A Sociable Place
by
Christena H. Turner
Bachelor of Science in Art and Design
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
1981
SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
DEGREE
MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE AT THE
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
JUNE, 1986
Christena H. Turner
1986
The Author hereby grants to M.I.T.
permission to reproduce and to distribute publicly copies
of this thesis document in whole or in part
Signature of the author
Christena H. Turner
Department of Architecture
February 18, 1986
Certified by
C t i bChester Lee Sprague
Associate Professor of Architecture
Thesis Supervisor
Accepted by
Jul
Departmetal Committee for Gra
Rotch
JF
1 LC't86
JUN 0 61986
LiBRAFi ES
Messelvy
Chairman
te Students
dedicated
in memory
of
Captain Earl King Rhodes,
2
U.S.C.G.
A Sociable Place
by
Christena H. Turner
Submitted to the Department of Architecture
on February 18, 1986 in partial fulfillment of the
requirements for the Degree of Master of Architecture
ABSTRACT
social
We need
sociable creatures.
are
People
interaction of various sorts, including casual contact with
strangers as well as planned meetings with friends and
It is the task of the designer to understand
acquaintances.
these needs and help provide appropriate settings for social
contact.
This thesis examines one such setting: public outdoor
spaces, or gathering places, and attempts to discover design
elements which can help these places support social contact
These elements are presented in the form of
and gathering.
design criteria, which are then applied to a short design
study. Finally, this thesis proposes that we incorporate more
of these places within smaller cities and neighborhoods, to
bolster existing social networks and to provide greater
opportunities for meeting and gathering within communities.
Chester Lee Sprague
Thesis Supervisor:
Title: Associate Professor of Architecture
3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks to:
Chester
Sprague
Howell,
for
and
Sandra
helping me find
and for their
direction
en-
thusiasm and interest;
Julie Messervy,
for
helping
me through the early stages;
Jill
Stein,
for helping
me
discover the initial concept;
John
Barnwell,
for
contri-
buting valuable resources;
Nils
Bonde-Henriksen and Ray
O'Toole,
for their
assistance;
friendly
my
friends and
family,
for
their continuing support;
my
son Evan,
sane
for keeping me
during
the
thesis
ordeal;
my
husband
patience,
Mark,
his
couragement,
for
his
constant
en-
and
for
his
extremely valuable comments.
And lastly,
my thanks to
old neighborhood:
friends,
my
to all the
acquaintances
and
strangers who made me realize
how
important
contact
other people can be.
4
with
ILLUSTRATION CREDITS
Drawings
from
New
Yorker
4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17,
Magazine, pages:
21, 25, 28, 127, 159, 167,
171,
"Momma,"
by
Mell
Lazarus,
13.
Boston Globe, page:
Illustration
by
Veronica
Garcia, New York Times, page:
Illustrations
Subtle
195, 200.
from
19.
"The
Differences
In
Configuration of Small Public
Spaces," by S.D.
Joardar and
107,
J.W. Neill, pages:
All
other illustrations
137.
and
photographs by the author.
-11fa- j Ilk-*
5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract
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3
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4
Acknowledgements
Illustration Credits
Table of Contents .
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Introduction
1.
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Our Social Needs
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SOCIAL CONTACT AND GATHERING
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Behavior in a Gathering Place
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FIELD OBSERVATIONS
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Keys to Drawings
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1.
Brattle Square .......
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Holyoke Center .......
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3.
Harvard Subway.
4.
Porter Square .
5.
Davis Square
6.
Newton Highlands .o
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DESIGN CRITERIA .
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LOCATION AND RELATION
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Proximity to the Public/
Commercial Center
2.
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Summary of Field Observations .
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Site Plans
4.
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RESEARCH OVERVIEW .
Review of Research Projects
3.
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Neighborhood Gathering Places .
2.
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Transportation Junctions .
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
II.
III.
3.
Access .
4.
Configuration
5.
Supportive Activities
6.
Building Edge
7.
Climate
PATH
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114
117
120
125
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128
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129
1.
Multiple Paths
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2.
Primary Paths
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132
3.
Secondary Paths
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134
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137
PLACE
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1.
Density of Form
2.
Sub-areas
3.
Sitting Places .
4.
Props and Screens
5.
Overviews
6.
Reciprocal Forms
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163
7.
Focal Elements
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166
8.
Materials and Textures .
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Maintenance, Personalization
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170
CHOICE AND VARIETY
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DESIGN STUDY
Drawings
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177
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183
Design Process
Epilogue
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and Change .
IV.
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187
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195
Bibliography
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196
7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
8
INTRODUCTION
Architecture
many
be
many
it
purposes,
can
but its primary pur-
things,
support
to
be
should
pose
can serve
human action.
This is often
interpreted
in
space is necessary
much
an office;
layout
Though
these
questions,
for a
house.
important
are
obvious
the less
occur
which
activities
designed
for
what is an appro-
priate
these
how
ways:
straightforward
also
fairly
is social
in
tecture schools touch on
issue:
community,
The focus of design
One of
projects
often
interaction
social
implications: communal areas,
archieven
between
public
zones,
user
It
can affect people's relations
examples
When speak-
ing of connected or interactspaces it seems
one
is
interaction
between people in the spaces.
Many
has
shared spaces, the transition
language of
implying
the
ronment.
if not explicitly, how design
also
improving
need
tecture often suggests,
ing
developing a sense of
of the public envi-
among people.
with each other.
the
quality
environments
be considered.
The
"Whatever the primary purpose
that brings the individual to
a given physical setting, the
setting must not only have
the capacity to satisfy the
primary need and other relevant subsidiary needs, but it
goal
must also allow for
satisfactions that are only
remotely related to the major
purpose."
(Proshansky et al, 1976,
p. 172)
of the topics in archi-
and
private
participation.
seems obvious from
that
underlying
courage
social
of
our
is to
en-
one
goals
-these
interaction
through design.
There
are also numerous
research projects which examine how
physical and
archi9
INTRODUCTION
both
among
contact
planned
and strangers.
acquaintances
is important both as
It
first
toward
stage
lished
the
estab-
relationships,
but
also for its own sake. It is,
tectural
environments affect
Most
relationships
I
friendship.
though,
estab-
with
deal only
lished
contacts.
social
people's
that
important,
informal,
un-
a way of being
simply,
with other people, of feeling
a
part
of
the
As designers,
is
critical
familiar
for
with
I feel it
us
these
needs and responsive to
in our designs.
10
com-
human
munity.
believe,
other forms of
contact are also
particularly
like
most
to
be
social
them
SOCIAL CONTACT
AND GATHERING
1 -
are
"All living organisms
bound up in a general social
environment or situation, in
interrea complex of social
upon
interactions
and
lations
their continued exiswhich
tence depends."
(Mead, 1934, p. 228)
It
that
seem obvious
would
people throughout
since
the
world live in communities, we
must
be
social
inherently
need to come
creatures.
We
in
daily
contact
livelihood.
relationships
for
our
"How was your lonely little dinner, sir?"
We are born into
which we main-
tain throughout our lifetimes
and contract into
additional
vacy,
The
to be away from others.
degree to which
has
ship and marriage.
debate by
also
ual
the other
hand,
we
appear to have individneeds;
a need for
pri-
are
social vs. solitary creatures
relationships through friend-
On
we
long
been a subject
philosophers,
thropologists,
tists
of
an-
social scien-
and environmental psy-
chologists.
11
SOCIAL CONTACT
AND GATHERING
OUR SOCIAL NEEDS
Many
"Moreover, we are by nature
social, having been naturally
selected, through many millions of years of overlapping
genetic and cultural evolution, to live in a cooperative cultural matrix."
(Turner, 1985, p. 47)
have
researchers
observed that our social
has
ture
evident
been
throughout history;
earliest
that the
un-
civilizations
earthed have displayed
"Sharing of experience, close
contiguity of comradeship and
co-operative
face-to-face
effort have always been a
fundamental and vital need of
The primacy of this
man.
groupward drive was recognised by Kropotkin, who considered mutual aid as one of
the chief factors of evolution."
(Halmos, 1969, p. 1)
na-
their
tribal nature, and that it is
unlikely we are any different
today.
so-
Others suggest that
cial
a
on
contact
regular
basis is necessary for normal
human development, especially
during
Mead
major tenet of social
"...a
psychologists is that people,
regardless
of where
they
live, need a certain amount
of close interpersonal interaction to develop socially
and will determinedly seek
out such relationships for
their continuing psychic survival."
(Wiseman, 1979, p. 23)
childhood.
(1934)
has
George
theorized
that the consciousness of the
individual self develops from
social contact,
mechanism
is speech:
and that the
for this awareness
a communal act.
The Individual Vs. Society
"Man,
who
evolved within
small groups and who has few
him,
to
guide
instincts
requires a close attachment
to other men and to a primary
least
reference
group--at
during childhood--if he is to
mature properly."
(Levitas, 1978, p. 232)
Despite
these
there
are
that
social
commitments
arguments,
others
who
feel
contact
and
constrain
our
desire to be independent.
12
OUR SOCIAL NEEDS
A high degree of
in-
an
imply
may
contact
social
level of control
creased
by
the social group and lessened
by
control
America
roots of modern
The
go
individual.
the
back
to
various
control
seeking freedom from
by
antagonistic
other,
Turner (1985) feels
groups.
that
groups
been
often
has
detrimental,
the
on
emphasis
the
individual
leading
neglect of some of our
to the
basic
Levine
refers to
(1977)
Freud's proposal that
influences
negative
gles,
the
arguing
fact
social
primarily
are
influences
the individual
against
strug-
instead
that
of society
presence
enables man to
in
gain
a
sense of uniqueness against a
framework
responsibilities.
which
soli"The notion of natural
tude has thus introduced dismight
into what
tortions
been a more
otherwise have
harmonious balance of constias
guarantees
tutional
against human predisposition.
Those distortions include the
neglect and isolation of perespecially the young
sons,
the old;
we regard priand
vacy as a natural right, but
not community, which may well
be
a more
important human
need."
(Turner, p. 49)
Altman
of
(1975)
community.
attempts
to
solve the debate over privacy
and social needs by
ing
suggest-
that these are not mutu-
ally exclusive
desires,
but
MOMMA 'by MeIL. Lazaus~~7
IsoMA.
ct~*
-
MOM
O A ^'
~.ACM9 50CJAL
~
trw
cl
0HZ
~ TO
rrAWG(A13
13
OUR SOCIAL NEEDS
"...privacy
is better apchanging
a
as
proached
boundary-regulaself/other
tion process in which a persometimes
son or a group
wants to be separated from
others and sometimes wants to
be in contact with others.
As a corollary, being
alone too often or for too
long a period of time (isolation) and being with others
too much for too long (crowdundesirable
ing) are both
states."
(Altman, p. 207)
the
others:
contact with
enough
of
problem
isolation.
factors have been iden-
Many
as
tified
contributors.
Dixey (1974) blames isolation
on specialization in jobs and
greater
mobility.
(1978)
cites
government
Levitas
centralized
and technological
advances which eliminate
the
rather represent the two ends
need
for
person-to-person
of a social involvement spec-
encounters
for communication
where people have dif-
trum;
fering
at
needs
for degree
times
as additional causes.
Other observers, though,
different
of
social
that
feel
prac-
our modern
contact.
tices in planning and
design
Social Isolation
are
pushing us
toward
Altman's
one
comments lead us to
when
greater isolation.
They ar-
we
en-
gue that the current
we do not
get
cies to design buildings with
of the problems
counter
also
hard,
to
tenden-
impenetrable surfaces,
locate all public activi-
ties
areas
away
from
residential
and at such
distances
as to require vehicular
vel,
and
transitions
14
to create
between
tra-
minimal
public
OUR SOCIAL NEEDS
and
lead
private spaces all
to a diminished social
expe-
"The dream of a society in
which people who share common
goals will trust and respect
one another is being suffocated in a torrent of concrete, steel, sophisticated
these
security equipment.
rience.
Need for Casual Contact
is clear from
It
limited
not
is
interaction
social
for
that our need
arguments
to established rela-
tionships but covers a
range of contacts.
wider
The prob-
with the
"Contact
physical environment
from within a rapidly
sealed
lem
of isolation,
in
casual
affects
particularly
fact,
encounters, since one can see
friends
and family by prear-
rangement.
ule
We cannot schedstran-
our contact with
...
Hous-
ing projects, scools, playgrounds, courtrooms, and commercial buildings reveal the
hardening process at an advanced age."
(Sommer, 1974, p. 26)
container.
...
larger
occurs
moving
This
form of contact is remote and
inadequate. Communication is
Comprehension of
difficult.
the world one lives in is
Contact and commusketchy.
nication with people around
one is made extremely difficult by the extreme separation of public and private in
our environment."
(Cylkowski, 1975, p. 7)
gers, though; we cannot set a
date for the kind of serendipitous,
spontaneous activity
which occurs in public.
What
the nature
is
this form of social
tion
and
it?
Kenen
why
do
interacwe
(1982) calls
"sociability",
of
need
it
and describes
it as follows:
15
OUR SOCIAL NEEDS
human
"Sociability--simple
for
interaction that exists
its own sake, that is spoiled
if its content grows signifior emotional impact too
cant
strong, and that is separated
interaction
solely
from
regeared to providing or
an
information--is
ceiving
of
urban
important aspect
(Kenen, p. 163)
life."
She
also
refers
to
remarks on the
Jacobs'
carries
person
no
can
its
spontaneity:
Jane
unexpected,
same
bonus,
an
haps
it
by
being
is kind of a
extra
event
not
It is also per-
a bit exciting
because
of its unpredictability.
And
by
re-
being unplanned,
quires no elaborate
tions.
Casual
prepara-
contact
can
person aware of
the
make
a
fact
that
larger
it
they
live
community of
in
a
people.
It can make strangers and new
situations seem less strange,
p. 538)
elements
of
contact are that it
is
The
unplanned,
basic
more comprehensible.
Finally,
it can be
the
that it can occur
preliminary
acquaintances
established
and that
be-
the way neighbors get to know
it
one another and friends meet.
both
and strangers,
16
as
Its value lies partly in
"The sum of
such
casual,
at a local
public
contact
level--most of it fortuitous,
it associated with
most of
errands, all of it metered by
the person concerned and not
thrust upon him by anyone--is
public
a
feeling
for the
a web of
identity of people,
public respect and trust, and
pera resource in time of
sonal
or neighborhood need.
The absence of this trust is
a disaster to a city street.
Its
cultivation cannot
be
institutionalized. And above
it
implies no private
all,
commitments."
(Jacobs, 1976,
cause
participate
she chooses, and no longer.
counted on.
between
A
much and for as long as he or
matter:
such
commitments.
it is not planned,
step towards
an
relationship;
NEIGHBORHOOD
GATHERING PLACES
contact
casual
Where
does
occur?
Actually, it can hap-
pen
in
place:
any
almost
office buildings,
stores, or
along the street.
If we are
which
places
in
interested
the broadest range
reach
open
"Collectively, a city's abunsmall spaces have a
dant
major impact on the quality
If those spaces are
of life.
will
people
unattractive,
likely retreat from the city
street, perhaps from the city
itself."
(William K. Reilly, Forward
to Whyte, 1980, p. 7)
streets
have
within
considered
the
the
its
sidewalk spaces,
and not just a select
group,
however, we must look
public
the
Most typically, it is
realm.
the
in
places
"I believe that we will always be attracted to cities
or some future equivalent, in
order to find what the state
of nature does not provide:
stimulus, contrast, excitement, economic reward, and
the recognition of man's gregarious instincts."
(Specter, 1974)
of
people
at
SOCIAL CONTACT
AND GATHERING
street and
public
spaces where people meet.
city's
A
been
long
connector"
"social
movement of
constant
tality
to the public
primarily
movement.
people
and
places
The places
etc.
widened
These
vi-
space.
for
where
can both be in public
spend
a
considerable
amount of time are the
what
parks,
though lively,
streets,
are
network:
pedes-
activity brings a
trian
plazas,
street
The density and
inhabitants.
But
for
the
larger,
open
somespaces
17
NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACES
ters.
have
long as people
"As
grouped together, first in
small communities and later
in towns and huge cities,
public spaces deoutdoor
signed for large congregations of people have existed.
The agora in every Greek city
identifiable
an
provided
place for people of differing
backgrounds from anywhere in
the
region to meet and exchange ideas as well as money
Public
merchandise.
and
baths have been social centers from the days of ancient
Rome to contemporary Japan.
No Italian Renaissance city
was built without its piazzas,
and no colonial New
England village was laid out
without a common green, almost always in the center of
Today our socialthe town.
izing has become less formal
and official, more casual,
but we are still concerned
with providing ways to be
among other people--to watch,
to be watched, to meet and
The outdoor cafe,
interact.
the public urban park, the
rock concert, and the street
are among today's equivalents
of yesterday's agoras, baths,
and squares--clearly identifiable places to meet, talk,
and be among people."
(Wurman, 1972, p. 13)
We
can
spaces gathering places.
Most large cities have a
number
of open spaces,
places.
gathering
problem,
though, is that be-
using them it is
likely
that a chance encoun-
be repeated.
no
There is almost
opportunity for a
This leads to the
tion
of
whether
ques-
gathering
places in smaller communities
might
have
tages.
of
advan-
certain
Here, all the aspects
casual
numbers
engage in extended
ac-
using
18
some-
thing else.
but
encoun-
casual
encounter to grow into
and be with others,
and social
un-
ter with a stranger will ever
see
tivities
of
people
where one can
also
as
Their
cause of the great number
are
only
some
of which serve quite well
contact
have
better probability of
not
these
call
ring.
casual
a
occur-
Because of the smaller
of people
regularly
place,
repeated
the
meetings between
the
NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACES
same
people
likely,
would
which
be
more
could lead to
established
relationships.
People might also become better
acquainted
how
more
it functions
and
and services
what activities
are
their
learning
community,
about
with
Supporting
available.
"Clearly, these early findings indicate primary relationships in the city are
encouraged when people with a
good deal in common are in
contact with each other over
of
a
considerable period
time, as in a neighborhood or
place of employment."
(Wiseman, p. 24)
their children, and
*
the increasing number
relations between people in a
people
community might also
homes.
encour-
age
more cooperative efforts
and
reduce
develop
which
tensions
from
misunderstand-
who work out of their
There is certainly
for improvement.
room
Many neigh-
borhoods have few public outdoor spaces besides sidewalks
ings.
There
are also
groups who may be
certain
especially
and
playgrounds,
and
what
spaces there are often do not
benefited by increased oppor-
work
tunities for contact:
places.
*
of
well
as
gathering
Playgrounds
offer
people who have just moved
to the neighborhood,
*
elderly, retired and other
people
who
have
neither
schools nor places of employment for regular contact,
*
new
those
parents,
staying at
especially
home
with
19
NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING PLACES
social contact for both children and their
are
rarely
Various
parents,
used by
community
but
others.
service
buildings also provide opportunities for meeting
but
"The Local Centre neverthethan
less should do more
merely act as a palliative
for social problems. Through
such centres members of local
the
communities will have
opportunity of participating,
with their families, in a
variety of enjoyable activiThey will have a betties.
ter chance of meeting their
making
and of
neighbours
friends, of taking part in
of helping
social events,
others and generally of living richer and more interesting lives."
(Dixey, 1974, p. 10)
"Planning should not aim primarily at improving the intellect or developing an idea
of beauty but should increase
the number and intensity of
'smiles, involved postures,
chats, exploration, and the
responsibilassumption of
ity' ."
(Levitas, p. 236)
20
are often isolated
similar
activities
street,
and
no
people,
and
from
the
frequently have
public
adjacent
outdoor
spaces which can extend their
social potential.
Surely
reasons
there are enough
for more and
better
in
designed gathering places
neighborhoods.
purpose
this
places
It
is
the
of
of the remainder
thesis to examine
and
try to
such
discover
how we can accomplish this.
RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
2.
To discover which
istics
space
character-
help make an
outdoor
a gathering place,
I
have
used
each
having a somewhat
dif-
on
the
ferent
problem.
0
several
perspective
sources,
architectural
sources,
both
and within the
social sciences and
environ-
mental psychology fields,
*
and
of
field observations
outdoor
local
of
number
a
spaces.
sources
literature
The
primarily
input
giving
helpful in
on individual
are
issues.
The research projects consist
They are:
literature
*
several research projects,
of
three studies which
looked
closely
public spaces in
Finally,
at
have
outdoor
particular.
for a more personal
understanding
of
the
topic
and as a check on the conclu21
RESEARCH OVERVIEW
sions
of
jects,
I
the research
pro-
have observed
six
different gathering places.
This section
two
summarizes
aspects of the research.
