Streets It's the Sidewalks, Stupid Paradigm-shattering change will happen when streets, sidewalks and intersections are transformed into community gathering spots through the simple act of giving human beings priority over motor vehicles.
The Magic of Luxembourg Gardens The magical appeal of Luxembourg Gardens is simply that people feel welcome to eat, relax or stroll. But it's under-pining is that, it's all about just a nice place to sit
What I've Learned Taking Out the Garbage The architecture of most city halls in many countries, follows one of three models: The Freestanding Icon, The Secure Fortress, or the Generic Office Block. However, city halls in Italy follow a fourth model – The Center of the Community.
How a Australian Window Washer Changed the World Cities were “an invention to maximise exchange and minimise travel”...I am fascinated about, "How the design of the public realm impacts the quality of social, cultural and civic life."
Creating the Streets We Want Rich street life is no frill. It is an expression of the most ancient function of a city—a place for people to come together, all kinds of people, face-to-face. — William "Holly" Whyte
Turn Places "Inside Out" to Revive Social Connection and Local Economies Thresholds where storefronts and buildings connect with the sidewalk —is the place to reunite communities and jump-start local economies after these long, hard months.
Barcelona La Rambla: Barcelona's Promenade-to-the-Sea is One of the World's Great Social Spaces A torrent of humanity, a river of life, a tumultuous flow of people of every imaginable size, shape, age, gender and flavor.
Coming Out of Minneapolis Tragedy, the Community Creates a Healing Public Space Community turns site of George Floyd's killing into a sacred pedestrian space A mural at the site of George Floyd's killing has become a sacred space For weeks, the
Coming Out of the Pandemic—We Will Have A Greater Appreciation for Social Life Great Places to congregate can heal us in many ways As we ponder what the world will look like coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, one outcome might be something
Italy The Home-Based Work Place— Rediscovering an Old Idea In Italy, the shop downstairs is put to many good uses
Italy Social Distancing, Italian-Style The role that place plays for a country coming out of lockdown
Barcelona Homage to Barcelona Barcelona is most itself in smallish, protected spaces and what makes these spaces memorable is what happens in them.
Public Markets Social Encounters of 4 Kinds: A Field Guide to Markets A big reason we enjoy markets are the plentiful opportunities for conversation
Social Life and COVID-19 Being Safe Does Not Have to Mean Being Lonely and Bored How do we “tip-toe” our way back to a flourishing social life, capitalizing on local knowledge to make sensible choices about how to reopen our communities by involving local people in the decisions.
Social Life and COVID-19 Lockdown In Italy: What I Miss Most In praise of sociability—the active ingredient of everyday life
Italy Passeggiata: An Exuberant Italian Custom We Should All Adopt A regular stroll through town is not just fun—it also boosts our sense of community
Munich Please just a nice place to sit — Victual Market, Munich, Germany A creative approach to seating makes this one of the world's great social places
A Great European Waterfront Few People Know About Otranto— a town of 6000 on the Adriatic Sea—features harborside streets alive with walkers
Social Life and COVID-19 How Social Life Endures Amid the Pandemic in Italy Ironically, a lively social life in a community makes physical distancing more effective
Brooklyn Three Iconic Waterfronts—Two of World's Best, and One that Needs a Bigger Vision to Get There What Brooklyn (and everywhere else) can learn from Paris and Porto, Portugal
Paris New York vs. Paris—Which is on the Right Track? Neighborhood life in two great cities that are going opposite directions
Transformative Ideas 9 Ways to Reinvigorate Towns & Cities Everywhere Saving the planet depends on reclaiming our communities—a Social Life Project update
Paris Paris (The City of “Life” and “Light”) is the World Capital of Affection, Comfort & Joy When you see people openly expressing their feelings in public—you know you’re in a safe and appealing place
Streets Starting at the Corner: A New Haven Success Story and now an Update Extending around the Block Reviving a hard-hit neighborhood one block at a time
