If you live in a city, you have probably walked by a newly redesigned public space that just happens to be…completely empty. In fact, millions of dollars are spent every year renovating public spaces in an effort to attract users. So, why do so many revamped areas remain unused and unloved after so much thought and economic resources are put into reenvisioning them?
The Center for Active Design (CfAD) has spent the last four years exploring that very question in an initiative “Assembly,” that looks at the connection between public space and community attitudes and behaviors. This work recently culminated in the release of Assembly: Civic Design Guidelines, a playbook offering design, maintenance, and programming strategies.
One of CfAD’s most significant discoveries is that activation provides key elements to public space that even the most well-designed un-activated space cannot. An experience in Charlotte, North Carolina, last year provides a good example of the importance of integrating well-designed programming with spatial design.
[For more on this story by MEREDITH L. SADIN, go to https://www.citylab.com/design...-city-spaces/568861/]
Comments (0)