The first part describes
the
range of social behaviors and
activities
22
which
occur
in
these
places.
part
is a brief
the
main
The
second
summary
findings
of
of
the
three research projects.
The
results of the field observations
follow as
section.
a
separate
BEHAVIOR IN A GATHERING PLACE
activity in a
The
un-
its
tends to be
nature,
planned
gathering
of
because
place,
"Whatever they may mean, people's movements are one of
the great spectacles of a
...
plaza.
a
in constant flux;
kind of
loose choreography of
and going,
coming
forming,
people
of groups
and of people leav-
ing to be replaced by others.
At any given time, there will
be people passing through
way to other
their
tions,
going
to
on
destina-
in and out
adjacent buildings,
ping
of
"Self-engaging activities and
passive
relaxation carried
out by solitary individuals
and small groups were observed to be characteristics
of downtown plazas."
(Joardar and Neill, 1978, p.
489)
in
Even though it is
ployees and homemakers.
ever-changing, there are some
common
patterns of
behavior
users
which
place singly or in
between
that
of plazas in Manhattan
are two main ways
people
engage
behavior:
through
to
Whyte observed
pairs.
in
a
people come
gathering
There
social
in a gathering place.
Most
At eye level the
scene comes alive with movement and color--people walking quickly, walking slowly,
skipping up steps, weaving in
and out on crossing patterns,
accelerating and retarding to
match
the moves
of
the
others."
(Whyte, 1980, p. 22)
or stop-
stay for awhile
the space.
RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
direct
people
in
either
encounters
or
indirect interaction.
through
Erving
Goffman (1963), in describing
workers
from
behavior
local office buildings.
Most
calls these focused
interac-
tion
interac-
tended
of
to
the
places
exhibited
users,
be
a
I
observed
wider range
of
in
public
and unfocused
places
tion respectively.
from young to old; em23
BEHAVIOR IN A GATHERING PLACE
kind of brief,
Focused Interaction
"...
focused interaction,
the
kind of interaction that occurs
when persons
gather
close together and
openly
cooperate to sustain a single
focus of attention, typically
by taking turns at talking."
(Goffman, p. 24)
informal
gagements
common
strangers.
Unplanned
ings
en-
between
meet-
also occur between
qaintances.
ac-
Two people
may
arrive at the same time,
for
example, neither knowing that
These
are behaviors directed
at a specific person or
sons,
usually
per-
face-to-face
the
other will be there, and
meet.
most
These
are some of the
welcome encounters
and including verbal communi-
cause they provide
cation.
maintaining
ples
Some
typical exam-
are a pair
sitting
and
small
of
friends
talking
group
or
gathered
a
to-
gether.
occur
and
between
both
strangers.
planned,
as
in
It
two
can
a way of
contact
with
friends without requiring any
special
effort.
meetings
more
Focused interaction
be-
of
Unplanned
this
sort
are
likely to happen when a
space
becomes frequented
friends
regular users.
can
be
another
people
borhood
by
This could be
advantage of
spaces
neigh-
since
the
coming together to the place.
potential for establishing
Another
kind of planned
en-
regular
counter
is
rendezvous,
greater
than for large
spaces.
Neighborhood gather-
the
in which people arrive
rately
sepa-
to meet in the space.
Focused interactions can
also be unplanned,
24
as in the
ing
place
clientele
may
a
be
city
places could then be the
to go if one hopes
run into a friend.
to
BEHAVIOR IN A
GATHERING PLACE
The most extreme example
of
cribed
is
for
when a
a
particular
In
users.
gathering
this
group
virtually
most,
other
of
the
case,
same people gather day
day,
"What attracts people
it would appear, is
people."
(Whyte, p. 19)
"hang-out"
a
becomes
place
des-
just
the situation
after
claiming the
This
space as their "turf".
can be an advantage for group
members,
but
usually
makes
the
others feel unwelcome in
space.
".0.unfocused
Unfocused Interaction
do not need to
People
speak
directly to another to participate socially; one can also
participate indirectly.
Un-
focused
are
those
interactions
not
specifically
di-
rected at another person
and
do not require a
which
interaction,
that is, the kind of communication that occurs when one
gleans information about another
person
present
by
glancing at him,
if only
momentarily,
as he passes
into and then out of one's
view.
Unfocused interaction
has to do largely with the
management of sheer and mere
copresence."
(Goffman, p. 24)
res-
ponse.
The most common of these
is simply watching other people
one
in the space.
of
the
most
This
is
engaging
25
BEHAVIOR IN A GATHERING PLACE
important,
environments
these
"In
public
[Italian hill towns]
space is a place of contact,
and communal
communication
...
life.
street is
The
a
place to talk to one's neighbors, to see people, to sit
to
to listen
and relax,
to meet
to walk,
music,
friends, to get a feeling of
what is going on."
(Cylkowski, p. 8)
one else to share an extended
encounter with.
This
place
gathering place and what
to
being in
with
contact
being
aware
people;
other
of
them.
people
in watching
interest
is not just social,
The
but also
for its dynamic quality; people
to watch a
love
show.
Some
moving
gatherers
happy just to watch the
others.
a
tion.
up
does not need a
partner
to share in the experience.
Secondary Activities
are also other activi-
There
ties
at a gathering
Some
place.
eat-
of the most common are:
reading, writing, play-
cars
ing
games,
Many
caring
of
for
these
a
are
gatherers
performed simultaneously with
time
observing
social activities.
occasionally
and survey the
This
in
which people engage
all
will
interaction
26
people.
ing,
A person talking to
friend
look
other
among
child.
some
spend
person
for the single
are
going by.
Almost
gathering
of
They are the perfect
be
One
another
brings up
advantage
casual social activities in a
space is all about:
some-
since they do not have
places.
the
space,
people in the
single
the
for
though,
kind of
is
ac-
passive
especially
reading
a book may
A person
look
up
intermittently to observe the
crowd;
together
lunch.
two
talk
people
while
sitting
eating
Some people just sit
BEHAVIOR IN A
and
often with their
relax,
This is common
eyes closed.
when people come to the
area for a particu-
rounding
shopping.
like
purpose
lar
sur-
They
may go to a few stores,
then
sit
in
rest
and
the
gathering place before moving
on.
some of
Although
activities
are
for
purely
these
in
engaged
social
the
of
nature
to
the
Secondary activities
place.
Often
there is a
main
activity, or involvement, and
one
or
more
ments.
In
side
involve-
our society,
"it
is recognized that certain activities are to be
carried on only as main and
dominating involvements; many
social ceremonies are instances.
It is also recognized
that certain other activities
are to be carried on only as
side involvements and subordinate ones, as, for example,
chewing gum."
(p. 45)
Sometimes,
though,
a
person is more interested
in
the side,
or subordinate in-
volvement,
but
feels uncom-
can make it easier for people
fortable
to participate in the various
his dominant involvement:
activities
social
possible.
reason for this
The
may
be
explained by Goffman's theory
of
dominant and
subordinate
he
says:
sake,
their own
can also be related
they
ly.
GATHERING PLACE
displaying this
as
"It is understandable, then,
that
when
an
individual
wishes to give weight
to
these subordinate activities
he will conceal and cover
them with a show of their
being merely distractions."
(p. 45)
involvements.
People in the
Degree of Involvement
Goffman
have
their
notes
that
the capacity to
humans
place
divide
sitting
attention between sev-
eral activities simultaneous-
people
may
and
gathering
feel that
watching
is not an
simply
other
acceptable
dominant involvement.
Read27
BEHAVIOR IN A
GATHERING PLACE
appear instead a
"Currently, in our society,
this kind of treatment is to
be contrasted with the kind
generally felt to be more
proper in most situations,
which will here be called
"civil
inattention."
What
seems to be involved is that
one gives to another enough
visual notice to demonstrate
that one appreciates that the
other is present
(and that
one admits openly to having
seen him), while at the next
moment withdrawing one's attention from him so as to
express that he does
not
constitute a target of special curiosity or design. ...
By according civil inattention, the individual implies
that he has no reason to
suspect the intentions of the
others present and no reason
to fear the others, be hostile to them, or wish to
avoid them."
(Goffman, p. 84)
subordinate
involvement.
Civil Inattention
Frequently,
people engage in
particular
behaviors
make them appear uninterested
in
the other people
gathering space.
a
in
By reading
people,
next
off
by placing
to
articles
them as if to
others,
and by
other actions,
these
As
Goffman
observes,
this behavior, which
ties
is actually a kind of
making
volvement
their
dominant
(watching
in-
people)
people
may appear antisocial.
he
of
ward
various
ing, eating and other activiway
the
book instead of looking at
though,
can serve as a
which
calls civil innattention,
curtesy.
gain
is
It is also a way to
some control over
in part an
situation.
ing
social
what
unpredictable
The person read-
a book is not trying
to
be unfriendly and antisocial,
but
be
merely finding a way
comfortable
place.
ERN5T
28
If
in a
to
public
he were not inter-
BEHAVIOR IN A GATHERING PLACE
ested
of
in having some
social contact,
degree
then
he
would probably choose a
secluded
spot,
more
not a public
space.
29
REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
priate
"It has become quite clear-both from everyday observation;
and
from
detailed
studies--many public spaces
built at great expense in
North American downtown centers have failed to attract
the public.
And it has become equally clear that other
spaces, apparently no more
expensive than the failures,
are
never-failing
magnets
that attract people of every
variety.
Why is this so?
After one discounts variations
in
...
climate
for
nities.
smaller
Also,
features
commu-
particular
important to neigh-
borhood
spaces
important
but
not
to those in
large
cities,
may not be
in
observations of
the
research
included
projects.
partly for these
as
the
It
is
reasons that
the
question of design becomes
supremely important."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 487)
I
conducted
my
observations,
own
field
which
follow
this section.
Several
recent studies
focused
specifically on pub-
lic
open spaces.
Each
its own particular
but
all
imply
of
basing
judgments
success
these
on
how
has
emphasis,
the
nature
have
social
spaces
of
well
by
all
three
The most comprehensive of the
three
projects
door
spaces
in
from 1970 to 1973
lished
used
Social
Li fe of
Spaces
(1980).
re-
is
William
Whyte's study of public
their
these spaces are.
Because
The Projects Reviewed
in
looking
at
his
the
out-
Manhattan,
and
pub-
book,
The
Small
Urban
Initially
issue
of
search projects reviewed were
crowding,
conducted
urban
that
many public open spaces
conclu-
were
underused,
areas,
sions
30
some
may
in
large
of the
not be as
appro-
interested
Whyte
discovered
and
in why some
became
were
REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
popular and others not.
The second project is by
a research as-
Nancy Linday,
who
Whyte's,
of
sociate
helped oversee a similar pro-
did
she
1978
In
1974.
in
Francisco
San
in
ject
"With the exception of one
large waterfront plaza, these
were small spaces
(8,00025,000 sq.ft.),
associated
with highrise offices, banks,
shopping centers and located
close to each other and to
pedestrian
mainstreams
in
downtown Vancouver."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 487)
a
follow-up study of several of
brief
the places and summarized the
ture of these spaces can give
results
from
article,
"It
the
in
both
All Comes Down
description of the na-
some
sense
of
what
general characteristics are.
to a Comfortable Place to Sit
The Nature of Public
and Watch" (1978).
Spaces
In the third project, S.
D.
Joardar and J.
conducted
public
survey
a
plazas
Vancouver
Neill
W.
in
ten
of
downtown
office
to be associated with
shopping
and near
buildings
They
districts.
are
also
"The Subtle Dif-
portation junctions like sub-
of
way stops.
For the most part,
Public Spaces" (1978).
In this project, the observations were supplemented
with
questionnaire submitted to
have
looking
at
results of these projects,
hard,
sometimes
planters
with
50 people.
Before
public open spaces tend
Most
frequently near public trans-
ferences in Configuration
a
Outdoor
from 1975 to 1976,
described in
Small
their
the
areas.
a
varies
any
paved
they
surfaces,
trees
and
but rarely if
ever
with
extensive,
Their
greatly,
grassy
configuration
from
strip
31
REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
spaces to square or rectanguThey are
lar shapes.
often
though people-watching is the
main
activity
in
many
of
gathering
places,
streets.
From their configu-
tivities,
especially outdoor
rations,
few look as if they
eating,
the
at
intersections
were planned.
have
been
Many appear to
created from
He
the
often
routing.
the
Conclusions
from
the
found
that
in
people
stop in the middle
path
whe n
greeting
saying goodby,
Projects
decide
Whyte's study pointed to many
gravitate
factors
ments:
which can affect the
effective
increasing use
space left over after traffic
Some
were
other ac-
or
but when they
to sta y
to
of
awhile
they
physical
ele-
trees,
ledges, water
use of a gathering place, but
fountains,
the
covered that a sunny location
element
he
felt
most
important
was sitting space.
makes
The
most
successful
to
had
on
amount
average
places
a
greater
of sittable
surface.
Sitting space did not have to
be
and
provided only by
chairs,
he
other features in the
but
space,
like steps and ledges,
could
also serve as seats.
Whyte
32
noticed that
a place more
dis-
pleasant
be absolutely necessary; some
popular spaces received
lit-
tle or no direct sun.
A
the
both
use
good
al-
He
be in but did not seem to
benches
found,
etc.
along
good connection
street
was
with
essential,
to encourage people
the
space and to
viewing of
the street.
the
to
allow
action
Finally,
REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
Whyte observed that the
attract
see
street activity,
which
the importance of "front
people to the
space
seats"
providing this.
cial interaction.
marked
study
Linday's
follows
In choosing
Whyte's closely.
features to focus
on,
selected those which she
she
row
and street corners in
also provide stimulus for so-
which
noting
activities
or
ments
ele-
that
She also resunken
areas
(mostly a story or more) were
never well used.
observation
tended
Her
was that
to
final
people
use the more
se-
felt were the most
important
cluded parts of a plaza if it
Whyte's study.
Her pri-
held some distinct attraction
to
focus,
mary
therefore,
but she
sitting space,
good visual
that
found
was
also
ac-
not found in the rest of
plaza, like dining, fountains
or pools.
cess, the presence of activiand
ties
other
attractions
climate were
and
important.
She confirmed the coorelation
between
of
sitting
and the success of the
space
place;
of
amount
that
the linear feet
sitting space in
the best
the
Joardar
Neill
fo-
cused more on the nature
and
configuration
and
of elements in
gathering places than
Whyte or Linday.
that
people
They stated
were
drawn
well-articulated,
featured
either
to
densely
gathering
places
used places was roughly equal
which
to the perimeter of the gath-
elements, and disliked barren
ering place.
or
She also noted that good
access involves being able to
offered a
variety
monotonous spaces.
also noticed that people
sition
of
They
po-
themselves near arti33
REVIEW OF RESEARCH PROJECTS
and particularly like
imply
their
importance
in
sitting at the corner of ele-
their
discussion of the
na-
ments,
ture
of the features in
the
facts,
edges
avoiding
of
straight
the
long
objects.
space.
Their
main point is
They do not specifically talk
that variety and articulation
about
are necessary to make a place
sitting
spaces,
but
attractive.
34
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
3-
In
this section are the
sults
re-
observa-
of the field
Six outdoor spaces in
tions.
Cambridge,
Massachusetts and
were
nearby
towns
ditions.
The Sites Observed
The
con-
Center,
are
three
first
Brattle
The spaces are sim-
others
are not.
chosen,
representing a range of
places and
gathering
all
sites,
Holyoke
Square,
and
Harvard Subway,
within a
block
other in the main
of
com-
ilar in that they are located
each
in smaller cities rather than
mercial center for Cambridge:
major urban centers, but dif-
Harvard Square.
composition of
The fourth place, Porter
and degree of use.
Square, is also in Cambridge,
fer by shape,
elements,
Some
are
very
successful
and
is located to the
north
35
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
of
Harvard
Square
along
Massachusetts Avenue.
The
fifth
Square,
is
Massachusetts,
site,
site,
in
Davis
Somerville,
a block
from
the subway stop.
is
section is an analysis of the
and
with a diagram drawing
a
written
findings
summary
keyed
of
to the
dia-
gram.
Statistics
The final place observed
At the beginning of the writ-
located in the commercial
ten analysis for each project
center of Newton Highlands, a
is
neighborhood within the
comparison.
city
a list of statistics
An
for
explanation
of Newton, Massachusetts.
of each item is as follows:
Documenting the Research
*
Each
place
was observed
on
LOC:
refers to location,
and gives the city and
several occasions during
the
in
fall of 1986.
Both the
ac-
is located.
the form of
the
* SIZE:
tivity
and
space were observed and
ana-
lyzed.
The
results of the
servations
the
ob-
is documented
following
in
manner.
For
which the gathering place
of the
the
site.
Sometimes
are
several areas of differ-
ering place.
description
tistics
activity
at
the
illustrations.
typical
site
Next
with
is
a
area
of
there
ent nature in the whole gath-
the
the
is a square footage
calculation
each site there is a two page
of
state
area
In this
case,
size and additional staare given
for
in addition to the
each
en-
tire site.
plan drawing at 1\20th scale.
* DENSITY OF USE:
Following
rough calculation of the num-
36
this
descriptive
is a very
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
ber
each
using
people
of
Since the actual num-
site.
bers
vary from day
the
primary
day,
to
usefulness
this statistic is in
of
compar-
particular
at
rest
time,
is calculated in
of
between sites.
feet of space.
are two different
for density
calculations
of
These are:
use.
* Ped.Vol.:
and is an ap-
proximate count of the number
pass
people who
of
through
the site in one minute.
*
Av.Occ.:
av-
and is the
number of people
average
in
time.
the space at any given
are two figures given.
There
The first, and lowest, figure
is
the number of
people
at
rest in the space, sitting or
into
The
or
physical elements within
at-
complete explanation of these
and their mean-
calculations
Design
see
Section
Form.
of
Briefly, these statis-
tics measure the following:
amount of over-
* % Shelter:
shelter
head
trees,
provided
awnings,
overhangs,
etc.,
by
building
calculated
in terms of percentage of the
area covered.
out of
the
space.
*
higher
figure
the
all
Criteria,
Density
III.1:
moving
to the number of
the
For a more
gathering place.
not
second,
refers
statistics are an
These
but
otherwise,
square
DENSITY OF FEATURES:
ing,
stands for
occupancy,
erage
per 1,000
people
terms
tempt to quantify the various
refers to pedes-
volume,
trian
*
moving
Each of these fig-
through.
ures
a
at
both those
those
and
ing the relative level of use
There
space
the
in
people
% Ground:
ground
percentage
of
area covered
by
any and all outdoor
features
37
FIELD OBSERVATIONS
which
move out of the ground
plane,
like walls,
benches,
tistics similarly measured.
* perim:
stands for perime-
platforms, etc.
ter,
refers to
* No.Elem.:
Whyte's method of calculating
is the number of
and
the
space,
amount
both large and small,
and is
Whyte
all
elements in
of
William
sitting
space.
observed that the best
calculated in terms of number
used spaces had approximately
per 1,000 square feet.
as
* Seating:
ting surface as the length of
lation
is
This last calcua measure of
the
much linear feet of
the
perimeter of the
sit-
entire
amount of sittable surface in
area.
the
servations can be compared to
space.
Steps,
planter edges,
sured
and
ledges,
etc. are mea-
in addition to benches
sitting walls
if
their
In order that my
ob-
that of other researchers,
I
have measured the linear feet
of
sitting space and
calcu-
form and dimension are appro-
lated
priate for sitting.
the perimeter of the space.
Two dif-
ferent figures are given:
* area:
the
area covered by sittable
surfaces,
for
38
is the percentage of
and is
calculated
comparison to other sta-
it as a percentage
Finally,
description
following
and analysis
all
six spaces is a
of
the
findings.
field
of
the
of
summary
observation
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
SITE PLANS
The
following drawings show the general relationship
the
places
observed
and their surroundings
(not
between
drawn
to
scale).
1.
Brattle Square
2.
Holyoke Center
3.
Harvard Subway
/ ii
/ I,
''1'
r~1
4.
rl
Porter Square
39
SITE PLANS
bT-1
5.
Davis Square
L-INJCO4 6-T.
6.
40
Newton Highlands
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
PLAN DRAWINGS
KEY:
PAVING DETAILS
PERMANENT SEATING
brick
chess tables
and
(Holyoke Center)
granite and
brick curb
benches with
E1 E
aD
granite block
(Porter Square)
subway grating
benches
7:---j!!1
(Holyoke Center)
W
ramp at curb
(Newton Highlands)
MOVABLE FURNITURE
cafe tables
PLANTS AND PLANTERS
....
