Why Many Public Spaces Fail William H.

Whyte once said, "It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people - what is remarkable is how often this has been accomplished. Today, many public spaces seem to be intentionally designed to be looked at but not touched. They are neat, clean, and empty - as if to say, "no people, no problem " !ut to us, when a public space is empty, "andali#ed, or used chiefly by undesirables, this is generally an indication that something is "ery wrong with its design, or its management, or both. The following pairs of photographs illustrate some of the most common problems of public spaces.

Lack of places to sit $any public spaces don%t e"en pro"ide a place to sit. &o, in their protracted 'uest (ust to be comfortable, people are often forced to adapt to the situation in their own way. &ometimes they simply gi"e up )below*, or ha"e to sit on briefcases )second image below*.

+ lack of good places to sit is an e'ually important issue. ,or e-ample, a choice of seats in sun or shade can make all the difference in a place%s success, depending on its climate and location. +llowing people to sit near a playground or within "iew of other acti"ities is also crucial.

Lack of gathering points . This includes features people want or need, such as playgrounds, or places where "arying elements--bus stop, "ending cart, outdoor seating--combine to create a gathering point. ,ood is often a critical component of a successful gathering point.

/aris% /arc de la 0illette )top* has seats that force people to sit in unsociable ways, and signs that ask them not to climb on the sculpture. Though located along a stretch of the /acific 1oast Highway, this park at 2aguna !each )near top* has loads of acti"ities, food, and places to sit. It is a busy, healthy gathering place.

Poor entrances and visually inaccessible spaces . If a space is to be used, people need to see it and they need to be able to get to it.

+ dark or narrow entrance such as those that used to be at 3ew 4ork 1ity%s !ryant /ark )top* keeps people out instead of in"iting them in. The same entrance )near top*, redesigned to be more in"iting and open, has kiosks that sell coffee and sandwiches, and the interior of the park is "isible from the street.

Dysfunctional features 5ftentimes features are designed simply to punctuate the space, ser"ing a use more "isual than functional, instead of encouraging acti"ity to occur around them as at this waterfront park in !arcelona, below.

6ood features, such as the friendly gorilla at the !erlin 7oo )abo"e*, encourage acti"ity to occur around them.

Paths that don't go where people want to go

/aths that lead to nowhere are useless, as demonstrated at this /hoeni-, +ri#ona park )top*. The 2u-embourg 6ardens in /aris, howe"er )near top*, show the art of making a path that pulls people along it, or allows them to stop and rela-.

Domination of a space by vehicles There may be a lack of crosswalks, or streets that are too wide, or lacking sidewalks

+ main street is not a highway. 5ne should not fear crossing the street so much that the acti"ity needs to occur in groups, as on 6eorge &treet in &ydney, +ustralia )top*. 1rossing the street should be an easy, comfortable acti"ity. 8"en if you ha"e to wait )near top, /aris, ,rance*

lank walls or dead !ones around the edges of a place The area around a space is as important to its success as the design and management of the space itself.

The blank wall )near top* contributes nothing to the acti"ity of the street. In fact, it doesn%t e"en seem real.

"nconveniently located transit stops !us or train stops located in places where no one wants to use them are a good recipe for failure.

+ transit stop located in a busy, acti"e place can not only make that place better, but also increase transit use.