roots, and the landmarks that let you know you are back. 

What makes something a landmark? I think it is a combination of visibility, activity, and connection to the community. Traditionally landmarks were tall – meant to be seen from a distance and guide people to the town. They could be meeting places. They could be either religious or not. They are places that draw people together. They could be courthouses, churches, bell towers, etc.

Or as in Edna – the theater.  It hasn’t really shown movies in my lifetime, but even without activity on the interior, the building has an impact on the people here in my hometown. People still use it as a backdrop for pictures and almost everyone has a memory there. My memories of the theater are of it opening for a movie one Halloween and driving through town to check out the announcements on the marque. Edna’s theater is rundown, but currently has an initiative to bring it back to a more active part of the life of the community. If you want to learn more about the history or restoration, go to Home (ednatheatre.com)

What is so special about landmarks? I think it is the feeling of belonging we get when we add our memories to the story the landmark tells. We are connected to the past and the community. If we are local, it is an extension of our family and friends. It lets us know, “I’m back, I’m home.” If we are visiting, it helps us orient ourselves and sheds light on the personality of the place. It lets us know, “I arrived” and for a short time we become connected to the community.

So over the next several weeks as I travel around and see various communities around the world, I will keep my eye out for the landmarks of a community, the place they have, and what makes them an integral part of the town. But I always know that when I get close to home the Edna Theater will be there to welcome me home.

What is the landmark in your town and what makes it special?

More Details to Come…

by Kimberly on category

As I work on starting blog posts, I wanted to share a few images of details that I have found and loved as I have traveled in the past. Places are made up of layers of detail. Some of it natural, some manmade. Some of it simple, some complex. But this layered variety provides the stage and backdrop for the places that we love. Stay tuned for posts to come…but I hope you enjoy these first few details!

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