(Holyoke Center)
trees planted
at grade
tree with
cafe tables
I0
3
(Newton Highlands)
metal guard,
store displays,
planted at grade
wares
tree in elevated
metal tables
planter
(Newton Highlands)
LOW WALLS
plants, low
shrubs
brick wall
shrubs in raised
stone wall
=3-=
planter
metal construcplanter tubs
(Newton Highlands)
tion barriers
(Porter Square)
41
PLAN DRAWINGS
KEY:
telephone booth
U:
STEPS
(Newton Highlands)
steps
street sign
railing
at
steps
parking meter
a::
VERTICAL ELEMENTS
traffic light
+
large signs
MISCELLANEOUS
rock sculpture
street lamp
(Porter Square)
embollards
jl
'I
I!
II
Slamp
(Harvard Subway)
telephone pole
e0
fire hydrant
sculpture
(Porter Square)
/
F~J1
LI:J
sculpture
(Harvard Subway)
gate
O
U
trash cans
(Davis Square)
bicycle stand
C
telephone booth
(Newton Highlands)
(Harvard Square)
bicycle stand
I I I I I
42
(Porter Square)
KEY:
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
ANALYSIS DIAGRAMS
The analysis diagrams
illus-
trate the most important features
of
each
The
space.
features noted also represent
some
of
the primary
issues
affecting gathering places.
Each aspect of the space
written
and
following,
analysis
keyed by numbers on
diagram.
condition
Symbols
or
for
issue
the
each
are
grouped under the design criteria
category in which they
are discussed.
is discussed in detail in the
LOCATION AND RELATION
(adjacent buildings and
activities)
solid walls
supportive
(visually
activities
impenetrable)
(in adjacent
/1~
buildings)
windows
supportive
(visually
(Ak~
penetrable)
building entries
~&
V
activities
(both inside
and outside)
(physically
penetrable)
non-supportive
supportive
activities
(originate
activities
outside)
'UHHHUMM68.8.606
(in adjacent
.............
buildings/spaces)
43
KEY:
ANALYSIS DIAGRAMS
- --------
PATH
-~~~+--
-
sub-area (trees)
primary path
00000
sheltered
penetrable
secondary path
edge (trees)
PLACE
overall
gathering place
-i+:m
im
M:
: : mnm
: : : : : : : ::.:
barrier
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII (continuous
sheltered subviews
area (building
overhang or
canopy)
44
edge (other
objects)
~-
--
/
/
separate objects)
sub-area
--- -- - - - -- - - - - -
/
/
major area within
gathering place
- -- - -- -- -::: :- :- - ::: :- ::
::
- -:::
:- ::
-:::
penetrable
1.
FIELD
BRATTLE SQUARE
OBSERVATIONS
Brattle Square is formed by a widening of the sidewalk at
the
where Brattle Street bends and meets Eliot Street.
It
point
is a popular gathering place with a mix of users,
from
teens
and young adults to the elderly.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Square is one of the
Brattle
Many people
Harvard Square.
here
stop
within
spots
liveliest
to sit and
time,
to talk with
watch
others,
spend
friends,
eat,
read or
just to rest and relax.
Al-
singles
and
both
though
1.
groups use the space, it is a
favorite
both
spot with
couples,
pairs
male-female
and
same sex pairs(1).
There is constant pedes-
trian
movement
through
and
around the space. Movement is
particularly heavy along
the
building edge as people go in
and
out of shops or past
to
parade of people (2).
Although
there
is
no
Gather-
space specifically designated
sitting to the side seem
for outdoor eating, many peo-
passing
ple bring food to the square.
other destinations.
ers
2.
fascinated
by
the
45
BRATTLE SQUARE
one
Some make purchases from
of
the two adjacent busines-
from
elsewhere,
local
office
bring
their
it
bring
others
while
ses
especially
who
workers
lunches.
bag
is
purchasing activity
Food
lively
around
bakery,
which
particularly
Warburton's
to
opens its entire frontage
the square in warm weather.
Square contains
Brattle
whole
the
range
gather-
activities common to
4.
social
of
Besides informal
ing places.
socializing and observing, it
is
also the setting for more
impromptu
performances
artists' set-ups,
tical
such as
activities,
defined
and
demonstrations
Although
one
sees
(3),
poli(4).
few
young children, families will
stop
5.
46
to rest and play before
moving on (5).
=q
0
0
0
MrcKFf5M~
4
ILSECP-5NM
1
N
0
0
0
iv
BRATTLE SQUARE
PLAN
scale: 1/20"= 1'-0"
0
50
47
48
*
0
*
/
..-
:
..
3
::: 84
: : : :- : : :.
-
:: . ......:::::::::.
..
--
4
-
--
---------------........... ... .-.. .. -.l-: --/ . ::...::::::.
. :0..-::---.:
.::8...-
- -
9...
- ,11
:
:
:-:----------------. . ......
. . . . . . .. . . . . .
0. . . . . . . . . .. . .
.
.........
-.
..
0
.....
.
..
.....
..
5..--..:
-
:
:-:
:
0%
.B
0
..
..
- - - - - - - - - 0- -- - - - - -.
-- --- -- --.
0
- -- --- - - -- - - -- - -- -
0ANALYSIS
-
. . .
QUARE
R AT T LE.S
. . ..
. . .. .. . . ..
.. .- ..
. . .
- v
1/20....
scae0120"=-1-O
..
::scale:''
0 ... ...
...50
.
0..
.
0
50
49
50
1.
BRATTLE SQUARE
LOC
SIZE
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
Harvard Square,
Cambridge, Mass.
11,400 sq.ft.
DENSITY OF USE
Ped.Vol.:
40p/min
2.6p -
Av.Occ.:
5.7p/1000 sq.ft.
DENSITY OF FEATURES
No.Elem.:
% Shelter:
Seating:
% Ground:
5.3/1000sq.ft.
32.5%
area:
7.4%
perim:
78%
15.7%
ANALYSIS
Square has a
Brattle
overall plan:
simple
a long sitting
wall
splits the sidewalk
two,
a
in
lower portion by the
building
higher
edge
side
O
and
a
space,
a
and
which
as
Despite
the
singu-
in the space.
form,
there
enough
to keep
1.
Location and Relation
Brattle
the
from
Square
the
is
heart
a
of
from seeming barren or monot-
Square,
with a subway
onous.
on
site and
Brattle Square's success
is due to several factors:
good
location,
a
supportive
well
providing optimum viewing
additional
space
form
seating
in a variety of ways as
street
are
outdoor
accommodates gathering
the
of this
the
occupy
by
larity
features
Q
also
which
activities
adjacent
the
block
away.
midst
of
It
Harvard
entry
another
is in
Cambridge's
commercial area.
block
a
the
major
This siting
51
BRATTLE SQUARE
the space
past
users
many potential
brings
creates
and
paths
created by
It faces south
which
do
wall.
not overshadow it, so it gets
through
steps
sitting
paths
move
the gathering place,
additional
but usually not
access
to
areas
means
on
of
either
side of the wall, and are not
adjacent
buildings
activities
continuously graded
.
(retail
and food service) which
sup-
port
3®.
social gathering
T~K
rF~
\K::s&
building edge has a high
The
These
graded
primary
the
giving
overly so.
contain
divide
the
It is some-
of sun.
times windy,
are
wall)
paths per-
site has a pleasant
and the nearest buildings
The
O.Secondary
to
microclimate.
plenty
are continuously
pendicular
observing.
The
and
for
activity
interesting
(on either side of the
e
..
\' :..:.:.:
degree of visibility and frequent entries.
Most
both retail and dining
tant,
are carried outdoors,
ing
impor-
more
activity
bringto
the
outdoor space itself®.
2.
Its
3.
Path
corner
Brattle
of paths.
location
makes
Square a conjunction
The primary paths
move around the sitting space
52
Place
The sitting wall can be occupied
Its
level
in a variety
depth,
of
ways.
length and split
permit
two-sided
BRATTLE SQUARE
sitting
sitting
and
both
to the buildings.
singly and in groups.
The
steps divide the sitting
area
into five sub-areas
varying sizes.
are
Its location in the center of
pedestrian
traffic
good
of
view
gives
movement
a
on
.
either side of the wall
At each
brick
planters
accommodate
sitting
of
end
which
There is one small portion of
curved
®
wall
,
long sections
the
is
wall
feature,
define
two
.
Although
the
dominant
other elements help
the
provide
and
space:
trees
overhead shelter and
tree guards, telephone booths
and
trash
level change in the wall
penetrable
and sidewalk enhances viewing
sub-areas.
The
by
raising
people
above the action.
curve
of the wall
edge to the
a
main
The slight
preserves
space and gives a
of enclosure
form
slightly
views of the other people
the
cans
in
sense
to the area next
53
BRATTLE SQUARE
A series of bollards,
lamps,
trash
street
cans
and
it
hydrants also create an
the
edge
to
or
The
the
walls
subway
enough
overall
that
54
surrounding
entry
they
perceived as a
space
are
might
barrier,
high
be
but
not
problem.
fire
the
is
a
noticeable
They do not
block
view of the intersection
of
people
moving
past,
since
pedestrians
between
the subway entry and
sitting
wall,
not
walk
on
the
outside edge of the gathering
place
.
2.
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
HOLYOKE CENTER
Center plaza is at the corner of
Holyoke
rectangular shape is created
Its
St.
Dunster
and
by
It is a very popular
of the Holyoke building.
setback
Massachusetts
Ave.
the
spot
with a mix of users, although young adults predominate.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Center
On a warm day Holyoke
people,
with
packed
seems
past
both sitting and moving
The pedestrian volume is
(1).
but
people
many
the
through
Mount
to
street beyond.
people
come for the
cafe,
and
tables
it can hold
The
(2).
crowd
people
Most
outdoor
nearly
70
large
a
number
of
the plaza
has
increased since
the
using
greatly
the
and
Auburn
with
walk
also
plaza
mall
building's
Ave.,
Mass.
along
heaviest
cafe was introduced.
forms
Although the cafe
the
core
of
activity,
not
everyone using the plaza is a
customer.
chess
tables
Five
next
permanent
to
2.
the
55
HOLYOKE CENTER
the
observing
food is gone,
surrounding activity.
Holyoke is also used
a rendezvous:
as
one often sees
a single person nursing a cup
of
coffee
minutes
either
cafe
are
almost
occupied,
often
stop
and
constantly
pedestrians
to watch a
Others
read,
or
come. just
to,
watch or rest, and sit
hang out around the
bench
or
table
(3).
Cafe
at
a
other
Although two-
thirds of the plaza is densely occupied,
cafe
circulation,
4.
the
There is one conspicuous
is
often linger long after their
others,
destinations.
con-
customers
by
to have lunch in
problem area.
crete
56
later
several
plaza or to move on to
game
in progress.
joined
is
the other third
empty and used
even
large enough to
only
though it
accommo-
date other uses (4, 5).
5.
for
A" ecN4 PAN..
-4
I
(7k
U'
-x
0
Tt
HOLYOKE CENTER
PLAN
scale: 1/20" = 1'-o"
U'
0
50
58
-H
SLUJ
-
I-
0z
C)
LC/)
e e e...............eo
-
--
---
o
ll ll0
l
|...i.
..11
.. .
...
---
..O...---...----...--.----.
..-..
. *
-
--
-:
8,
.....
/.
--
z
. .....
O-
.........SU
0
S...SW
sw.SS
S3.......S.SS
.
.
.
..
fill!............................
..
-
--
.
.-
-
.
.
.
.
0
.........
-
. .
.......
-
.......
-
..
- ...
e
0
59
60
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
HOLYOKE CENTER
2.
Harvard Square,
Cambridge, Mass.
LOC
SIZE
.........
11,200 sq.ft. (1)
4,160 sq.ft. (2)
....~....
2
----
DENSITY OF USE
90p/min
Ped.Vol.:
3. 6 p
Av.Occ.:
-
5.8p/1000s.f. (1)
9.3p 10.4p/1000s.f. (2)
(1:
entire area)
(2:
active area)
DENSITY OF FEATURES
(2)
(1)
% Shelter:
15.7%
42.2%
% Ground:
9.2%
24.8%
22.3/1000s.f.
8.9/1000s.f.
No.Elem.:
(3.1 minus cafe seating)
(6.5 minus cafe seating)
area: 3.3%
8.9%
perim: 66.8%
108%
Seating:
ANALYSIS
In general, Holyoke Center is
a
successful gathering place
with
only
a few
drawbacks.
Its success is in part due to
its
location
seating,
but
dependent on the
associated
space.
and
is
ample
mostly
activities
with the
outdoor
1. Location and Relation
corner
Holyoke's
location,
nearness and visibility
junctions
transportation
makes
easily
it
from
accessible
and provides a steady flow of
pedestrians.
facing
little,
and
It
is
therefore
if any,
northgets
direct sun-
61
HOLYOKE CENTER
light,
but
months
has a pleasant enough
climate
during the
warm
to make up for
this
lack.
overall
distinct
active and one
inactive
is primarily due to
the presence of the cafe ( ).
The
large windows makes
well
The
two
activity
aware of
space
has
going
sections:
one
important,
barren.
The
extended
area
has
no
the
Most
dining
into
®.
space
activity
®.
on inside
one
is
the
also
outdoor
In fact, three of
physical features besides the
the
brick pavement, and the adja-
marily defined by cafe tables
cent
building's
uses
either do not promote
gathering
four sub-areas are
and chairs.
social
(the bank) or
are
In addition, the
chess tables provide a second
on-going activity.
not accessible from the space
2.
(information center).
The pattern of movement
Path
vides
good
disrupting
Yc1eayda
access
without
acti-
Primary paths
are
most accessible and
the
least
intrusive:
continuously
low
pro-
gathering
vity.
the
Aee MWiori
pri-
the
they
are
graded and fol-
periphery
of
the
iY1ac4iveaye-
active
.n- de"pine
area.
paths
The
well
of
62
active area
used and has a
physical
®
is
variety
elements.
The
area
steps.
to
The secondary
move
and
They
different
through
sometimes
the
over
provide access
parts
of
the
HOLYOKE CENTER
gathering place,
help define
good overview of
surrounding
the extent of sub-areas,
and
action.
This
space's draw-
shortcuts through
the
backs are that
the platform
allow
ledge is neither deep
space.
(10")
enough
nor always high enough
(sometimes less than a
for
foot)
comfortable sitting
access
and
is only via steps
at
the rear.
An
adjacent
has both
five
and
sub-area
cafe
chess
seating
tables.
A
third sub-area of cafe tables
with umbrellas creates a zone
activity
of
Place
3.
building's edge
are
There
four
sub-areas
within the active area
give
people
a
spaces to inhabit.
sub-area
cafe
a
of
choice
The main
is filled
with
seats and is defined by
raised platform and
ing.
rail-
An overhead canopy
created
The
which
is
by four large trees.
raised level provides
a
defined
the
.i
is
sub-area
final
A
to
next
by a concrete
bench
and wall along Dunster Street
©
sitting
effect
it
Although
.
at the edge it is in
a
barrier,
access and permitting
views only (
fight
selves
allows
.
blocking
inward
Some people
this by twisting themon
the bench
or
by
63
HOLYOKE CENTER
sitting
narrow
the
on top of
wall
(4").
I
k
-
too-
Despite
this
open
quality
seats
in the
good
viewing
gathering
section,
and
space
of
place and
pedestrian traffic
64
the
moveable
provide
both
the
passing
.
3.
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
HARVARD SUBWAY
This plaza is in the heart of Harvard Square.
as
acts
and
form,
gated
a
traffic
and Boylston St.
Massachusetts Ave.
It has an elondivider
between
It is a moderately popu-
lar gathering place, especially with teens and young adults.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
On
one
observation,
first
crowds
of
people
walking all over
the
space,
but
notes
only
the
.....
usually there is
people
also a good number of
sitting, lounging or standing
The
around.
using
people
1.
this
area are representative
of the Harvard Square
to older
teens
crowd:
adults,
but
the
regular
meeting place for a
particu-
it
is
also
lar group of teenagers (1).
In general, the activity
here
is more limited than at
the
other
Harvard
2.
Square
sites; most people seem to be
just 'hanging-out':
and
relaxing,
observing others (2).
is
little eating or
sitting
resting,
There
rendez-
65
HARVARD SUBWAY
vous
activity;
people,
group of
besides
the
agers,
meet
teento
intending
together in
time
spend
few
the
There are also fewer
space.
incidental events than in the
3.
des-
gathering places
other
there is
though
cribed,
performer
street
occasional
an
or artist (3).
favored places
The
are
gathering
curved
various
along
the
walls
and
steps
surrounding the subway
entry,
but people also clusin
ter
itself
(4),
phones
the
and around
and
kiosk (5).
entry
subway
the
newsstand
4.
for
the
information
tele-
A bank of
stands at the edge of
seating area behind
the
subway and is also a focus of
activity, as people talk with
friends
or
observe
while using the phones.
5.
66
others
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HARVARD SUBWAY
PLAN
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(-)I
HARVARD SUBWAY
ANALYSIS
O0
/
/
/
scale: 1/20" =1-0"
41/
0
50
69
70
3.
LOC
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
HARVARD SUBWAY
Harvard Square,
Cambridge, Mass.
SIZE
13,340 sq.ft. (i)
11,960 sq.ft. (1)
(2)
7,400 sq.ft.
DENSITY OF USE
115p/min
Ped.Vol.:
2.9p -
Av.Occ.:
(i:
5.6p/1000s.f.
entire area)
entire area minus
(1:
subway and newsstand)
% Shelter:
(1)
(2)
17.0%
16.8%
% Ground:
9.8%
No.Elem.:
4.7/1000s.f.
Seating:
area:
perim:
main gathering area)
(2:
DENSITY OF FEATURES
12.9%
4.5/1000s.f.
5.7%
8.9%
61%
81%
ANALYSIS
The Harvard Subway plaza is a
the
reasonably successful gather-
shopping,
ing place, but due to limita-
haps
tions is less successful than
movement.
the
ob-
space,
Unlike Holyoke
and
interesting
two
Brattle, there are no supportive,
too
places
first
served.
space
ongoing
activities in
may
like
and
much
The
eating
or
there is perpedestrian
form of
the
though, contains some
features
which
help explain why so many
people
use
it
anyway.
71
HARVARD SUBWAY
1.
The
Location and Relation
plaza's location
many
Businesses
brings
potential users to
space.
like
It
is
Holyoke,
sunlight
at
Dunster
pleasant
north-facing
only
the
St.,
the
getting
edge
but
near
again
enough
in
is
warm
most
which
are
(the
res-
supportive
taurants) are at the opposite
end
to the
®.
spaces
closest
The
to
occupied
does
primary
building
these spaces
by
not
sitting
a
bank,
enhance
is
which
gathering
weather.
The
relationship
adjacent buildings,
is
poor.
to
buEy'ofhv. actv iks
aA' goSi
however,
The plaza's
emdA
long
edges are formed by vehicular
roads,
and its connection to
t..ies...
the
buildings is limited
its shortest edge.
the
subway entry
barrier
to
..
. . .
.
.
Moreover,
creates
between the
a
subwLaJ
..... ...
Of the structures in the
outdoor
space,
space and the buildings
'earakrE'
only
provides
ties
::
..: ::: ..-
the
but
the
newsstand
supportive
($
j_
kiosk
The
activi-
information
draws people
and
subway deposits
neither
provides
linger.
72
Tf......r
.
much
in
people,
themselves
reason
to
HARVARD SUBWAY
2.
Path
The pedestrian paths are also
path
primary
The
problematic.
moves
along
It
the
is
so
building
edge.
constant
and heavy (about 55
secondary
paths
move
steps,
over
levels
except
sometimes
and
the
subway
entry are accessible at grade
from some point.
3.
Place
people per minute) and
moves
Despite
through
space
the utilization of steps
such a narrow
the
that
flow
pedestrian
the numerous
sible
sible
enclosure
this edge.
The
paths,
and
low walls make gathering pos-
would probably limit any possupporting activity at
all
and
give a
to
sense
of
the
gathering
primary
gathering
place.
secondary
paths
The
show that this place is truly
area (
a
entry and has three connected
conjunction of
paths,
fact, they go everywhere
This
of
rant
the
to
(T.
but distinct sub-areas.
lot
first
is
interesting activity
but
front
of the
for
where
people sometimes
the
potential
(Recently, one restauput
out cafe seats
subway elevator but
remove
conflicts
them
with
because
by
had
of
pedestrian
Once again,
is
to
on,
side
second
the primary
continuous
whereas
The
area
subway
talk with friends
moving
low
a sunken
in
entry,
stop
before
or gather by the
wall
®.
