Read something
101 Walkable City Rules by Jeff Speck.
It’s like a much shorter version of A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander.
Pattern Language is a timeless classic, Rules is for the current age.
Pattern Language is for slow thoughts, Rules is for fast actions.
If you are a mayor (or anyone with influence, really) that wants to make your city more walkable - read Rules. It will tell you exactly what steps you need to take and give you solid data to back up those undertakings.
If you are somebody who is interested in urban design, architecture, and interior design - read Pattern Language. It’ll help you rediscover your surroundings and learn how to analyze them. You’ll figure out how to turn any place into one where people enjoy being in.
…of course, this comparison is merely to provide some context, anyone should read both books if they want to :)
Saw something
A while ago I took a short class with John Tschirch, “Exploring Providence on Foot: How the City Was Made”. It was fascinating to walk the familiar streets at a much slower than normal pace while examining little, previously unnoticed details.
There are just so many hidden layers and history… and though we only got a tiny glimpse of it, my brain is overwhelmed with all the information.
The most impressive takeaway for me was learning more about the architecture of the Beneficent Congregational Church. You don’t have to look too closely to see that it is Greek Revival - the Greek patterns, the columns, and the cupola make it obvious. What I would have never known, however, is that there are also elements of the Egyptian Revival. The outside edges of the windows are tapered, which mimics openings of the Egyptian temples. Though I never paid attention to the windows before, I now look at them every time I pass by.
Walked somewhere
Walked around downtown Ansonia (in Connecticut) for the first time ever. I used to come there all the time for guitar lessons, back when I was in high school. However, we would always drive right through the city. It was not a place where one wanted to stop, get out of the car, and walk around.
So what happened?
Ansonia is one of numerous small cities with industrial past. Unfortunately, just like many others, Ansonia experienced decay in the 20th century due to flooding, suburban flight, and rise of the crime. Back in 2009, its Main Street was sad to look at: sidewalks with no one walking and neglected yet architecturally stunning buildings.
These days, it feels like the life is coming back. New restaurants, scooter-sharing, improved sidewalks and crossings, public art. Abandoned factories are being turned into lofts and there are now people strolling around! There is still a lot of work to be done, but the overall atmosphere is incomparable.
This is a perfect demonstration of what scholars like Jeff Speck are advocating for: while we may not rebuild sprawled suburbs to make them more human-centric, we can certainly revive existing pre-car downtowns.
That’s it for today, thank you for reading ✌️ Will leave you with some more pictures of the iconic Westminster Street in Providence, taken during class: