One of the main problems that plague our cities is that they are not interesting places to explore on foot. All too often, streets are flanked by sidewalks that are not enjoyable to stroll along because there is nothing interesting to see or do there. Sidewalks are either too dull or too stressful with nothing to separate them from the chaos of car-dominated streets.

The facades of buildings are often bare with the businesses sealed up inside, the windows are devoid of engaging displays, the sidewalks lack "furniture" such as outdoor seating and external displays of goods, and there are few activities taking place such as street performers or other programming. This all results in few people walking along the sidewalks and our streets becoming even more full of cars as people choose to drive to get to their destinations. The key to getting people walking is making the sidewalks interesting places to walk along. The way to do this is through inside out design.

Inside Out Design

When there is a clear separation between what happens inside buildings and what happens outside them, the realms of public and private do not interact. Since pedestrians are on the public realm of the sidewalks and interesting things are inside the private realm of businesses, pedestrians and interesting things do not "meet." Walking becomes dull, lonely, and isolating, reduced to just a way to get from point A to point B.

But when the businesses and other activities going on within buildings spill out into the public realm, the sidewalks suddenly become engaging places. This can be achieved by creating attractive store displays with open doors that welcome people into the building, by pulling out displays of goods into the open, and by setting out all kinds of outdoor seating, umbrellas, and sidewalk furniture. Doing this blurs the lines between public and private, making the sidewalk a fun place to explore.

Engaging storefronts with open doors

When storefronts are designed to draw people in with interesting displays of clothes and products, they bring sidewalks to life with color and detail. People pause and look through the glass, transforming the experience of walking through the city into something akin to visiting a museum.

What's more, when the entrance to the side of the storefronts is open, perforating the line between the public realm and the private realm, it invites people to come on in. Businesses then benefit greatly from the increased foot traffic as window shopping turns into actual shopping.

Outdoor seating

Nothing makes a sidewalk come more alive then people hanging out there. And the best way to get people hanging out on the sidewalk is to put out places to sit. When cafes and restaurants offer outdoor seating, not only do people bask in the pleasures of fresh air and sunshine, but Holly Whyte's words of wisdom that "nothing attracts people like other people" comes into play as the area becomes a hotspot for foot traffic. This then leads to more businesses and eateries popping up to take advantage of the increased pedestrian activity in a wonderful virtuous cycle of social and commercial life.

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External displays of goods

The best way to lure customers into a business is to show them all the great things that are inside. But you can't do that if the goods are inside while the people are walking outside. So you have to bring the goods out to them. Instead of sealing up all the products inside the business, you can display some outside.

Bookstores do this often and always have people stopping to flip through pages and consider a purchase. Every store can do the same by putting out racks of clothes, cartons of fruits, or any other kind of product they wish to showcase. It not only increases the probability of making a purchase, it makes the sidewalks come alive with activity.

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.
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Activities

Another part of inside out design is bringing the activities that usually happen inside a building out into the public realm. For example, instead of conducting games inside a gym or community center, conduct them outside on the building's grounds. Instead of doing a concert inside a hall, do it in the square outside. Instead of doing treatments like massages in a salon, do them on the banks of the river. And so on. The more things that are happening outside in the public eye, the more people will want to stick around and take part in them, becoming involved with community life.

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The way to make a building come alive is to activate its ground floor - the place where it makes contact with community life.
Social Life ProjectFred Kent

By making sidewalks and public spaces more interesting places to be by incorporating inside out design, the more we make walking an attractive and pleasant activity. We get more people choosing to explore the city on foot rather than by car and the city therefore becomes much more walkable and enjoyable, which benefits everyone, from individuals to businesses to the environment.

Further reading on inside out design

Let’s Turn Buildings Inside-Out
Bringing the inside out onto the sidewalk blurs the lines between public and private space, creating one dynamic, thriving urban ecosystem.
Social Life ProjectFred Kent
The Home-Based Work Place— Rediscovering an Old Idea
Mixed use buildings thrive in Italy, with the family-owned shop downstairs being a staple of the community and local economy
Social Life ProjectMark Hinshaw
A “Porch” on Every Building: How Bringing the Inside Out Creates Vibrant Communities
The way to make a building come alive is to activate its ground floor - the place where it makes contact with community life.
Social Life ProjectFred Kent
The mission of the Social Life Project is to incite a renaissance of community connection in public spaces around the globe. Through our online publication, presentations, campaigns, and catalytic projects, we can create transformative impact on communities everywhere. Our work grows out of more than 50 years devoted to building the global placemaking movement. It is an initiative of the Placemaking Fund, along with PlacemakingX — a global network of leaders who together accelerate placemaking as a way to create healthy, inclusive, and beloved communities.

If you are interested in collaborating (articles, presentations, exhibits, projects, and more) or supporting the cause contact us.
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