The
is formed by a split-
level wall and tree in a wide
brick planter
movement.)
path
surrounds the subway
movement creates a
disrupts
use.
in
)
last
set
),
is shaped by a
of
steps
and
and
the
curving
bollards
73
HARVARD SUBWAY
behind the subway
The
curving,
) .
combination
of
steps,
walls
creates
a continuous enclos-
ing
space
and
form which
bollards
defines
the
while permitting move-
ment through (1
double
permits
sided
different
visual
focus:
curve inward,
wall
kinds
some
of
forms
good for inti-
mate groups, and others curve
outward,
good for long-range
viewing.
I
/
I
The combination of forms
also
A
series
of
vertical
trees, telephones
elements;
and bollards,
also creates a
allows various ways
occupying
of
the same elements.
The tree planter alone
gives
an outward-focused view,
but
visually and physically pene-
if a group clusters around it
trable edge ( )
and
The
all
sitting
forms
are
built-in-place elements.
There
are
no
benches
the
gives
an
adjacent
intimate,
wall,
inward
focus.
or
--.-
chairs, but the walls, steps,
bollards
and
planter
all are sittable spaces.
74
edges
The
it
HARVARD SUBWAY
The different levels
the
plaza and the walls
give opportunities
in
all
for over-
views of the action.
The
articulation of the
sitting wall illustrates that
are
not
in order
to
give
places
to
sit.
area
beyond
level changes and raised
with
a
seats
individual
necessary
individuals
The
edges
at
the
ends
dividers for separate
act
as
groups
to space themselves, and also
provide
a
feeling
for
sitter.
There is one final
People
cross
newsstand
the
sculpture.
large
pass through here
and
to
cozy,
enclosed
gather here.
the
solitary
exposed
newsstand
from
to
Harvard
but few if
University,
sub-
any,
It is the most
to traffic,
cuts it
and the
off
from
the rest of the space (14
75
HARVARD SUBWAY
76
4.
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
PORTER SQUARE
Porter Square is another plaza associated with a subway entry.
It is a long,
linear space almost a block long.
It is not a
very popular gathering place, although there are usually a few
people sitting here on a nice day.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
Fewer people pass through and
at
gather at this plaza than
of
any
the
Even with
sites.
Square
Harvard
three
reduced pedestrian flow,
a
the
number of people who stop and
use
than
the space is lower
1.
one would expect.
Of
most
those who
gather
at
do
the
stay,
curved
entry
near the subway
point
(1)
or at an area with trees
and
benches at the
opposite
end of the plaza (2).
People
sitting along the curved
try
en-
wall often face outwards
to watch the traffic.
Chil-
dren also like to play on the
jumping down where the
wall,
the other
therers
end,
ga-
sitting
along
the
edge wall sometimes look outward
as
level changes.
At
2.
inward
and other times
they
talk with
friends.
Still others sit at the
back
77
PORTER SQUARE
3.
of
the
space,
apparently
joined
seeking privacy.
Sometimes
people
bring
but
books or papers to read,
rarely
food.
does
Both
man
anyone
bring
planned and un-
planned encounters occur:
a
5.
4.
reading a
newspaper
by
5),
and
(3,4,and
wife
his
later
is
ap-
two
proaching women recognize one
and
another
leaning
while
talk
to
stop
against
the
there
is
wall (6).
Even
activity
gathering
little
overall,
people
passing
seem attracted to
still
People
space.
the
though
plaza often
by
the
walking past
move
along
the inside edge of the space,
just
to
Others
hesitate,
6.
78
move
crossing
out
the
again.
site
stand or sit for a
minute, then walk on.
/
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50
81
..... . . .
82
4.
PORTER SQUARE
LOC
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
Cambridge, Mass.
SIZE
17,380 sq.ft.
(i)
15,950 sq.ft. (1)
6,600 sq.ft. (2)
3,920 sq.ft. (3)
5,430 sq.ft. (4)
DENSITY OF USE
Ped.Vol.:
(i:
12p/min
0.5 -
Av.Occ.:
(1:
entire area)
entire area minus
subway structures)
1.1p/1000s.f.
(2:
sub-area at far end)
(3:
sub-area at entry)
(4: mid-area)
DENSITY OF FEATURES
(2)
(3)
(4)
18.4%
4.9%
0.0%
27.4%
9.1%
5.2%
7.9/1000
2.3/1000
3.8/1000
8.4%
10.9%
8.9%
4.9%
74%
83%
50%
22%
(1)
% Shelter:
8.8%
% Ground:
15.3%
No.Elem.:
Seating:
5.6/1000s.f.
area:
perim:
ANALYSIS
Square is not a
suc-
sustaining power; most people
cessful gathering place
even
who
stop do not
features
The
reason:
Porter
though
which
into
it has some
seem
to
the space.
draw
people
It has
no
activity
the
in
space,
stay
long.
is
no
or adjacent
to
there
and
not
enough
83
PORTER SQUARE
pedestrian
to
place
be
the
for
traffic
on
attractive
site
is
nearby
completed
sites are
and
if
developed,
The
form
but
space also has
some
rectify
problems which might be
more
of no activities in the space
that basis alone.
of
the
noticeable
if the place were
this
the
the primary
This lack of
Square is located
to
Square
north of Harvard
not
problem
activities
is due to the fact that there
Location and Relation
Porter
would
itself.
used more.
1.
still
along Massachusetts Avenue, a
are no businesses facing onto
the site.
edge
The entire eastern
is
defined
either
by
main commercial artery.
The
blank walled subway buildings
portion where the square
is,
O
of the
though, is one
active
dense commer-
spots;
cial activity does not
until
a
least
block
or
begin
more
in
either direction.
or
by
barriers overlooking the commuter railbed below ( ).
The
only other structures on
the
site are the subway entry
and
stairs
to the
train
.
of
space
the
commercial
the
is
This may change somewhat when
construction
84
across from the
the
enterprise,
which
only
a
faces
space with a blank party
.
wall
ar-a
commuter
At the south end
locksmith shop,
00mmrrda
and
walls
high
The
site has a
western
exposure which gives it plenty of direct sun.
This
may
PORTER SQUARE
reason
one
be
are
people
des-
to the space
attracted
pite its limitations.
2.
Path
paths
There
are a number of
which
move through the site.
cuts
People often take short
to
and
the subway
commuter
vetr~d.n{
c~Y~j
,-'
entries, to the shopping center beyond and other destinations
(1).
into
the plaza and out again
People even walk
move
of the paths
over steps, although there is
one
®.
graded
continuously
is
which
The path at the
subway entry area is a
to
walk through or past this
without
area
stairs,
The
trees
).
@
where
the curved wall is low enough
for
sitting
and provides
a
good view of activity.
far
The
second place at the
end
was
signed
for
obviously
gathering,
dewith
low walls, steps, benches and
edge of
this
trees
and
it difficult
walk through (
subway entry
over
its narrowness
make
the
The first is
going
space is continuously graded,
but
There are two sub-areas where
prob-
It is almost impossible
lem.
Place
people gather.
as they pass by ( ).
Most
3.
the
to
.
The trees have a
peculiar relation to the benches.
They are
right in the
corner formed by the
making
it almost
benches
impossible
85
PORTER SQUARE
for
a couple to sit and face
traffic.
pedestrian
each other.
/I-.
A
third
area
between
these two and adjacent to the
more
choice for sitting in a
public
location:
sidewalk
walls @
up by
on a low wall
or more private:
.
a
gives
sub-area
This
the
(),
by the back
The wall at the
subway
open,
few
entry is
with no features but a
bollards
the edge (
if
essentially
it
larger
.
and a wall
at
It looks
as
were designed
for
pedestrian flow
a
than
front has steps
behind
it
but
anyone
All it really accomplishes is
sitting here would be
forced
to separate the sitting
very
it
to
for sitting,
have his back to the main
from
presently
the
generator:
86
accommodates.
main
area
people-
the subway entry.
5.
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
DAVIS SQUARE
open air mall is a block away from the
privately owned,
This
Davis Square subway in Somerville.
It is a long, linear space
lined by commercial and business enterprises.
Although it is
open to the public, virtually no one gathers here.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
The Davis Square plaza gets a
slow but
steady
trickle
of
people passing through.
Most
use
it as a passageway
from
the
parking
area
to the shopping
Street
others
along Elm Street;
to
Herbert
lot on
go
the stores and businesses
the
lining
on the move;
Everyone
plaza.
using the plaza,
1.
though,
is
no one stops to
stay awhile (1).
Whatever design features
help to make the space unsupportive
are
clues
The
have
which
which
overt
some
certainly
discourage
entrances to
the
it..
plaza
9 foot high metal gates
close
at
there are two "No
signs
there
of gathering,
posted
on
night
and
Loitering"
the
walls
2.
As you pass through the
(2).
space,
nothing
you
can
activity
not
only do you
happening
see
little
see
outside,
inside
because of the
re-
flective glass (3).
87
DAVIS SQUARE
the
watching
and
traffic,
man standing by
another
one
of the tree planters drinking
from
liquor
a
bag.
paper
Sometimes when a place is not
street people move
well-used
knowing
in,
activities
their
that
perhaps
not
are
likely to be overseen.
Few
the
of
generate much
businesses
activity,
and
those that do, all the activity
seems
This
indoors.
stays
to be true
throughout
lit-
the Davis Square area:
tle
once
outside,
but
you move into the
res-
activity
taurants and stores they
bustling
4.
Only
two
people
were
ever
seen actually occupying
some
part of the
space:
a
There
with
are
activity.
are occasions of spon-
taneous socializing outdoors,
however:
woman
two men passing
sitting on the
a
ground
man sitting on a planter edge
and eating ice cream stop and
entrance
have a friendly exchange (4).
at
88
the
Elm
St.
(-
~JRJ&
i-Of
'a
V
'0
-J
U)
DAVIS
PLAN
SQUARE
scale: 1/20"= 1'-O"
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92
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
SQUARE
5. DAVIS
Somerville, Mass.
LOC
V-i.
8,300 sq.ft.
SIZE
DENSITY OF USE
Ped.Vol.:
4.5p/min
0.Op -
Av.Occ.:
0.3p/1000 sq.ft.
DENSITY OF FEATURES
% Ground:
Seating:
5.9%
% Shelter:
6.7%
area:
1.7%
perim:
37%
beyond
the
space
(.
Any
1.6/1000sq.ft.
No. Elem.:
ANALYSIS
This small plaza is the least
activity
successful
of all the places
only at its entries
observed.
The reasons are a
activity in the space, there-
lack of activity and a barren
fore,
outdoor space.
the adjacent buildings.
1.
Location and Relation
Davis
adjacent
enterprises,
however,
are
Square's
very active.
There is
only
from
subway
station and is
adja-
one
small retail store
This should
and
one
The
liquor
be a good location,
configuration
the
a
block
cent to parking.
depend solely on
of
Few
plaza is located half
The
must
but
the
of the site --
customers
food
service
attracts
store
but does not
sup-
a long, narrow internal space
port gathering in the outdoor
--
space
the
tends
to cut it off
street.
One
can
from
see
().
building
Of
uses,
the
they
other
either
93
DAVIS SQUARE
site
(
entered from
be
cannot
),
ters
.
limited
features
are attached to the
or are present-
building
edge where they
draw
clientele
a
the
Q.
ly vacant
supportive activities
extend
outdoors
barely
and all are
do
0*
1m.m.
...............
.
......
. .m.m.
..
..............
................
. . . . . .
..
tive glass.
.
.
. .
.
. .
. .
.
.
. .
.
.
.
. .
.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Path
Two paths lead to the
a
other
to passersby because
of few windows or the reflec-
2.
the
little to help form sub-areas
In addition, none of the
visible
All
plaza,
primary path going through
the space
and a secondary
one through a passageway
tween two buildings
(
).
Overall, the elements in
the
plaza are limited
few
types.
to
Although
a
the
be-
planters
The
height for sitting, there are
are
primary path moves over steps
no benches,
at the Herbert St.
seating
entry but
at
the
right
chairs, or other
forms.
The
only
is on grade at the other end.
overhead elements besides the
3.
trees
The
Place
plaza
is virtually
circulation space.
elements
The only
occupying the
tral area are two tree
94
all
cenplan-
at
are two small
the hair salon and
awnings
signs
which project into the space.
In
general,
the space feels
exposed and empty.
6.
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
small paved area is located within the commercial center
This
for the surrounding community.
Its triangular shape is caused
by the acute angle of the intersecting streets.
It is a well-
used space with a mix of users, both young and old.
TYPICAL ACTIVITY
This
place
the
end of
was observed
the
so
autumn,
at
activity level may be greater
earlier in the season.
Newton
has
a
plaza
Highlands
moderate
steady
but
rate
of pedestrian movement.
Like
Davis Square,
many
the people walking past
from
of
come
an adjacent parking lot
to shopping
use
1.
the
People
beyond.
space
to
sit
and
watch the traffic and to rest
while shopping. One can easily
ac-
2.
it is a
ple
buy food from the
adja-
cent
deli and bakery
(which
have
limited seating inside)
view the surrounding
tion from the space;
good "look-out" point.
Though
it
is
place just to sit and
a
good
watch,
outdoor eating is the primary
activity in the space.
Peo-
and
take it outside to
There
seating
are several
they
can
kinds
eat.
of
choose:
95
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
cafe
tables and chairs
benches
and
tables
building edge (2),
(1),
by
the
and sever-
al fixed wooden benches.
There is a wide range of
users from families to adults
3.
of all ages. Often a variety
of people will occupy the
space
at
mothers
the
same
with young
having a snack,
gle
children
several sin-
adults sitting
serving,
time:
and
ob-
businessmen talking
and eating ice cream cones (3
and 4).
There
sitting
the
4.
is also a smaller
space at the end
street.
It
eat,
passing
to watch the trains
below,
or
walk through (5).
96
rather
garhidden behind a raised
den, but people still use it:
to
5.
is
of
just
to
'1*'
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HA
-rFOP ST
67-
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
PLAN
scale: 1/20" = 1'-O"
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NEWTON HIGHLANDS
ANALYSIS
0
scale: 1/20" = 1'-0"
0
50
100
6.
SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
LOC
Newton, Mass.
SIZE
N......i .
3,900 sq.ft. (1)
2,830 sq.ft. (2)
DENSITY OF USE
Ped.Vol.:
6.5p/min
3.Op -
Av.Occ.:
K
3.8p/1000s.f.
(1:
entire area)
(2:
active area)
DENSITY OF FEATURES
(2)
(1)
% Shelter:
30.0%
34.6%
% Ground:
10.7%
7.4%
No.Elem:
11.4/1000s.f.
10.2/1000s.f.
Seating:
area:
perim:
3.5%
4.8%
29%
37%
ANALYSIS
Newton
Highlands
is
a
suc-
cessful gathering place on
smaller scale.
location,
ties
a
It has a good
supportive activi-
which
move
into
the
1.
Location and Relation
This
plaza is located within
a tightly packed neighborhood
commercial
block
area.
It
from the bus
is
a
stop,
a
space, and just enough physi-
block and a half from a
cal
way
definition
gathering.
to
support
stop
parking
and
adjacent
subto
Q.
101
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
Two of the adjacent bus-
, and various secon-
areas G
inesses contain the most sup-
dary paths give access to the
portive
stores,
activity:
service;
to
and
the
There
dining extends
outdoor
a
area
(® .
non-supportive
is one
space:
food
ground floor entry
the parking lot, and
3.
Place
Overall,
the
bit sparse,
opens onto a suite of private
items
offices in the basement below
throughout.
The two food
services,
as
space looks
with
scattered
a
randomly
When considered
whole,
however,
features
ongoing
larger definitions.
support
the entire gathering place.
The
site has a
but
exposure,
northwestern
its open edge
by the parking lot allows
add
There
it
areas.
tip
and
is defined
angled
brings
place
ness
corner
location
several paths to
and its general
permits
throughout,
the
open-
movement
but
there
are
several prevalent directions.
A
main
through
space
102
path wends
the
between
middle
its
way
of
the
several
sub-
create
sub-
by
the
trees and the three permanent
2.
site's
to
the
The largest is at the
wooden benches
The
up
are several
to get plenty of sun.
Path
a
individual
though, seem to provide enough
activity to
.
places across the street
®.
benches
The two
give
good
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
views
both
the
outward
street
and
towards
the
into
space.
Other elements give
de-
finition to the place besides
the sitting places and trees.
Two smaller areas
adja-
A
row of bollards and
plan-
cent to the building edge are
ters
formed
vehicular path create a pene-
by overhanging
pies
and
cafe
chairs
cano-
tables
or metal
and
benches
along
the edge of
the
trable edge perpendicular
)
the building wall
.
to
The
A fourth area formed by
trees,
trash cans, bench and
low planting and trees has no
street
light along the north
sittable space, but does have
edge
also form a
a public phone and serves
edge
on the outside
a
kind
of
The
first
three
to
space
the
the
.
features keep the
space from feeling too
empty
or exposed, although they are
The strip of
perhaps the minimum amount of
southwest
a vehicular
parking
areas
of
active
contained in the
actually
to
the
These
gathering area.
space
to
.
space
are
"foyer"
as
penetrable
behind
is
form necessary.
access
the
building:
103
NEWTON HIGHLANDS
104
FIELD
OBSERVATIONS
SUMMARY OF FIELD OBSERVATIONS
The
sup-
field observations
findings
many of the
ported
the three research pro-
from
There were no
jects.
that is,
sults;
re-
the
between
conflicts
major
none of
my
observations:
*
have
*
of their findings. There were
of
though,
my discovering
which
issues
or
tioned,
additional
men-
were not
discussed
in the research
depth,
jects
The
mine
how
specific
and
people
*
variety
sub-areas,
a
choice
features should be
articulated,
Some
prospaces
by the density
I tried also to
of
of
not
well-
long
and
of the differences
my observations
and
their projects were:
*
ing
activities at the
gather-
place are absolutely ne-
cessary for success.
borhood
spaces
Neigh-
cannot
be
deter-
activated by pedestrian traf-
features
fic alone, the way some large
aid or hinder specific
Some observations
common to both the
city spaces can.
*
social activities.
were
giving
pro-
the
research
use.
might
of
nature
judged outdoor
primarily
elements
between
social
spaces.
there should be a
straight.
differences in emphasis on
the
there should be plenty of
in
jects, and,
*
with
different spaces to inhabit,
which were the result of:
*
a good connection
sitting space,
*
differences,
should
the public way,
observations were the reverse
some
a gathering place
which
re-
search projects and the field
be
location and climate
more
important
for
may
a
neighborhood space.
*
the relation to
adjacent
105
SUMMARY OF FIELD OBSERVATIONS
buildings affects the liveligathering
place.
ness
of a
This
issue was not discussed
adjacent
many
to the
space.
the design
aspects
a
places is
these
In
of
delicate
by any of the projects.
balancing
*
besides
enough sitting space and den-
provide
sity
other
elements
spaces
sitting
can
both physical and psychologisupport
cal
This
to
concept
gatherers.
was
but not
place
are
particularly
people
important in bringing
Also, there
together.
are
different kinds of paths with
the
were
well
in
their
people
rounding
located
pedestrian
maximum
views
action,
gathering
successful
despite
Holyoke
For
Center
popular even though it
faces
of the outdoor cafe.
tain
features are so
successful
tant
that
for
if they
cerimpor-
are
not
the
present,
no
activity
positive
features
seems
gave
overcome
the lack
of
sur-
features.
of
had plenty
is
north because of the presence
ob-
communities,
good
a
fea-
On the other hand,
I
places
the most
served,
certain
can make
example,
different requirements.
Of
and
other negative features.
in great detail.
paths
visibility
Sometimes
tures
*
provide
access.
briefly
discussed
to
of features while main-
taining good
touched on in a couple of the
projects,
act:
amount of other
to
those
Although there is
plenty space to sit at Porter
of sitting space, and encour-
Square,
aged people to linger through
place to gather because there
supportive activities in
are no supportive activities.
106
and
it
is
not
a
good
DESIGN
CRITERIA
4.
I
the previous anal-
From
RAyai
C""'
ysis of places, observed
and
the survey of other
research projects, it is
that there
clear
is
variety of
wide
related
issues
to the use
liveliness
a
I
I
I
and
of gathering
places.
In
order
these issues
to
comprehen-
at a larger scale
sible
"a .
make
design,
and useable for
Low-scoring MacMillan Bloedel, above left, could be made pleasurable by
providing efficient seating. orientationaland postural choice for users, and
more complexity within the pool.
(Joardar and Neill, pg.
488)
I have organized them in
several
larger
ries.
Each
these
1.
LOCATION AND RELATION
has particu-
2.
PATH
for
3.
PLACE
behavior
and
4.
CHOICE AND VARIETY
some
basic
categories
lar
social
deals
aspect
place.
They are:
categoof
implications
with
of
a
gathering
Location
refers to the
gathering
place as a whole and its relationship
and
to its
surroundings.
