discussion
PUP 420: Theory of Urban Design
Products of landscape architecture
The Hague, the Netherlands
Landscape architects work on a variety of projects, some of which we’d consider part of urban design and some of which probably not.
Your book spends a lot of time trying to figure out when landscape architecture is urban design.
Landscape architects are involved with things like coastal land management, reservoirs, dams, power stations, etc. Those sorts of things wouldn’t be considered urban design, but the design of things within the city – like pedestrian malls, square, streets, and parks, are often urban design.
Open space in the city
Traditionally, both architects and landscape architects (as well as some planners) have advocated for open space in the city. This is how we got tall towers set in large plazas in many of our cities. More recently, there’s been some resistance to the idea of designing like this.
The idea now is that we don’t simply want lots of open space in our cities, but rather we want meaningful space that contributes to the overall feel of the city.
City park in Edinburgh, Scotland
Landscape architecture links Landscape architecture as urban design is arguably more important when it looks at the bigger picture – focusing on a larger scale, even sometimes the citywide scale. Links help to show how individual pieces of landscape architecture are really part of the same, larger design. Three types of links include pedestrian malls, walkways, and experiential trails. In this picture of Stockholm, Sweden, you can see how even the outdoor stairs form part of the public realm, where people are sitting and some of them are eating food from a food cart that’s out of the picture.
Landscape architecture links This is Strøget (Copenhagen, Denmark). Strøget used to be a regular street that allowed cars. It closed to cars in 1962. At the time, there was public resistance – it was thought that the Danes didn’t value public space, and that the shops would suffer. Since then the car-free zone has grown in size significantly. It’s no longer just one street but several streets and plazas. The shops and city life in this area are flourishing.
Strøget, Copenhagen
A couple of things to note… Even though it’s cut off from cars, bicyclists are still permitted. And you’ll notice the fountain. Sculpture, fountains, artwork, etc., are often incorporated into landscape architecture.
Landscape architecture links
Landscape architecture links In Toronto, the PATH system is a system of underground walkways. But it’s actually much more than that. It began in the 1960s when Toronto’s downtown sidewalks were overcrowded, and new office towers were removing the much-needed small businesses from the streets. A Toronto city planner convinced several developers to build underground shopping areas, promising to eventually link them together. There has been criticism over the years by people who dislike the system, and want active streets and sidewalks instead. However, the system has continued to grow.
Landscape architecture links As an example of a heritage trail, Washington, D.C., has the African-American Heritage Trail. It’s one trail with 15 different routes on it, grouped by neighborhood.
This is an example of one of the trail markers. This one is for part of the Greater U Street Heritage Trail. The trail marker is highlighting a former night club where Louis Armstrong played. It’s significant since U Street continues to have an active arts and music scene.
Squares/Plazas Squares and plazas have a wide range of designs. Some are well used and well liked, whereas others are hardly ever used. The character of each square or plaza depends on a number of things, such as the extent to which buildings around the plaza help shape or frame the space to give it a feeling of enclosure; whether the buildings are tall enough and generate enough activity to keep up traffic through and around the plaza; and of course the design itself matters.
Binnenhof, The Hague, the Netherlands
Squares/Plazas This is a public square in Veracruz, Mexico. It’s used well enough during the day – there are shops and restaurants that surround it, and of course some people have a reason to walk through it.
Squares/Plazas But at night, the square really comes alive. In the evening, a band plays and people come out to dance, to socialize, to people-watch. And the restaurants are absolutely packed.
Squares/Plazas
Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden
We know that plazas have the potential to generate activity, which is a goal of plazas themselves. This is a café in the old area of town in Stockholm.
Streets
Streets are another area in which landscape architects can involve themselves in urban design. However, landscape architects aren’t always involved in the design of streets. Ask yourself:
• When are streets part of urban design?
• When are streets part of landscape architecture?
Athens, Greece
Parks There are lots of different kinds of parks, from the old standards like Central Park in NYC, to newer waterfront parks. Generally, for urban design, we’re looking for some kind of integration of these parks into the bigger picture.
Tempe Town Lake
Waterfront parks For example, we have Three Rivers Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It’s a 13-mile, continuous loop of riverfront parks and trails that is about 70% complete. This huge urban waterfront park along the rivers in downtown Pittsburgh will provide a continuous link to park spaces.
Waterfront development
Royal Danish Playhouse
Copenhagen, Denmark, is working to change its harbor. One way has been through high-end architecture, things like the building of an opera house and the Royal Danish Playhouse right on the waterfront. With about 40% of the building projecting over the water, the waterfront promenade pivots around the playhouse, diverting pedestrians onto a long, raised walkway.
Waterfront development But perhaps more important than the buildings themselves has been the connection between buildings and use of the waterfront, creating a renewed vibrancy.
Linking parks together The Emerald Necklace is a system of parks designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, America's first landscape architect. He began designing the parks system around 1878. Some of the parks had been built long before then, but Olmsted sought to connect the parks together. In recent years, they’ve improved pathways, plantings, signage, and bridges, and restored boardwalks and buildings.
Boston Common (est. 1634) – part of the Emerald Necklace and the oldest city park in the U.S.
Green roofs Would you consider green roofs to be urban design?
Mostly these are individual buildings, but sometimes they’re done as a system of green roofs.
Landscape architecture and reuse The High Line is a one-mile, linear park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It’s an urban park that has reclaimed a former elevated railroad for new use, providing valuable open space.
Landscape architecture and reuse
The High Line, New York
The 23rd Street Lawn is a favorite gathering space on the High Line, with its open green space for picnicking, sunbathing, and people-watching.
Detailing in the environment
Stockholm, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark
Your book gave the Mies van der Rohe quote of “God is in the details.” This is referring to all the little things in urban design, such as the paving materials and so on. With private development – and most landscape architects work for private firms – there is usually a bit more freedom in spending money on the details.
End of Unit 4.