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Posts Tagged ‘spaces’

Ada Lovelace day: Jane Jacobs

Posted in 1 - spaces, 1.4 - public spaces, A - News, D - reflections, tagged , , , , , , on March 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Today is Ada Lovelace day, a day in which each blogger should talk about a woman who changed the world in her field: a good occasion to talk about the person who gave the biggest contribute to contemporary urbanism, Jane Jacobs. XIX and early XX century were the century of machines, a century in which [...]

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How to create a private space without using fences

Posted in 1 - spaces, 1.1 - housing, 1.4 - public spaces, 2 - transports, 2.1 - walking, 2.4 - cars, C - Tips, tagged , , , , , , on August 17, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

This image (Geneva, square Pradier, via Microsoft Virtual Earth) shows how to create a calm square and give privacy to a block without using fences or corner buildings. The four external building act as a screen and separate the square from the through traffic of the surrounding roads. Access to the backside of the external [...]

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Spatial organization and human nature

Posted in 1 - spaces, 1.3 - third places (bars and cafés), 1.4 - public spaces, 2 - transports, 2.1 - walking, 2.2 - cycling, 2.3 - public transports, 2.4 - cars, 3 - events, D - reflections, tagged , , , , , on August 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

If we think, like Le Corbusier, that human nature is bad, social interactions can only lead us away from the Truth, thus shall be discouraged. A “bad human nature city” will have freeways with no sidewalk, windows on nature, shopping centers with security guards preventing unwanted behaviours… If we think, like Jane Jacobs, that human [...]

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Smart growth goes to Spain

Posted in 1 - spaces, B - Trends, tagged , , , , on July 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment »

(Photo: Bilbao master plan, 1876. Source: wikipedia) On 19th century, Spain was one of the leaders in urban development. In almost all towns, a grid-shaped extension (Ensanche) was planned, and in almost all towns, the Ensanche is one of the most vibrant districts. (photo: plaza de Habana in Gijon. Source: Microsoft Virtual Earth) 150 jears [...]

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Free hugs campaign: the best example of the Flash Mob test

Posted in 1.4 - public spaces, 3 - events, B - Trends, tagged , , , , , , on July 1, 2008 | 1 Comment »

This video shows a classic of flash mobs, the Free Hugs Campaign, and shows us how the flash mob test reveals the different visions of public space carried by different actors: police officers viewed it just as a circulation space, while users viewed it as a place to meet and as an informal stage. It’s [...]

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pedestrian streets

Posted in 1 - spaces, 1.1 - housing, 1.2 - workplaces, 1.3 - third places (bars and cafés), 1.4 - public spaces, 2 - transports, 2.1 - walking, 2.2 - cycling, 2.3 - public transports, 2.4 - cars, 3 - events, C - Tips, E - Reportages, tagged , , , on June 23, 2008 | 2 Comments »

One of the element which can be used to create a downtown is the pedestrian street. (image: Budapest, Vaci Utca – from wikimedia commons) A pedestrian street has some characteristic features. Here we can start to explore them: 1) A significant amount of housing all around the street 2) A big attractor (i.e. an university, [...]

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