Path
Place deal with the nature of
the space itself;
how it needs to
be a place of movement as well
as
107
DESIGN CRITERIA
Finally, the
a destination.
category
as
need
a
Choice is
included
that
reminder
1.
attract people.
of
2.
bring people into contact
counters,
en-
social
of
to
ways
of
and
A gathering place should:
people
to be given a range
activities,
teria should meet.
with each other.
3. allow people to occupy the
inhabit a gathering place.
space for a reasonable period
Goals for Design
of time.
examining
Before
criteria,
our
door
we
should
purpose is to make
spaces more
of casual social
and
this
the
recall
out-
supportive
interaction
4.
provide appropriate props
for
social
5.
provide
social
interactions.
we can
state
The
cri-
issue
for a range
activities
With
several goals which our
and
interaction.
public gathering.
in mind,
gathering
and
discussion of
will
include
of
how
each
it
might help meet these goals.
108
I.
LOCATION AND RELATION
DESIGN
CRITERIA
Gathering places are not isospaces but part of the
lated
larger public network.
are
the places
nect"
people;
their
own
They
"con-
which
therefore,
connections
are
important.
These
are
which
affect
place
as
the
the
issues
gathering
a whole or at
periphery;
the forces
its
which
act upon the gathering place.
They
include
its
location
within the larger setting
of
affect
goals 1 and
tracting people and
other.
and distance from transportation junctions help determine
relation
come to the place,
the
place,
gathering
shape or
overall
tion
access
points,
exchange
of the site,
mate,
to
the
configura-
bringing
The general location
how
transportation
at-
people into contact with each
the city or neighborhood, its
to
2:
many
turn
people pass by
affects how
which
or
in
frequently
are brought together.
people
The climate,
supporting
ac-
microcli-
tivities
and relation to the
regular activities oc-
building
edge
curring
at the site and
relation
to
the
its
adjacent
building edge.
These
issues
ering
place
attractive
make a
gath-
more
or
less
to
potential
users.
primarily
109
1.
PROXIMITY TO THE PUBLIC/COMME RCIAL CENTER
service
and public
business
a
commercial,
of
area
core
=
contain
communities
Most
------
LOCATION
AND RELATION
buildings.
Gathering places located
these
center of
the
within
lively
areas tend to be more
can take advan-
because they
tage of the attraction of the
commercial businesses and the
increased
4
People
vity.
area
core
acti-
pedestrian
coming to the
business
for
or
VO
I/
by
and
and
place
the gathering
stop
pass
are likely to
shopping
there,
spend time
their
even though it was not
original intention.
They
at
'1111=110
2
do not need to
point,
center-most
the
be
in
however.
Several spaces
different
locations can give
people a choice of spaces
use
and
area.
enliven
Harvard
a
Square,
to
wider
for
example, has the three spaces
observed
110
and
more
besides.
PROXIMITY TO THE PUBLIC/COMMERCIAL CENTER
places should
not
in
the very ends of
the
areas,
Gathering
be
at
area,
core
because
though,
then people will not be drawn
the space and
past
activity
at the site will be limited.
places
most
observed are
of
the
located
public buildings
City halls,
ies
and
can
schools, librarcommunity
service
centers are often located
same
could
Public Buildings
commercial
also be part of this network.
the
Although
primarily
ter
general
area
in
and
be brought into a betlinkage with the
street
network
public
through
ga-
thering places.
Recommendations:
0
Locate
within
public
the
places
gathering
center
of
the
service/commercial
area
of communities,
not at
the periphery.
*
There
gathering
can
be
places
several
located
within the entire core area.
111
LOCATION
AND RELATION
TRANSPORTATION JUNCTIONS
2.
Even within the core area the
and
goings is not
Transportation
bring
stop must
constant.
the
space
junctions
main destination.
to
area,
such
subway
stations and
as
bus
stops,
parking
lots, are places where pedes-
to get
Newton
the
through
pass
the
people
which
from
people moving
that
comings
people's
of
level
so
their
to
Highlands
and
exam-
Square are good
Davis
in both cases
of this;
ples
di-
the gathering places are
intensifies.
rectly in the path from park-
Gathering places located near
ing lots to the main shopping
movement
trian
these
both
exchange
points
are
more accessible and be-
nefit from the increased
pe-
destrian activity.
..-...--
:-:-:-.
areas.
Dimensions
All
of the successful
ering
places
within
a block of
oo,
station
'00
Holyoke Center,
00,
gath-
observed
and/or
are
a
subway
bus
stop.
for example,
qL
is
the
across
from
street
both bus and subway stops.
.
. . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
.
.
.
It
is
possible
for
a
. . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
gathering
to
close
Proximity
only issue.
should
tween
also
is
not
the
transportation
if
the pedestrian
generated
be-
enough
that most or
transportation
stops
the
too
a
volume
be located
be
to
Gathering places
and the most frequented areas
112
junction,
place
is
high
all
of
space is needed for cir-
culation
(e.g.:
Harvard
TRANSPORTATION JUNCTIONS
Subway),
It
though,
that
is
unlikely,
the
volume
generated in a smaller neigh-
borhood would be great enough
to disrupt use of a gathering
place.
Recommendations:
, Locate
gathering
places
adjacent
within a block of transporta-
place.
tion junctions.
*
*
If
the
gathering
gathering
places
junc-
the volume of
people
between transportation
is not too
great,
tions and the major points of
generated
the
Locate
to
junction
can be
at
or
interest.
113
3.
LOCATION
AND RELATION
ACCESS
Not
"Now we come to the key space
It is not on
a plaza.
for
It is the street.
the plaza.
The relationship to the
...
street is integral, and it is
critical
the
and away
far
design factor."
(Whyte, p. 54)
all
public
spaces
need to be out in direct view
or
to be seen
able
one
in
glance.
There are some won-
derful,
tucked-away
places
where people can be in public
If people are to be attracted
and
have a sense of
it
and
intimacy. at
to
the gathering
place,
needs to be both visually and
accessible
physically
from
the street.
Making the place easy to
not
see and enter encourages
only regular users,
but also
place in passing.
Cut-
ting the space off from pedestrian
movement
along
the
street also eliminates one of
the primary attractions of
gathering
place:
a
watching
people go by.
enhance
contact
people
who
knowledge
among
both
previous
have
the space
of
and
those who do not.
How do we make gathering
and
spaces accessible,
constitutes
a
what
physical
visual barrier?
grade
or separated from
public
or
In general,
access is easier if it is
on
the
way by a level change
of only a few feet,
are no long
and
if
stretches
of walls, gates or other features
which
limit
view
movement into the place.
vel
114
to
do not serve our purpose:
there
corner
activity on the
"The
a great show and one of
is
the
best ways to make
the
most of it is, simply, not to
wall it off."
(Whyte, p. 57)
same
the
These spaces, though,
time.
first-time users who discover
the
privacy
changes
of
more
or
Lethan
ACCESS
three
or
isolate
hard
four feet tend
the
space.
to see into
to
It
the
is
space
and requires a greater physical effort to enter.
pro-
All three research
observed
jects
sunken
that
Often
areas are rarely used.
"The
area where
the
street
and plaza or open space meet
is a key to success or
failure.
Ideally, the transition
should be such that it's hard
to
tell
where one ends
and
the other begins."
(Whyte, p. 57)
"One's awareness of emerging
behavioral opportunities varies
as a direct function of
to
see
the
their
ability
activities occurring in the
spaces around them.
This is
defined as 'visual access.'
Similarly, one's accountabilfor
their own behavior
ity
function
varies
as a direct
of the probability that their
seen
own
activities can be
from the spaces around them.
This
spaces were a story or
these
more lower, and their limited
visual
access
physical
and
may help explain their
fail-
ure.
Physical
also
lems.
wall?
A long, high wall can
other
security
hide someone engaged in questionable or illegal
as
behavior
The
feels
It
is
relative
wall at
Holyoke
Dimensions
is shorter.
a
Center
more of a barrier than
the wall at Brattle,
is too long for
to
features of the space.
from view.
What
'visual
can
barriers
prob-
create
is defined
...
generally the
exposure.'
highest
to
see
is
ability
a
the periphery of
around
the
space
and lowest near
the
center.
Conversely ...
probability of being seen is
near
the
generally highest
the
center and lowest toward
periphery."
(Archea, p. 3)
yet
it
Holyoke's prob-
lem appears to be more one of
115
ACCESS
visual access:
not
its wall does
allow people to sit fac-
that
recommends
exterior dimensions not
port
which seems to sup-
this
limit
rule.
A
lower
than 80 feet might
exceed 70 to 80 feet before a
more
change (Ashihara, p. 47).
in small communities.
In
long-
est elements range from 40 to
75 feet,
ing the pedestrian traffic.
One designer
the sites observed the
appropriate for
be
spaces
Recommendations:
*
Keep the gathering
place
wide opening at grade.
physically
and visually
ac-
*
Keep level changes to 3 or
cessible:
do not block view
4
feet or less.
*
Emphasize the openness and
or
movement with high
or
other long,
walls
opaque
fea-
connection with the main
tures.
destrian
*
to
Continuous elements in the
space
than
should
be
no
longer
50 to 80 feet before
a
Include
points,
116
done
with
several
at
access
least
one
site.
through
materials,
trees,
break.
*
the
street(s)
which
street
pe-
adjacent
This can
be
continuity
of
like
paving,
lights,
occur both
along
street and in the space.
etc.
the
4.
The
CONFIGURATION
LOCATION
AND RELATION
form of gathering places
main
The
can vary greatly.
which determine the
features
configuration of a place
its
date a number of sub-areas:
shape
(linear,
are
square,
triangular) and the nature of
its edges (built or open).
A space formed mostly by
Although no one configuration seems best,
better
than others.
spaces
at
the
some work
Narrow
street
edge
building edge has the
tunity
oppor-
for intense building-
related
activity,
but
bring people closer to pedes-
relation to the action
trian action but do not
the
enough depth for a
vide
prova-
street
(e.g.:
is
its
along
lessened
Davis Square). Spaces
riety of smaller spaces with-
formed mostly by streets have
in the area:
good visibility, both towards
and
can
away from the site,
become
building
isolated
activity
but
from
(e.g.:
Harvard Subway).
One
configuration which
works particularly well is
corner site.
vide
A
deeper
Holyoke Center,
space,
like
can accommo-
good
These sites proviews
along not just one,
streets,
a
make
of
action
but two,
the space vi-
117
CONFIGURATION
cent
"A good plaza starts at the
If it's a
street corner.
busy corner, it has a brisk
social life of its own. People will not just be waiting
there
for
the light
to
change.
Some will be fixed
in conversation:
others, in
some phase of a prolonged
goodbye. If there's a vendor
at the corner, people will
cluster around him, and there
will be considerable two-way
traffic back and forth between plaza and corner."
(Whyte, p. 54)
sible
from other
the area,
points
in
and still maintain
a good relation to the
adja-
buildings
Holyoke
(e.g.:
and
Newton
Highlands).
Dimensions
The
sites observed have
between
25%
to 80%
perimeter formed by
edge.
seems
25%
too
of
the
building
(Harvard Subway)
little,
and
80%
(Davis Square) too much.
The
most
successful
sites
between 40% and 50%
edge,
have
building
although 40% seems
to
be about the minimum.
Recommendations:
0
Choose
a
configuration
appropriate for the site, but
try
to balance the amount of
edge
situated
space
and
0
to
50%
have
About
40%
corner
out-
is kept free for
door use.
formed by building
street.
so that the
Gathering
places
should
enough depth (at
least
building edge seems optimum.
30 or 40 feet) to accommodate
*
When
gathering
sites.
occupying
possible,
locate
a variety of smaller spaces.
places
corner
0
Any
at
buildings
also
the site should be
Gathering
places
should
not extend too far into traffic
(about 80 feet
or
from the building edge).
118
less
5.
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
LOCATION
AND RELATION
The need for supportive acti-
most
the
one of
perhaps,
is,
vities
issues
important
concerning gathering places.
spend
people are to
If
a
place
gathering
time
in
they
need something more
do
than just
In
sit.
to
the
dense urban areas examined by
researchers
and other
Whyte
"Another key feature of the
street is retailing--stores,
windows with displays, signs
to attract your attention,
doorways, people going in and
out of them.
Big new office
buildings have been elimiWhat they
nating stores.
have been replacing them with
is a frontage of plate glass
through which you can behold
bank
officers sitting
at
desks.
One
of
these
stretches is dull
enough.
Block after block of them
creates
overpowering dullness. "
(Whyte, p. 57)
heavy pedestrian traffic
the
is often the only, and suffiactivity.
cient,
city
or
ever,
A
small
how-
neighborhood,
with a reduced
the space itself.
Activities
in
Adjacent
Buildings
Frequently,
pedes-
the primary
trian volume needs additional
ongoing activities in a gath-
activities.
ering place are generated
A supportive activity is
any which attracts the general
public,
can be performed
on an ongoing basis and which
is
compatible
behavior.
ties
with
Supportive activi-
can occur both in adja-
cent buildings and
but
social
outdoors,
it is best when the
in-
door activities come out into
by
the adjacent buildings.
Cer-
tain
building uses are
more
supportive than others.
Some
of
the
retail.
best are eating
and
Non-supportive
building uses include private
offices,
banks,
and
businesses which either
few
other
draw
people or do not encour-
age people to linger.
These
119
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
Eating
Of the supportive activities,
appears to be one
dining
which
Places
successful.
the most
were previously under-
with
can become filled
used
of
activity when an outdoor cafe
or
other
introduced.
ly
food
service
is
This is certainbefore
true for Holyoke;
the bakery moved in there was
much less activity. Now it is
places
can
and
should
oc-
cur within the general vicinity,
but
they
should
not
one of the most popular gathering
places
in
Harvard
Square (see photo).
occupy too much of the ground
One reason dining is so
the
appropriate is that it is in-
floor
space surrounding
gathering place.
herently sociable:
the
act
of people coming together for
social purposes and eating is
"If you want to seed a place
with activity, put out food.
In New York, at every plaza
or set of steps with a lively
social life, you will almost
invariably find a food vendor
at the corner and a knot of
around him--eating,
people
shmoozing, or just standing."
(Whyte, p. 50)
ancient.
One can easily ensocial
gage
in
while
eating.
Eating
takes
time and is a restful occupation,
which encourages
ting and lingering.
120
activities
sit-
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
Although
are
areas
food
major
able
to
urban
support
services which are
tirely
street
outdoors
vendors),
community
en-
(e.g.:
a
smaller
would most
keep
the place populated
overlapping
times
Dining facilities,
ple, often
shops
with
reduced
but more
mealtimes,
may
have
a
continuous
use.
A
Non-Commercial Uses
There are other building
for exam-
trated use during
whereas
additional seating outdoors.
use.
have more concen-
likely
need an indoor facility
of
by
uses
variety
of
building
may also attract a
va-
support-
ried clientele, giving people
ive and which are not commer-
an opportunity to meet others
cial.
Community-oriented
from different walks of life.
buildings
such as libraries,
Whatever
uses which could be
mix is
chosen,
it
service and education organi-
seems that at least one
zations, recreational facili-
ery
ties, art galleries and small
should
museums could also be
they are particularly attrac-
appro-
and
some
be
retail
included
priate activities if they are
tive activities.
open
The Need for Adjacency
to the public and
have
eatshops
because
regular hours.
It
Mix of Uses
portive activities occur near
A
mix of supportive
ties
may
appears
best.
People
stay longer if there
more than one
the
activi-
activity,
different uses can
is
and
help
is
by;
not enough that
they must take place
sup-
in
the buildings adjacent to the
gathering
place
place
itself.
or
in
the
Even if they
occur across the street
they
121
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
at
gathering place
the
it-
self.
Activities
in
the
Outdoor
Space
Appropriate
help
building
enliven
a
uses
gathering
place, but nothing is as good
as
not
because
help
still
do
there
is no reason to be
in
the outdoor space itself.
Cambridge
of
public
a
within
has a
block
or
are
two
outdoor
space
easiest
way
this
no
one
of
these
uses
Porter Square,
spaces.
for
example, is across the street
grocery and sandwich
from a
shop, but no one brings their
food
to
the plaza
Although
tive
within
additional
activities
other
accomplish
though,
building
extend
outdoor
The
outside,
There are
activities,
which are not build-
ing-related.
Game
playing,
adults and children,
an
by
can
be
ongoing activity.
tables,
Holyoke,
the
both
like
can
Chess
those
at
be included in
space (see photo).
eat.
Although it would not be
suppor-
appropriate to put playground
to
can
occur
the surrounding area,
there still needs to be
122
to
by having
activities
restaurants and shopping, and
yet
is
itself.
like cafe dining.
number
spaces which
ongoing activities in the
some
equipment
in
space itself,
a
the
gathering
there could be
small play space
adjacent
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
or
elements included in
space
which
the
children
could
play on.
This might be par-
ticularly
appropriate
neighborhood
in
setting
a
where
there is a high percentage of
families with small children.
Occasional Events
Intermittent
activities such
holi-
as small performances,
block par-
day celebrations,
ties
and
rummage sales
can
also
enhance the use of
the
larger
the
place
through
crowds
drawn at these times.
should not be the
They
though, since they
activity,
do
only
the
a
can
for
additional advantages of
activity:
supportive
act as
people
a
to
it
justification
be
in
the
space, whether they engage in
not occur on a daily bas-
is.
Activities as Justification
Not everyone using the
ering
in
place will be involved
its
related
activity.
Some people will come
ing
their
reading,
play,
gath-
etc.
own
watching
bring-
diversion:
a
child
This is one
of
123
SUPPORTIVE ACTIVITIES
the activity or not.
in a sense,
It is,
a kind of camou-
flage
for
other
This
is
easily
Holyoke Center,
gatherers.
seen
at
where people
discussed
activities
socially
though
social
anything
to
eat.
And
as
can
provide
a
acceptable main in-
volvement which permits
ple
bought
on
behavior in gathering places,
often sit at cafe tables even
they have not
in the section
to
engage
in
activities
peo-
various
as
side
involvements.
Recommendations:
*
Adjacent buildings should
contain
uses which are
sup-
to
encourage
gathering
by
portive of social gathering.
others not interested in eat-
*
ing.
There should be a mix
of
including at least one
uses,
service and some retail
food
Building-related
activi-
should also occur
ties
doors,
especially
like
adults'
includor
chil-
dren's play.
*
Occasional events
food
be
encouraged,
cafe
not be
seating
separated
by
barriers from the rest of the
gathering place,
but be open
*
should
but not
the
Supportive activities must
occur in the adjacent
build-
ings and in the outdoor space
itself,
cinity.
124
outdoor
only activity occurring.
Outdoor
should
ongoing
out-
service.
*
Other
activities should be
ed,
businesses.
*
*
not
only in the vi-
6.
BUILDING EDGE
LOCATION
AMfl
In
~FT.ATTC~M
addition to the nature of
their
uses,
also
provide
buildings
support
can
to
a
gathering place through their
form.
Even
interesting
if there
within,
cannot be seen from
side
it
an
and sociable ac-
tivity occurring
it
is
if
out-
will do little
for
Sometimes, even a social
the gathering place.
exchange
Physical/Visual Penetrations
people
The
window.
building
edge
on
ground floor should be
ally open.
store
the
and recognized a
stop
to
conversation
and
them from moving too
to see not only
action.
At Holyoke's edge it
other people in
be hard to tell
inside and who is out
photo).
who
is
(see
bookshop
friend
at each other.
Frequent
help
entries
by making the
back
also
building
edge active with people
and forth
mov-
between
the building and outdoors.
objects
but
a
inside; they smiled and waved
ing
inside,
of
man walking past
saw
Large windows allow peo-
can
A
People passing a
quickly through the space.
ple
on either side
Brattle Square
see with friends, providing a
keeping
between
the
look in and discuss what they
for
occur
visu-
window often
topic
can
A final way the building
edge
can support a gathering
place
is through
space
adjacent to the build-
ing.
Businesses
a
useable
which
put
cafe tables or items for sale
125
BUILDING EDGE
the minimum space needed.
Holyoke
there
is
15
At
feet
between the building edge and
path which feels
but
may not
necessary
and path.
ditional
way
4
people
to
occupy
this
space.
10 feet
(which
feet
Somewhere between
feet and 15
fore,
space
feet,
there-
would probably be ade-
quate.
The shape of the
ing
Square
both useable edge
ad-
for
neighborhood
too tight) to 27
by their entries provide
activity and a
absolutely
Brattle
from
feels
for
be
in a
setting.
ranges
comfortable
can
help
space through
dentations,
build-
define
this
awnings,
in-
piers or partial
For
both
building
Brattle
entries,
Square
and
Newton Highlands have entries
20
every
to
feet.
25
walls.
Holyoke's active edge by
the
Dimensions
cafe
for
How
much
space do we need?
Highlands
there
occupiable
At Newton
are
tables
which extend 4 feet into
the
outdoor space with pedestrian
movement
to them.
126
passing right
next
This appears to be
60
has only one entry
feet of wall.
because
tomers
door
It
works
it draws enough custo fill both the
in-
and outdoor spaces
and
because the glazed wall makes
it visually open.
dense
In a less
area this might be too
BUILDING EDGE
a
long
between
distance
openings as a rule.
Recommendations:
*
The building edge at
the
should
be
ground
floor
visually
open.
Reflective
*
glass
can be
Shading
tinted
and
be
used.
provided
by
There should be
entries.
about
Spacing
every
There should be between 4
space
20 to
adjacent to the building edge
which
frequent
should be
25
feet
is
not necessary
for
circulation.
*
awnings or overhangs.
*
*
and 15 feet of useable
not
should
where possible.
The building edge can help
define
awnings,
this
space
building
through
articula-
tion, and other devices.
127
7.
LOCATION
AND RELATION
CLIMATE
fewer
with
"What simple figures don't
however,
is the
measure,
quality of the experience,
which can be much greater
For they
when there is sun.
you have choice--of sun, or
shade, or in-between."
(Whyte, p. 42)
users
potential
passing by, it may need every
possible
amenity to help at-
tract people.
A gathering place should
not be completely exposed
Climate
not
is an important
always critical
but
factor.
the
sun,
to
but instead be de-
signed for varying
climactic
Whyte noticed that some sunny
conditions.
places were popular even
af-
tion might be to pick a sunny
over-
location and then incorporate
ter
new
construction
shadowed
is
that
months
be
them.
during
The
reason
the
warm
an outdoor place
comfortable
enough
may
even
some places,
this is true for
it is best
to count on it.
also
be
best solu-
shading devices (trees,
ings,
awn-
overhangs) to create a
variety of conditions
the space.
This way,
within
there
could be shady spaces for hot
without sun.
Though
The
not
Climate may
more critical in
neighborhood setting
summer
months and
protected
sunny spots for colder weather,
extending
a
season
because
place.
of
the
the
useable
gathering
Recommendations:
*
Choose a sunny site which
is not subject to high winds.
*
Use
shading devices
and
sheltered areas to provide
range of climactic conditions
and
use.
128
a
to extend the period
of
In
DESIGN
CRITERIA
PATH
II.
to
order
a gath-
opportunity to meet,
place needs to be,
ering
in
a space
a path:
some sense,
for
the
them
and give
together
people
bring
through.
people to move
Researchers studying how
environments
architectural
affect
have
friendship
formation
that
discovered
tance is not the only
involved.
important.
same
paths
Paths
People
or
crossed were more
are
disfactor
also
using the
whose
paths
frequently
brought
into
(Festinger
Case,
moving
to
et
1981).
from one
contact
al.,
It
is
1950;
while
destination
another that people
have
the opportunity to meet.
129
1.
MULTIPLE PATHS
PATH
If
"When people stop to have a
we wondered,
conversation,
how far away do they move
pedestrian
the main
from
flow?
...
People didn't move
out of the main pedestrian
They stayed in it or
flow.
moved into it, and the great
conversations
bulk of the
were smack in the center of
the
flow ...
This does
not
seem to be a matter of inertia but of choice--instincperhaps, but by no
tive,
In the cenillogical.
means
ter of the crowd you have the
maximum choice--to break off,
to continue,"
(Whyte, pp. 19-21)
of
attraction
main
"The
Crocker Plaza is the view it
gives of the passing parade
Montgomery
Market and
on
Streets from steps near the
corner that rise from street
around an octagonal
level
sunken area."
(Linday, p. 493)
people have the chance to
while
meet
along
moving
path,
then bringing
paths
together
a
several
in-
should
crease their chances of meetPeople are more likely
ing.
to
encounter others if movefrom
originates
ment
from
than
point.
rather
of locations
variety
just one edge
more
provide
or
also
paths
Multiple
a
directions
of
This
is
activity to watch.
corner locations work so
why
there are already
well;
of
paths
movement
two
estab-
lished.
As Whyte and others have
observed,
in
people often
stop
the middle of the path to
talk.
People
who meet
un-
will rarely
move
far from the path while
con-
expectedly
versing.
easier
This
makes
it
for them to break off
the conversation and continue
on their way.
130
It also makes
MULTIPLE PATHS
the
path a place for
social
interaction.
There
can be
different
kinds of paths at a gathering
place;
both major and
minor
paths, paths extending beyond
the
site
the
site.
and others
The
within
nature
of
these different paths is described
in the following
sections:
two
primary and secon-
dary paths.
Recommendations:
*
one
There should be more than
path
going
through
past the gathering place.
or
*
There should be
kinds
of
paths in
different
the
ga-
thering place.
131
2.
PRIMARY PATHS
PATH
The
paths
primary,
usually
or
major
carry
the
In
the most
successful
places they tend to ring
the
heaviest volume of pedestrian
gathering
traffic and are usually
part
good
views of pedestrian ac-
networks
tion
without disrupting
of
larger movement
extending
beyond the
aries
of
the
paths
sometimes
the
site
site.
go
(e.g.:
bound-
Newton
Highlands):
providing
the
space.
These
through
place,
Primary paths are usually
graded for
surface,
a
making
continuous
them easily
negotiated by all,
people
with
wheelchairs
infant strollers.
emphasizes
quality;
they
including
This
their
or
also
primary
by being continuous
are the
"path of
least
resistance"; the easiest travelled and most accessible.
but
most
the
site
often move
(e.g.:
Center)-.
around
Holyoke
Dimensions
In the sites observed primary
paths range from 7 feet to 25
feet,
feet.
I.. ....
--
~
--
-
averaging
Some
pedestrian
around
carry
flows
heavier
than
might expect in a small
munity,
so
14
a reduced
one
comupper
limit might be appropriate.
132
PRIMARY PATHS
Recommendations:
0
Primary paths
should
be
located so they do not interfere
with
they
can
gathering and
easily
be
so
viewed
Primary
paths should
for
easy
be
graded for continuous surface
materials
access for
wheel-
chairs and strollers.
0
Primary
between
from the space.
*
and made of smooth
paths should
7 and 25 feet
be
wide,
though a lower limit might be
more
appropriate for
neigh-
borhood spaces.
133
3.
SECONDARY PATHS
PATH
particularly
are
They
a space.
through
route
shortest
the
take
will
people
that
observed
this
apt to do
in
an outdoor space
of
its openness:
because
can
they
see their destinaton and want
paths are all
Secondary
other
paths in
place.
They
the
gathering
a
take
can
(e.g.:
buildings
between
Davis Square), across
sec-
street and between
the
of the overall gather-
tions
the space,
through
paths
the
help
of moving
around
they usually move
These
space.
define
areas within the
smaller
space,
and
generally make the space more
accessible from the street.
They also provide shortcuts.
134
Many researchers have
the
Secondary
direct
most
can
paths
short-cuts
these
provide
to
allowing the space
while
be occupiable because they do
not
need as much room
primary
path can,
ing place.
Instead
take
route.
you
through the space to building
entries,
to
through
path.
A
a
secondary
for example,
a small gap
as
move
between
occupiable features:
...... J..
....
SECONDARY PATHS
A
primary path
through
the
little
same area would leave
instead can move over
steps.
This
acces-
makes them less
than primary paths and
sible
space to use:
emphasizes
their
status.
Using
secondary
paths
for
steps
has
other
steps pro-
the
advantages:
vide
secondary
additional seating
and
can help define sub-areas.
Because these paths
the
not
through,
be
are
moving
main way of
they do not need to
graded
continuously
but
Dimensions
From
the field observations,
secondary paths range from
feet to 15 feet,
3
and average
9 feet in width.
Recommendations:
0
variety
A
secondary
of
should be included
paths
in
the gathering place.
*
used
through
additional
short-cuts
provide
the
space
access
*
Secondary
need
Secondary paths should be
to
gathering place.
to
to
graded,
paths
be
but
do
not
continuously
may
move
over
steps.
and
*
the
range
Secondary
paths
from 3 to 15
should
feet
in
width.
135
SECONDARY PATHS
136
III.
DESIGN
CRITERIA
PLACE
Although
a
place
gathering
conjunction of
needs to be a
paths, it cannot be all path,
otherwise
people
pass it by.
will
just
If people are to
stop and gather, it must also
be a place in itself,
tination,
and
intermediate
a des-
not simply an
between
point
0--
o
other destinations.
t.
UedesO.n
Outdoor spaces devoid of
social-
only unaccommodating
ly,
also
shown
but
their
leads
in
to
the
not
are
features
physical
lack of
use
neglect,
photo
of
as
a
"Observed
users
within
Pacific Centre Plaza tend to
agglomerate on or close to
artifacts and focal points.
Barren pavements with undeveloped
edges lying along
busy streets tend to become
merely pedestrian thoroughfares."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 489)
Cambridge plaza on this page.
The
only thing that can col-
lect here is garbage.
most
notably
surfaces.
For a gathering place to
all
that a
But
with
sitting
this is
gathering
not
place
become a destination also, it
to be both
occupiable
and identifiable.
To be oc-
needs
cupiable,
which
some
it needs
elements
allow people to
time
providing
in the
physical
spend
space
by
support,
137
PLACE
needs.
It
tures,
whether
physical
which
give
physical,
which
also needs
fea-
they provide
support
or
not,
the
space
some
visual
people can
identity
recognize.
It needs features which
edges
form
and give a feeling
enclosure;
space
a
which
give
of
the
three-dimensional
quality.
marily
they
can
be
a
because by being
open outdoor
must
cessibility.
This category has implications
for
Nos.
ple
for
all
design,
but
3 and 4:
five
especially
allowing peo-
to occupy the space
providing
appropriate
for social gathering and
teraction.
goals
and
props
in-
This section will
density of features,
seating, and how the physical
pri-
elements within the space can
spaces,
balance the
ac-
subtle
need
for a sense of place with the
138
for visibility and
discuss
This
issue
need
support
gathering.
socializing
and
1.
DENSITY OF FORM
PLACE
and Neill discovered
Joardar
in
people
their survey that
featured
densely
prefer
to
places
open
barren,
The more successful
spaces.
places I observed seemed also
to
be reasonably dense
with
These observa-
furnishings.
tions suggest that the amount
of physical definition may in
itself be an advantage.
The research by
Joardar
"We found that small
but
'busy' open spaces were effectively utilized. They had
dense furnishings, attractive
elements and defined
focal
Their pedestrian ciredges.
culation channels were efThis was in
fectively used.
contrast to non-articulated
expansive plazas with disThe latpersed facilities.
ter were found to be mere
concourses for random pedestrian movement."
(Joardar and Neill, p.489)
"Apparently,
therefore,
a
potential way to make plazas
perceptually appealing is to
compact
small
and
create
spaces densely furnished with
a variety of small man-made
and natural elements."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 490)
and Neill, though, was purely
they
qualitative;
should be.
this issue,
sary
to
place
gathering
a
dense
how
determine
to
attempt
not
did
and
areas
of
foremost
I felt it neces-
ground.
find
some
way
to
open
The primary defini-
tion is the horizontal ground
plane:
In order to define
basic
Outdoor spaces are first
To better examine
measure density.
sity,
Elements of a Gathering Place
den-
I first identified the
elements
which
shape an outdoor space.
can
Adjacent
buildings
provide
139
DENSITY OF FORM
the first definitions of
en-
closure.
..................
.....................
......................
.......................
........................
.......................
......................
.....................
..................
..............
left just
Open spaces,
The
opposite edge is usually
open
The
at the
street's
edge.
only definition here
is
this,
To
open and barren.
feel
they
place,
a
them
give
like
of
sense
need
features
the curb and another horizon-
which add new planes of defi-
tal
nition
plane,
close to that of
the gathering place.
to
the
existing
planes.
S 1.~-........
Although paving patterns
help
tions,
reinforce place definithey
additional
stay
do not add
dimensions;
within
ground plane.
140
can
the
any
they
original
Some
elements which
this
are:
low walls,
street
trash
can
benches,
steps,
lights,
cans,
do
trees,
planters,
bollards,
public
phone
DENSITY OF FORM
booths, etc.
3.
Number of Elements
1.
Overhead Shelter
Overhead
any
the previous
tions,
it
feature
illustra-
appears that
which
adds
a
in a measurement
moves out of the
To get the best
parison
three
of
these
of
pri-
These
tions
seemed
calcula-
were applied to all of
places
the
com-
features,
calculations
necessary.
observed.
They
2.
Percentage
place
which
of
a
gath-
is
sit
high
under but low enough
easily
sense,
the
perceived
these
"roof"
Elements
brellas,
and
the
which
clude trees,
In
features
of
Overhead
to
(about
a
form
space.
do this
in-
cafe table
um-
building
overhangs.
canopies
Overhead
shelter was measured in terms
of
percentage
of area
cov-
ered.
2.
Ground Form
These are all the features in
the
space which move out
the basic ground plane.
were:
1.
ering
one story in height).
in the planes of the building
edge.
parallel to the
new
ground plane and is not
mary
plane
be
density; that is, any feature
which
to
feature which creates
any
dimension to the space can be
counted
refers
enough for people to stand or
Measuring Density
From
shelter
are:
of
Some
steps, benches, walls,
Shelter
planters,
Percentage of Ground Form
etc.
raised
These
platforms,
were also
mea141
DENSITY OF
FORM
in terms of
sured
percentage
right
dimension for sitting.
area covered.
One
arose
difficulty
for
the calculations
during
ground form, which was how to
measure raised
such
levels,
as at Holyoke:
I
................
.. .
then added to this
the area covered on the platform
by the
and
circumference
trees.
To
measure the entire
form seemed
plat-
overly generous,
if it were the
because
only
feature the space would still
seem
barren but the
tage
of
high.
coverage
percenwould
be
A better way might be
to measure only a part of the
I
platform.
chose to
in-
clude only the first two feet
at the edge,
since
this por-
tion includes additional features
like the planters
railing,
142
and
is
figure
about
give
tables,
This
a
I
fairer
chairs
of
felt
the
would
reading
of
density of coverage.
3.
Vertical Elements
There are some elements, such
as
street
lamps,
telephone
trunks
the
cover
booths,
for.
and
tree
which when counted in
ground
such
form
not
percentage
a small
area that their
is
bollards,
bit
of
contribution
properly
accounted
One could take ten
of
and
these and together they cover
the
the same area as a bench, yet
DENSITY OF FORM
their
is
impact
certainly
different:
ly make the smallest
bution
contri-
to the last
calcula-
tion.
Results:
The places observed displayed
--::..
a
.. .--'
:...
: ::.:.:.:. .:
i
wide
per-
centage
of area
counted
all
items
in
large
and
covered,
the
the
I
individual
both
space,
small,
and as
a
for
but
it
should- be recalled that
the
each
In addition to the
range of values
calculation,
degree
of
varied.
success
also
To get some sense of
an appropriate range for each
category,
average
I
calculated
from the
four
the
most
base for comparison, I calcu-
successful places:
lated the number of
places
in Harvard Square and
Newton
Highlands.
square
1000
per
elements
feet
of
space.
calculation is
the opposite of
essence
a
second:
large
counts the most in
small element
third
calculation.
there
in
the
element
coverage,
is given the same
a
as
I
noted the maximum figure
This
but
the three
value
in
the
Since
can be many more small
elements
in
the same
given
also
for
each category (either from an
entire
area
area
of
or
the
active
one of
the
places
observed.)
These values were:
Percentage Shelter:
23.8% average;
42.2%
maximum (active
area,
Holyoke).
space, large elements actual143
DENSITY OF
FORM
Percentage Ground:
but
11.4% average;
categories.
27.4%
maximum
(far
end,
close
sity
of
on the other
two
Obviously, denfeatures
is
not
Porter Square).
enough to guarantee success--
Number of Elements:
the
7.3/1000 sq.ft. average;
Porter
22.3/1000 sq.ft. maximum (ac-
portant factor.
tive area, Holyoke).
of features,
Regarding
successful
Square
the two least
places,
Davis
is much lower on
three values.
however,
all
Porter Square,
is low on
shelter,
lack
of
activities
Square is a more
at
im-
The density
though, may ex-
plain why people often
hesi-
tate
space
and
for
stay in the
a minute
or
two:
the
elements provide visual clues
which
say this is a place to
stay.
Recommendations:
*
Gathering places should be
densely defined.
values
from
The average
the most
suc-
Number of Elements:
7.3/1000.
cessful places can serve as a
*
preliminary guideline:
space
% Shelter:
defined
23.8%
11.4%
% Ground:
Some
areas
can
be
more
the
densely
thatk the average for
the entire area.
144
within
2.
SUB-AREAS
PLACE
At first glance,
may appear to be
place
one
a gathering
open
big,
of the areas:
just
space.
The
arrangement of elements withthough, often combine
in it,
to create smaller spaces,
sub-areas,
of
Instead
gathering
entity,
view
or
within the space.
thinking
place as a
of
a
By identifying paths and sub-
single
areas at the same time we can
therefore, we should
it instead as a
series
of connected spaces.
Considering a
place
keep in mind how
breaks
sure
gathering
may also help us
ac-
up the space and
that what is left
choice of different spaces to
requirements
occupy.
for
such as
the
ent
for various paths,
en-
public
need
tries
and
visual
access.
some
relation
some
paths
the
and
secondary
sub-areas,
paths define the
where
extent
in
They can be differnature:
at the
some
street
more
edge,
some set back into the space,
There is usually a reciprocal
between
over
Sub-areas also provide a
commodate other
the place,
en-
is useable.
as a number of smaller
spaces
circulation
bigger,
more
some
densely
others more open.
smaller,
formed,
They
can
also
accommodate a range
ways
of occupying the space:
of
less dense areas provide the
open
space
necessary
for
large gatherings during
spe145
SUB-AREAS
smaller or more
cial events,
defined
small
scaled
spaces
tain, because these establish
groups of
people
how
near
or far people
from
Dimensions
ering place.
The size of sub-areas
area
is at Newton
by
it
This
area
several
observed
Highlands.
the
tables
benches next to the
edge,
varies
smallest sub-
The
in the places
fined
in The Hidden Dimension, suggests
dif-
and may be
a
These are:
Intimate Distance:
0 to 1 and a half feet;
Personal Distance:
1 and a half to 4 feet;
Social Distance:
maximum size is de-
Public Distance:
by
12 to 25 feet or more.
the
number
of
These ranges reflect how
Regarding
how
close people choose to be
areas there should
be,
others
depending
most of the successful places
relationship.
have from three to five
close
dis-
tinct sub-areas.
Perhaps
146
four
4 to 12 feet;
entire area.
than
are
ferent social distance ranges
sub-areas and the size of the
many
there
U.S. citizens).
sub-area.
termined
Edward T. Hall,
and
accommodate
people,
gath-
in man (based on middle-class
is about 72 sq.ft.
can
others using the
are
De-
building
about the minimum size for
The
is the
range of dimensions they con-
can
and couples.
greatly.
though,
provide
areas
appropriately
for
these areas,
the
more
overall
friends
on
Lovers
might
to
their
and
choose
the intimate or personal disimportant
tance whereas stangers
size
feel
of
might
most comfortable in the
SUB-AREAS
social and public ranges.
Although
this
ple could space themselves at
thesis
cannot explore this theory in
detail,
it seems
reasonable
a
comfortable distance
others while remaining
in the public range;
for sub-spaces to accommodate
could
all four distances. Then peo-
the public space.
from
with-
so they
still feel a part
of
Requirements:
There should be a
of
smaller
spaces
number
or
sub-
(three or more) within
areas
the entire area.
*
path
at the same time
conas
to ensure both adequate
circulation
and
*
Sub-areas should vary
nature:
in
by size, density of
form, types of features, etc.
Sub-areas should be
sidered
-spaces.
useable
*
Sub-areas should provide a
range of dimensions
allowing
people to space themselves in
various ways.
147
3.
SITTING PLACES
PLACE
"People
to
tend
sit
most
where there are places to
sit. ... Sitting space, to be
sure, is only one of the many
and, without a
variables,
control situation as a meacannot be sure of
one
sure,
sitBut
cause and effect.
ting
space is most certainly
It
fatiguing
is
remain
to
standing for long.
The most
common way to rest oneself in
a public space is by sitting.
this is
As Whyte discovered,
The most atprerequisite.
the most
tractive fountains,
one
striking designs, cannot induce people to come and sit
if there is no place to sit."
features
(Whyte, p. 28)
time.
for a length of
place
the
of
of
most
a
essential
gathering
place.
Form of Sitting Places
Sitting places are what
a
make
gathering place inherently
occupiable.
support
physical
intend
Most people need
to
stay in
if
any
they
one
There are many elements which
provide
can
sitting
space.
are both permanent and
There
elements,
moveable
elements
which serve dual purposes and
those
which are for
The basic requirement
only.
is
sitting
that there is a
sittable
surface which is at the right
height and has enough
Certain
seem
of
date
features,
to enhance the
depth.
though,
ability
seating forms to accommosocial interaction
and
gathering.
Fixed Forms
The
148
primary
advantage
of
SITTING PLACES
fixed forms is that they help
the
define
provide
and
gathering
place
sitting
spaces
which are always available.
Benches
forms
One of the most common
the
advantages in-
Their
bench.
is
seating
fixed
of
only accommodate a fixed num-
clude:
0
they are
obviously
for sitting,
to
people
meant
so they suggest
that
this
is
a
most
they are one of the
comfortable
seats,
outdoor
made of wood and often
being
ber of people for each bench.
They also limit views to
one
direction; they cannot accommodate
place where they can stay.
*
"Choice should be built into
basic
design.
Even
the
though benches and chairs can
be added,
the best course is
to maximize the sittability
of inherent features.
This
means making ledges so they
are sittable, or making other
flat surfaces do double duty
as table tops or seats."
(Whyte, p. 28)
tions
direc-
other viewing
and make it
difficult
for people to sit facing each
other in a group.
Other Permanent Forms
have backrests.
other fixed
fea-
later
There
are
after more permanent elements
tures
which provide
sitting
like walls and platforms have
space
and are more
flexible
*
they can be
been built,
removed
added
and can even
be
and put elsewhere if
necessary.
Benches have
though.
There
flexibility of use;
only
drawbacks,
is
little
in
These
forms
cause
they
can
than
benches.
are useful
can
be-
accommodate
social activity and gathering
in ways a bench cannot.
Some of the characteris-
they are
for sitting on and
their use
tics
which gives these
ele149
SITTING PLACES
for sitting.
table
You gain
sit-
at the
same
other
ele-
surfaces
time
as you add
ments to the space. For example,
a
planted
with
the
area
flush
need
ground would
seats placed around it to
If
inhabitable.
raised
were
though,
the
area
seating,
for
these
be
additional
seats would not be necessary,
this a more efficient
making
ments their flexibility
multiple
use,
are:
use of space.
articulation,
multiple focus and views, and
pairs of forms.
Multiple Use
One
of the best ways to pro-
vide
seating
is
by
making
they
provide
subtle seating
defini-
Secondly,
other space-defining elements
more
accommodate
Forms
tions.
A
seats
benches
but no people
which
sitting.
place filled with
can be used
as
include
planter
edges,
low
Porter
walls,
platform
edges
and
not serving its purpose.
steps.
There are several advantages
150
to
using these
forms
Square) is
obviously
sitting
is provided by
purpose
forms,
may
(like
If
dual
however,
not seem quite so
it
empty
SITTING PLACES
when few others are present.
Dual-use forms also provide
a more interesting sita
ting environment:
person
sit under the shade of a
can
tree
by the
or
edge
of
a
perhaps even dang-
fountain,
ling a hand in the water.
advantage
the best
But
is their flexibility in form:
they can change height,
varying
widths,
and corners,
have
"Articulation we found to be
level
important even at the
of
design of individual furniture elements.
Differences
in shape, size or arrangement
of seating or leaning facilities
significantly
altered
of
the public use potential
spaces.
small
open
these
...We noticed that corners of
planters
and
pools
raised
frequently
much more
were
than their straight
utilized
Along
sections.
...
middle
railings, the density of popto
be
ulation was observed
the
significantly higher in
corners
than in the straight
sections."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 489)
have angles
be curved, etc.
edges is
straight
suggested
unlike the basic bench.
by Robert Sommer (1974)
Articulation
the concept of sociofugal and
Whether
an element is multi-
sociopetal spaces.
purpose or for sitting alone,
ple interact,
a
able
highly
articulated
seems best.
Elements can be
articulated both
by
corners.
the
vertically,
through curves and
like
Harvard
Subway
plaza
does both.
One
prefer
people
may
corner
spots
to
each
long,
other.
space
which
sociope-
this
Sociofugal
spaces,
straight rows of
hinder interaction
not permitting people
sit
reason
calls a
seating,
by
When peo-
they want to be
face
accommodates
tal.
The sitting wall at
to
Sommer
and hori-
level changes,
zontally,
shape
with
cause
Corners
face-to-face.
may be preferred,
they can
to
then,
more
be-
easily
151
SITTING PLACES
others:
/
A
form
long,
straight
no
such clues
provides
for
use:
a sociopetal ar-
accommodate
and
though
benches,
single
fine for the individual, can-
rangement:
or
grouping
of
sense
same
the
give
being
larger
a
accommodate
not
of
part
a
larger space.
-
-
also
is
Articulation
helpful
for single
because
it
spaces
within
sitters,
defines
smaller
the
entire
form for people to occupy and
maintain
152
some distance
from
Multiple Focus and Views
The
articulation of
forms
also helps direct
sitter's view.
places
seating
In gathering
people want a
of views;
the
some want to
choice
look
SITTING PLACES
inward into the space, others
Coup-
want to look outward.
at Harvard Subway plaza.
Pairs of Forms
Even
other create their own inter-
use occur when several
nal
focus.
should
Sitting
provide
for
spaces
all
of
are
Generally,
convex forms
they
can be used either separately
Groups of ele-
ments, such as the tree planter
gives an outward view:
forms
enough that
close
or together.
these.
for
more possibilities
les and groups by facing each
and
Subway
wall
can be
at
Harvard
inhabited
by
or form a socio-
individuals
petal space for a group.
A
and
inward
concave forms an
view:
low wall adjacent
steps
can also form a
which
gives
tions
of
various
view and
to
space
direc-
accommo-
dates different groupings
of
people.
A
sitting
element
provide both inward and
ward
lated
sides,
views if it is
can
out-
articu-
and occupiable on both
like the sitting wall
Moveable Seats
One
type
last
important
seating
is
moveable
seats.
Usually, moveable chairs in a
153
SITTING PLACES
from 20 to 24 inches.
Even better,
when
sitting
deep
enough
sitting,
Brattle
inches
gathering place are
as
provided
Their primary
area.
is
tage
cafe
of an outdoor
part
rearranged
can
they
that
by
advanbe
for
sitters
sary
elements
for
like
Square.
served
tween
that
ches
chair)
sitting
feet deep; the one at Brattle
Square 6 feet deep.
Whyte's
primary discovdimensions
seating was that the best
used
places
linear
have
as
much
feet of sitting space
be-
as the perimeter of the gath-
was
ac-
ering place.
For depth, 16 in-
(about the depth
of
a
would seem a minimum,
though benches usually
range
Of the places I
observed, Holyoke is the only
one
with 100%
sitting
the
space,
other
perimeter
in
but most
of
sucessful
spaces
come close to that amount.
154
5
any height
1 and 3 feet
ceptable.
Whyte ob-
they
at Harvard Subway is
of
needs for seating,
36
The
Dimensions
space
to
though
ery regarding the
the
at
is the minimum neces-
gatherers want.
determining
wall
30
can be deeper.
whatever grouping or view the
In
are
two-sided
the
for this,
wall
though, is
SITTING PLACES
tions:
Recommendations:
*
A variety of sitting forms
should
both
be
including
used,
moveable seats and per-
Elements in the space like
ledges,
planters,
platforms,
designed
etc.
so that
steps,
should
they
be
also
accommodate sitting.
*
Sitting
level
views into
the
space and out to the street.
*
be
The
amount
of
sitting
be
with
cor-
changes,
and
curves.
about 100% of the perime-
ter of the gathering place.
*
Sitting
range
the
forms should
well articulated,
ners,
focus;
space, in linear feet, should
manent seating.
*
ward
both inward and out-
heights
from 1 to 3 feet,
depth
be
at
Sitting forms should allow
a
variety of viewing
and
least
16
inches.
*
Wherever possible, seating
should
be
deep
two-sided sitting,
*
should
enough
at
for
least
30 inches deep.
direc-
155
4.
PROPS AND SCREENS
PLACE
physically
"The preference for
pillars
might
be
ascribed
to some
primeval instinct:
you have
a full view of all comers but
your rear is covered."
(Whyte, p. 22)
supportive)
and
screens (primarily psychological).
Props
Props are elements which pro-
"The
ideal vantage
point,
protected above and behind,
is an abstraction
fulfilling
a need for security probably
of
primeval
origin.
The
tree-shaded
bench provides
such a location.
An arcade
is
the
spatial
abstraction
which provides these
advantages;
the
observer is
secure, psychologically invisible,
able
to
observe the
activity before him, and has
the
all-important option of
participating or remaining on
the sidelines."
(Specter,
on Variable Participation)
vide
limited
port:
by
resting
leaning
on
are
elements
other
ways
that
can support gather-
through
will
a
minutes.
want
for
by allowing a person to
stop
outdoor space.
elements
manner
156
Two types of
which act
are props
in
this
(primarily
Props
opportunity
while giving them
the
There
props.
an
often they have
the
cally
feel protected in
few
and be part of
elements
people
a
freedom to move on quickly.
rest
by making
only
These people do not
can give them an
against them, and psychologisupportive,
place
other places to go to.
crowd
supportive,
some
to commit themselves to
ting space.
physically
or placing
gathering
stay
to
both
against,
Sometimes people passing
ing besides by providing sitElements can be
sup-
object up against them.
a long stay;
There
physical
ately
are a
which
number
can
act
of
as
Bollards or a moderhigh ledge are objects
which a person can partly sit
on
even
and partly rest
against,
though they may be
too
PROPS AND SCREENS
sur-
high or not have enough
face area for sitting:
ing walls and columns:
Slightly higher elements like
or
walls
fea-
railings are
r
a
tures which a person can rest
a
against or
hand
lean
an
elbow on:
people
move
without
even
Sometimes
props
near
Perhaps they
touching them.
do
this for the reasons men-
tioned by Whyte and Specter-Passersby
often
the
Center
at Holyoke
against
stop and lean
platform
railing
while
watching the chessplayers.
Last
which
are tall
elements
people can lean
backs against.
their
Some of these
are telephone booths,
build-
as a way of having their back
protected
not
and
pletely exposed.
be
com-
People may
also gravitate toward objects
because
in space,
they define a
as opposed to
point
the
undefined quality of the open
paved areas.
People who stop
157
PROPS AND SCREENS
and penetrable edges
Screens
to such elements.
refer
phones,
A row of public
of bollards and street lamps,
trees
phones,
metal
with
and a bicycle or
guards
two
Brattle
in the photo of
(as
tele-
of
collection
a
or
Square) are separate elements
on
impact
make a greater
which
space
the
grouped
when
together.
to
act
They
a
of
talk in the middle
screen
a
as
path may not feel such a need
because
the view is filtered
they
between
the
this:
for
together
create
their own
person
alone,
A
space.
however,
want to be in a more
may
defined
act
Screens and Penetrable Edges
give
discussion of props des-
cribed the nature of singular
elements
place.
are
though,
physical
158
in
the
gathering
When single elements
arranged
together,
they can form larger
definitions.
penetrable
edge
edge
an
form
one can move
through.
as with props,
they can
which
And
They
they
because
location.
The
a
as
objects.
a sense of security
by
keeping people from being too
exposed.
Elements
create
which
are
also
useful because they can
help
penetrable
define
edges
the limits of a gath-
ering space while
permitting
PROPS AND SCREENS
a
more continuous definition
the places observed,
In
They give
movement through.
objects forming a
without resorting to a solid,
edge
continuous form.
feet apart:
penetrable
usually
were
about
3
Dimensions
pene-
There are two kinds of
trable
one in which
edges:
0
0
0)
individual objects are unconwhere
nected and the other
steps
objects.
the
connect
In the latter, the steps make
the overall form
so
continuous,
ob-
the distance between
first
sense
case,
in a
always
however,
line,
from 3 to 7 feet.
;5'5
a
de-
of continuity may
straight
not
ration between objects ranged
NJ~
though,
were
so the actual sepa-
In
jects is not so critical.
the
objects
The
0
()
@0 0
pend on the spacing.
0l
Recommendations:
Besides sitting space,
gathering
place should
a
sub-areas and sitting spaces.
also
contain a variety of props of
different heights for
tempo-
rary physical support.
0
be
Individual elements should
clustered
(about 3
feet
apart) to define the edges of
159
5.
OVERVIEWS
PLACE
advantage.
vided
such
pro-
be
can
Overviews
by any raised feature,
wall.
as a platform or
A person does not have to
As
all the research projects
show, one of the prime events
watching
people
in
the action from
above;
desire for
an
psycho-
It is the command-
ing view, and perhaps related
to
defending oneself.
person
160
Like
hill,
the
above always has
the
the castle on the
spaces
Where should raised features be?
ing
Within the gather-
are
areas
both
the
over-
and
place itself
looking the paths.
overview may also be
logical.
the
in
motion.
to get an overview.
People's
maximum
observed was about four feet.
The best way to do this is to
view
the
higher for an overview;
is
place
gathering
a
in
much
be
The paths
most
public
and where most of
the
action occurs, so people sitting
in the gathering
should have the overview
place
ad-
vantage.
This may be another rea-
OVERVIEWS
son
why sunken
areas
they reverse the
don't work;
In
situation.
these
most public
the
paths,
often
spaces
the
areas,
raised above the
are
gathering place.
puts
This
at a disadvantage,
gatherers
making them feel exposed
and
view of
the
limiting
their
action.
William Whyte notes that
ledges are sometimes too high
for comfortable sitting; they
are hard to get to and
leave
two sitting surfaces
instead
of one:
your legs dangling.
like
Ledges
though,
sible
these,
could be made accesby
an adjacent
seat.
Then the upper ledge
is
accessible and gives an overview.
Also,
there
are now
This is,
in effect, what the
sitting
wall
Square does.
Brattl.e
at
It is also the
way people get an overview at
Holyoke Center; by sitting on
the
wall
behind
the
bench
along Dunster Street.
161
OVERVIEWS
Recommendations:
0
Opportunities for overview
should
be
provided
level changes,
through
sitting
led-
than about 4 feet high.
*
the
When using level changes,
gathering place or
ges, backrests, etc.
areas in it should be
0
over
Elements which give over-
views do not need
162
to be
more
versa.
the
path,
not
subraised
vice-
6.
RECIPROCAL FORMS
PLACE
As
well-
mentioned earlier,
articulated forms accommodate
sitting
in
more
straight-edged
have
space
feel
streamlined
and suggest movement only.
than
forms.
--
They
another
advantage,
When
articulated
though.
elements
ways
the
shape the edge
U
.... 12.
--------------
...
.. 12.
be-
tween paths and the gathering
place,
they
can
people
into
the
help
move
gathering
Elements
be
forms,
non-articulated
provide
place.
can
The
which do
this
reciprocal
called
edges
no visual clues
stopping,
as
in
a
for
long,
straight corridor.
because through their
interlocking
change space:
shape they
ex-
they recipro-
cate by taking space from the
other
area
and
by
giving
space back.
-.-.-:
:: :: :: ::-
. .-.-
Outdoor places where
are
benches
placed parallel to move-
ment are another example.
illustrated
Straight
elements
be-
tween a path and a place make
space on the
it
As
by this
outdoor
M.I.T.
campus,
is hard to imagine
doing
163
RECIPROCAL FORMS
besides
anything
walking
illustrate
phenomenon.
this
At Brattle Square,
through:
ting
wall
long
and
the
at first
sit-
appears
Its
straight.
slightly curved form, though,
makes it a reciprocal form.
wall
The
have a return edge,
or
move
out into the path give physical
help
visual clues
and
a person stop and
which
move
fact,
Holyoke
are
is
another
why the cafe
seating
straight.
reason
permanent
all the
at
features
This
is such a good addition:
soften the
tables
off the path.
so
because it is straight.
long
In
Holyoke,
perhaps appears
however,
Shapes which are curved,
at
the
straight
edges and create a reciprocal
between the paths
shape
and
the sitting spaces:
/
/
'I
They also help define
space
by
their
a
enclosing,
articulated form.
Field Observation Examples
Some
164
of the places
observed
Lastly, at Porter Square
the
of
the
walls
at
the
edge
RECIPROCAL FORMS
space separating it from
the
offset in
two
are
sidewalk
locations,
helping
draw
to
people into the space.
Requirements:
*
and
The
edges between
the gathering
sub-areas
paths
place
or
should not be com-
pletely straight,
but be ar-
ticulated in some way so that
a reciprocal relation is
es-
tablished.
165
7.
FOCAL ELEMENTS
PLACE
also be focal pieces, includ"We have gone over the printhat make a
cipal
factors
place work.
But there is one
I call it trimore factor.
angulation.
By this I mean
by which
some
that process
external stimulus provides a
people
and
linkage between
strangers to talk to
prompts
they
as
though
each other
stimulus
...
The
were not.
or
can be a physical object
Sculpture can have
sight. ...
Besocial effects.
strong
fore and after studies of the
showed
Chase Manhattan plaza
of
installation
the
that
has
'Four Trees'
Dubuffet's
on
had a beneficent impact
People
pedestrian activity.
sculpture,
are drawn to the
they
it:
and drawn through
it;
beside
stand under it,
they talk
it;
they touch
about it."
(Whyte, p. 94-96)
ing small structures,
tures, large trees, etc.
Focal
elements are
portant
not just
ability
to
but
the
design
texts
use of focal elements in
to
gathering
ticular
A
place is
often
of so many
collection
and
attention
gravitate.
projects
to
The
reviewed
The most
is the
water
foun-
but other elements can
a
indi-
vidual elements that it needs
some
larger,
unifying
ment to make it
ele-
recognizable
and memorable.
ditional
elements have adadvantages.
They
can be a feature which people
a fountain or sculpture.
common example given by these
166
place.
draw
attracting people.
tain,
an
features which
observed their value in
sources
give
can occupy,
they
research
people,
par-
people's
which
the
imtheir
those
outdoor spaces:
also
advocate
they
because
identity
for
attract
Focal
Many
sculp-
cal
like the edge of
elements also can
source
of
tween
gatherers
be
conversation
triangulation
--
Foa
be-
Whyte's
factor.
But
lastly, by giving the gathering place an
identity,
they
make it stand out in people's
minds,
which may bring peo-
FOCAL ELEMENTS
ple
back
make
to the
space,
for
choose it
them
or
a
perhaps
is
it
subway
the
entry and surrounding sitting
rendez-vous.
walls, although the newsstand
Field Observations
and
of
Several
the
places
ob-
served have identifying focal
elements.
level with its four
cent
magn-ifi-
trees serves this
At Brattle,
pose.
ting
raised
Holyoke's
is
wall
element.
pur-
the sitfocal
the
At Harvard Subway,
other elements
it
making
what
the
compete,
just
hard to say
main
is.
feature
For Newton Highlands this may
be one of its drawbacks:
it
has no real focal element
or
identifying feature.
probably
People
think of the
space
more in terms of the adjacent
bakery and delicatessen.
Recommendations:
*
There should be some
ger
which
form
or
focal
lar-
element
gives identity to
the
*
If possible,
this element
should also provide space for
sitting.
gathering place.
167
8.
MATERIALS AND TEXTURES
PLACE
even stone,
"One of the best things about
water is the look and feel of
it.
I have always thought
that the water at Seagram's
looked unusually liquid, and
I think it's because you know
you can splash your hand in
it if you are of a mind to.
...
It's not right to put
water before people and then
keep them away from it."
(Whyte, p. 47-48)
table
to
crete.
is
more comfor-
sit on
than
con-
Plants and grass also
provide comfort:
soft
grass is a
surface to sit on,
plants
make
in general
the
and
can
place feel
help
a
bit
cooler in hot weather.
These materials not only
Gathering
rather
places tend to
be
hard-surfaced spaces,
provide comfort, but a variety
of
textures.
with paved areas, concrete or
choice,
brick walls and
make
the
ledges,
hard surfaces of
and
build-
give
and the variety
people
can
They
may
linger so
they
experience them all
be-
ings. This is necessary part-
fore
ly for durability and mainte-
especially
nance, and partly to accommo-
It helps people cool down on a
date all the necessary paths.
hot day,
If
spend
though,
we
want
time
in
it
people
the
needs to
168
Water
nice to
and people are fasby its
feel,
quality.
be
notes
it is
as
and
Wood,
that
that fountains be
to
is
include.
and dynamic
are some natural mate-
rials which can help.
cinated
on.
space,
comfortable as possible,
there
to
moving
people.
They
sound
Whyte
important
accessible
are
also
great for children's play.
MATERIALS AND TEXTURES
Recommendations:
*
Use a variety of
materials
natural
and textures,
es-
pecially those which make the
space
more
comfortable
for
use.
- Any water feature
be accessible,
with an
should
edge
for sitting.
169
9.
MAINTENANCE, PERSONALIZATION AND CHANGE
PLACE
but
it shows that people are
"To seem inhabited, a place
must show evidence that there
physically and psychological-
are
ly
involved with the
It
shows that people use
people
about.
...
A
second way that space becomes
peopled is through evidence
of the acts of attention that
go into building and maintaining it.
Houses that are
built so clearly that you can
trace
the acts
of building
seem peopled as vigorously as
those that carry more literal
symbolism.
The
evidence of
care
in tending is particularly evocative.
It makes
evident the human energy that
brings a house to life."
(Lyndon, p. 271-273)
regularly
space.
and that they have
an interest in it.
Personalization
Personalization refers to any
way
that a person can have a
direct affect on the place.
Personalization
harder
This last issue deals not
so
ways.
ering place inhabitable as it
method;
is
work,
presence
even
of
when
present.
that
no
one
people,
else
is
If a person senses
other
space,
other
it
activity,
people
suggests
and
use
the
social
may encourage
to
especially
done locally,
users
can
space.
and
170
more pleasant to be
in,
are
is
one
if
it
is a way
that
personalize
good
art
example
in
a
is
the
of
public
space are the decorated tiles
at
the Davis
drawings
easier
A
community
Maintenance
not only make a place
a
any display of art-
station.
repairs
art
be
in
but there
Public
people to gather.
Ongoing cleaning and
may
accomplish
public space,
much with how to make a gath-
on ways of suggesting the
it
Square
subway
These were based on
by
children
adapted by an artist,
the
sense
and
giving
of more than
hand participating.
A
one
wall
MAINTENANCE, PERSONALIZATION AND CHANGE
mural by neighborhood artists
possibility.
another
is
blank walls,
dress up large,
however,
one would hope
and
would
there
to
used
usually
are
These
blank
few
be
posters, and ancommunity
a
on
nouncements
refer
board in the space can
to
ongoing
actual,
activi-
thereby suggesting so-
ties,
cial participation.
Movable
chairs help too, for they are
the only feature in
often
space
public
a
person
a
can
One final way to persona gathering
through
building
place
is
the treatment of the
edges.
service
through their dis-
buildings
the
play windows can exhibit
and
unique
per-
individual
of
sonality
enter-
their
prises.
Stores,
this thesis
Throughout,
referred
to people's use
has
of
space and not just the nature
of
space
the
itself;
the
issue of gathering places has
been
treated
as a
dynamic,
not static, issue. If activities
space
and
ty.
features
change too,
parallel
move and have control over.
alize
public
Change
walls at a gathering place.
Signs,
and
shops,
in
the
then they
this dynamic quali-
Some
ways they can
do
this are:
*
can
Occasional
involve
events.
both
They
changing
171
MAINTENANCE, PERSONALIZATION AND CHANGE
activities and changing matethey often re-
since
rials,
quire
props
additional
banners, platforms)
(tables,
in
found
usually
not
the
Bring-
Changing elements.
warm
ing out cafe seats when
comes
weather
signals
signal
awnings up
a
daily
the
rolling
changing of seasons;
window
down
and
change
*
Water. It is always chang-
ing
Plants.
of
its
fluid
Changes
or additions
the space itself.
ture
can be
to
New furni-
added,
certain
elements might be rearranged,
even
more major changes
can
be made.
All of these methods can
suggest a "living" space, one
They show change
through growth and by
because
nature.
in
climatic conditions.
*
year.
0
space.
*
ing at different times of the
bloom-
which complements the activity
in
it
by
being
active
itself.
Recommendations:
0
Keep
maintained,
the
and
space
well
incorporate
*
Make
even
a
more
gathering
active
any method by which community
changing elements and
residents can personalize the
ities.
space.
172
place
through
activ-
Throughout the discussion
of
the issues affecting the sucplaces,
gathering
of
cess
numerous references have been
made to the need for a
sizes,
of
and of materials.
It
emphasize
to
important
is
vari-
of forms,
ety of spaces,
this need because it is
pos-
to achieve many of the
sible
elements.
vocabulary of
benches,
row
after
row
with
space
filling a
by
seating
perimeter
100%
provide
of
space would be boring indeed.
As Joardar notes, people
dislike
barren
only
not
places, but redundant spaces,
the same elements
where
used throughout.
are
Variety not
inter-
only increases visual
est, but provides people with
choice:
what
of
where
to watch,
get to others,
provides
occasional
And it
etc.
large crowds
for the individual or
also
for
flexibility:
wishing
to
use
and
couple
the
resulting
the
but
It
for example,
be easy,
would
"Conversely, for low-scoring
many who reported
plazas,
gave reasons for displeasure
and perception of redundancy.
They referred to 'barrenness'
the
in
'obviousness'
or
redundancy in malandscape,
terial color or texture, 'excessive cement/concrete pavcolor
'lack
of
ing,'
'lack of green,'
contrast,'
and monotony in space
etc.,
organization, i.e. 'patterned
'clutter of elelandscape,'
ments of the same type' and
'no focal point.'"
(Joardar and Neill, p. 488)
small
a
using
by
criteria
to
DESIGN
CRITERIA
CHOICE AND VARIETY
IV.
to
sit,
"The value of diversity of
settings and of unprogrammed
settings in general seems to
in the ability of such
lie
settings to give people experience in a variety of roles
more
and to provide many
opportunities for self-redefThey also create
inition.
opportunities for
numerous
people to interact with a
people-variety of other
the possibility of
raising
conflict but also allowing
for an increase in empathy
and understanding."
(Levitas, p. 235)
how close to
173
CHOICE AND VARIETY
space.
We are not all the same,
and
need
our
for
contact
changes from day to day.
to
wrong
is
that
assume
will want to sit in
everyone
same location or in
the
It
the
same kind of environment, and
are
"Where places to sit
provided so that people have
a view of the passing parade
can watch the street
and
corner activity, the plazas
Quiet areas
are a success.
are also well-used, as long
are
quiet areas
the
as
planned in contrast to -- and
not instead of -- the bustling areas."
(Linday, p. 496)
only for that
tion.
I, myself, often premore
fer
areas
edge.
protected,
shady
avoid the
street
and
I noticed on numerous
trips to outdoor spaces, however,
"The keynote for designing
furniture elements appears to
be the provision of personal
space, orientational freedom
for
choice
postural
and
small-group users. Such provisions may be made through
angular variety, small size
and physical division in the
and arrangements of
forms
facilities rather than extensive monolithic structures of
neat geometrical shapes that
make up much of our plaza
landscapes."
(Joardar and Neill, p. 490)
that there are
others
who
would much rather sit at
the
very
edge of
a
space,
just where the street traffic
(and
and
noise
fumes)
ignore the desires of
by
own.
are
A designer cannot
greatest.
others
supplanting them with his
A gathering place must
be as accommodating as possible,
it
and to accomplish
needs
to provide
and variety.
174
condi-
design
this
choice
CHOICE AND VARIETY
Recommendations:
*
not
Gathering
places
be defined by a
number of elements,
should
limited
but
in-
stead
have
a
variety
of
forms, sub-areas, dimensions,
materials,
and textures rep-
resented in the space.
175
CHOICE AND VARIETY
176
DESIGN
STUDY
5.M
As a final test of the issues
discovered
through
the
and
field
developed
observa-
tions and design criteria,
I
have tried to apply them to a
short design study.
Because
of
the emphasis on gathering
in neighborhoods
places
on
incorporating
variety
a
and
greater
of building uses
at
these places, I have chosen a
site
and developed a program
which represent these issues.
177
DESIGN STUDY
The Site
The
map
below
shows the surrounding
neighborhood
location of existing commercial and public uses (in
L--
\
>v,'z
I
178
---c
L\
and
black).
the
DESIGN STUDY
The
site
located
is
within the commercial area of
the
Although com-
in Cambridge.
Square site.
neighborhood
Fresh Pond
have
We
though,
be
several
can
there
that
seen,
gathering
what scattered throughout the
general commercial
residential area, Concord and
order
Avenues
commercial
of
a
with
streets,
concentration
main
are the
businesses
these
at the intersection of
There
are several sites
could
within this area which
be considered for development
ner
of
gathering
a
incorporating
place.
to
test a more
chal-
I
have
situation
lenging
instead to explore
chosen
down on Concord Ave-
further
Concord
The site at the corConcord
Huron,
and
by
occupied
garage
is
and
exposure,
a
has
also
This
Street.
Donnell
site
two
southern
currently
one-story
structures being used
purposes.
for public
These
small branch of the
has
are:
a
a southern exposure and would
city
library,
be a good central location.
Radcliffe pottery studio;
presently a gas station,
A
gathering place
most
would
ciated
with
enterprises.
corner
the
site,
asso-
likely be
all
here
commercial
Since
it is
it might
kind of quality
as
art
the
studio
Radcliffe
and
for Harvard
students but
the
an
and
also
open to the public.
It is a corner site, but
a
have
a
block
one a
different site;
and
In
area.
nue at the corner of
two streets.
the
places within
mercial enterprises are some-
Huron
Brattle
Highlands or
Newton
has
an L-shaped form because
of the two residences at
the
179
DESIGN STUDY
corner
of Donnell and Kelley
riety
of activities and
site also
ex-
have
tends an entire block in
one
prises which are so
Streets.
The
direction;
nue
to Kelley
scenario
would
the
from Concord Ave-
is
Street.
that
be open,
existing
site
with none of
buildings
maining,
and
and
outdoor
the
the
The
new
re-
the
ful
in
commercial
attracting
*
several retail spaces
(800 - 1,000 sq.ft. each),
*
small cafe/restaurant
(800 - 1,000 sq.ft.),
gathering
*
branch library
(1,500 -
Program
*
Because the success, activity
arts center
and form of a gathering place
(3,000 sq.ft.),
are partly determined by
*
gram
includes
building
the
the proparticular
uses in addition to
outdoor
space.
The
people.
The building uses include:
place would occupy the site.
adjacent buildings,
entersuccess-
buildings
the
yet
2,000 sq.ft.),
community
services
and
day care center
(1,400 The
2,000 sq.ft.).
square
footage
figures
were used mainly to get
idea
of
some
how much space
the
buildings themselves, though,
buildings would need to occu-
are developed only so far
py.
they
affect
the
as
outdoor
space.
The program is a mix of
public service uses and
mercial businesses,
to
180
com-
in order
incorporate a greater va-
Besides the ground floor
space,
there could be
addi-
tional
space for the
commu-
nity
services
and
arts
center, or for other offices,
on upper floors.
U
Most
of the
activities
DESIGN STUDY
already exist
listed
at
either
the site or within a
few
therefore
are
and
blocks,
"Establishment of a variety
of
off-street behavior settings should stress construc-
tion
of
the
neighborhood offerings.
Be-
a
currently
part
activate
helping
sides
outdoor space,
site
one
at
provide a more central
would
which might make them
vices,
accessible
visible and
more
ser-
for community
location
to
incorporating
these
of
all
the
allow
residents and also
only of shops
and
another
support one
them to
not
restaurants
but
lecture
halls, exhibit areas, clearly
defined play areas,
observation points, strolling lanes,
and
sitting zones that could
accommodate
both
intimate
pairs
and more
impersonal
groups.
Larger open areas
might be suitable for serendipitous
happenings,
displays,
and entertainments or
opportunities to observe people
at work.
Lounges and
cafes
should
accommodate
adults
teenagers as well as
in
their search for settings
in which they can experiment
with
new
definitions
of
self."
(Levitas, p. 236)
in various ways.
Besides the main gather-
include
would
for
the outdoor area
space,
ing
a
playground
daycare
use by both the
center and neighborhood resi-
also
of
would
A parking lot
dents.
back
be located at the
the site,
facing
Kelley
Street.
The playground could
provide
additional
at
site,
the
incentive
and
activity
another
for people to
use
the
space
With
the
day.
this mix of indoor
outdoor
to
during
uses,
and
people coming
the site would
have
the
opportunity to participate in
several
events
same visit:
their
during
they could bring
children to the
ground,
the
play-
stop at the library,
have something to eat at
cafe
the
and perhaps drop in
community
services
the
at
and
181
DESIGN STUDY
art center before moving on.
Following
drawing
182
the
design
and analysis diagram
is
the
a description of some
main
issues
of
explored
during the design process.
'0
0
\~1
(5,'
-1
-A
0J
DESIGN STUDY
PLAN
scale: 1/20"1 = 1'-0"
0
50
183
184
0
\0
\O0
0
I
I
0
\O)0
0
0
0C
-
... -
--
-
O-----
0
.. ..
.
....
-
-- ------------
-\-
5-- ~
...
.:.:-:.:.::-:.....-
----- ----- -- -::::::::::::::::::::::#
.........
0
..... . .. . . . . . .
{
-- -~--
-..-..
2.......
. - . .. . ....
---s----
. ...-.-.--...-.-..-........
.......
......--
-..........
;............... ........-
- .-.-.-.-.
-
e~~~~~~~. -.- +........a
ee
---.4.~ o 0::....00------------------
m
\-
--
-
-
-
-
--
-
-
-
-
-
* -- - - - - - -- - - - - -.
0
.
-
-
_
_
_
_
....
__
ee.
0-"___:::4i._
0
-
DESIGN STUDY
ANALYSIS
scale: 1/20"
0
0
-=1'-0
50
185
186
DESIGN PROCESS
During
the
design
issues
were
condi-
and
the
developed in the
de-
the site
of
tions
This section
sign criteria.
is
the
reflecting
made
process,
changes
and
decisions
DESIGN
STUDY
a brief documentation
of
this process.
"Civic spaces generally provide a rare opportunity for
an entire community to pool
its natural,
ethnic, commercial, and architectural
resources into an ever-changing
celebration
of
community.
Implicit in the development
of almost all civic spaces is
the desire to ceate a form of
spontaneous theater in which
all
of the people drawn together become part of the
...
drama.
In my initial pass,
building
all
uses were contained
in a single building, with an
~In essence, civic
spaces are among the
few
designed settings in which
people are completely free to
be themselves."
(Archea, p. 4)
indentation in the center for
the gathering place:
relate
to
one
--
path
the
sidewalk along Concord Avenue
--
and
the
building
mass
IULGY ef.
blocked off the corner.
Next,
z.
though.
this
two
into
buildings,
which
opened
site
for
a
path
to Kelley
also
allowed the
up
pedestrian
Street.
It
playground
at the rear to be adjacent to
AVIS.
There were several probwith
the
mass
the
lems
broke
building
the
6C0460ar
I
scheme,
The space could only
outdoor gathering
area.
By making the corner building
the
smaller of the
pulling
it
back
two
and
from
the
187
DESIGN PROCESS
street,
the corner was opened
up
the gathering
to
another.
I
place.
also wanted to
begin
This gave the space a connec-
with
tion to Donnell Street,
add-
tinuous features; in order to
permit-
establish the focus, or iden-
ing another path and
ting
good
viewing from
the
corner.
the largest,
most con-
tity,
of the space,
cause
these forms
most
and behave
impact on shaping
sub-
and determining
where
areas
paths can go.
In looking for
a form to start with,
sidered
I con-
a platform like that
at Holyoke.
The problem with
a platform,
however, is that
there
is no on-grade
since
it
sides.
access
is raised
on
the
to
I
I fet that raised areas which
needed
provide overviews should have
determine how the gather-
on-grade
ing place would be shaped and
point.
The first ele-
For
articulated.
ments
the
location
paths
and
these
tend
188
should
to develop
of
the
sub-areas,
to
define
use,
open
primary
space established,
all
In order to make the
space easy to enter and
With
the
be
main
access
a
larger
at
some
element,
therefore, I decided to try a
curved
sitting
wall
like
since
those at Harvard and Brattle,
one
and have it run the length of
DESIGN PROCESS
the
site,
but
with
several
breaks for access:
The
the
I
curved form follows
contour
of
the
site,
which helps establish several
different
lowing
levels
access
at
while
grade
alat
some point to each level:
..........
I
discovered that
this
form could accomplish several
things.
the
First,
it
site into two
~-
divides
sub-areas
The
curved
form
also
provides both inward and out-
of different nature; one more
ward
open
rected out to the street, out
and
street,
tered,
related
to
the
the other more sheland
related
to
the
from
focus,
and
the corner,
views
and in
di-
to
the site:
building:
.............
21-0
189
DESIGN PROCESS
wall
breaks in the
The
give access for a variety
primary
and secondary
through
the site,
of
paths
including
it
might be
shape
the
entries
space
could
Making
and
be
located.
the buildings take
establish
L
to
where
45 degree angle I felt
diagonal shortcuts:
I
articulated
with
a better
the
avoiding
open
deep
a
would
relation
space,
by
pockets
of
space away from the main part
of the gathering place:
J1
Also, the diagonal shape
The
primary paths
(the
relates
better
sidewalks
along
Concord
through the site.
Avenue
Donnell
Street,
far
and
the path moving
through
undefined,
the
block to Kelley
Street)
tend
are
all continuously
and
edges
to
to
paths
I left the
of the
buildings
and let them
the limits
of
exthe
graded
site simply becuase I was not
Secondary paths moving
-.
through the site often move
designing the buildings them-
over steps
further
®.
At this point I looked at
the building edge, to see how
190
selves.
edges
If
they
developed,
would
accordingly.
have
had
the
been
far
changed
DESIGN PROCESS
the
articulate
tried
to
features
in
I
Finally,
the
the space to accommodate
design
the
of
requirements
For the sake of variety,wanted the sub-areas to be
different
center
large
the space has five
of
the back of the site.
tered
by
over the
through
Shel-
tree
path
the block,
it
ground
proaction
play-
space and the
the
while being
more secluded,
and
going
an overview of
vides
in
a large
at
slightly
less
public,
than the spaces at the street
sitting.
also has the longest sit-
The steps surrounding
G ).
it provide additional seat-
foun-
ing, though there is on-grade
two
shelter,
raised planters for
It
third sub-area is
in
for
trees
ting
wall and a water
tain
(
area
forms a kind
space
vices
sub-
The second
entry
of
building.
The bollards
the
and
trees
is
less
edge or screen to this space.
It
Individual elements have
center
and
continuous but
first.
penetrable
edge is formed by the
steps,
bollard and tree planter
®.
Because of its relative openness,
at the edge near
ser-
a small sitting wall and
has
access
to the community
defined than the
a
The
nature.
in
sub-area in the
main
A
raised
criteria.
I
for the outdoor cafe seating.
it
is a good location
create
a
penetrable
also been grouped in
several
places to provide for different ways of using them.
The
fountain and tree planters in
the
first sub-area are close
enough
to the
sitting
wall
191
DESIGN PROCESS
that people could form socio-
Conclusions
petal groupings around them:
The
design accomplishes many
of the goals set forth in the
design
criteria,
although
there
is room
ment.
The statistics for the
for
improve-
site are:
SIZE:
14,000 sq.ft.
DENSITY OF FEATURES:
In
order to get as much
sittable
the
space as
sitting walls
sided
% Ground:
18.5%
are
No.Elem.:
6.7/1000s.f.
two-
and the tree planters,
provide
32%
possible,
fountain edge and cafe
all
% Shelter:
sitting
Seating:
area:
11%
perim:
seats
space.
If
I
89%
had more time
Also, part of the edge to the
explore the design,
slightly
are
like
to
providing
more
greenery besides
formed
raised
by
steps,
areas
additional sitting space.
elements
like
trees,
bol-
lards,
planter tubs,
lights
and
create
a penetrable edge
the street
192
a
bus
.
see if I could
into the space.
Finally, various smaller
street
shelter
at
I
of
articulating
seating forms.
I
would
get
trees
I would also
liek to try to look at
ways
to
other
the
In addition,
feel the space is probably
larger than
necessary.
things considered,
All
though, I
DESIGN PROCESS
feel that my design decisions
were
better informed through
the research and that a space
of
and
this kind,
both
outdoors,
could
asset to a community.
indoors
be
an
"I
am not, heaven forfend,
going on to argue for places
of
maximum gregariousness,
social directors for plazas.
Anomie would be preferable.
What I'm suggesting, simply,
is
that
we make
places
friendlier.
We know how. In
both the design and management of spaces, there are
many ways to make it much
easier for people to mingle
and meet."
(Whyte, p. 98
193
DESIGN PROCESS
194
EPILOGUE
A final word on the thesis experience
...
"Finish it? Why would I want to finish it?"
195
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