Buildings - STIMULATING Special Places

The massing and architectural design of buildings which shape intersections and public gathering places is critical for making thriving, walkable neighborhoods.  If buildings which form street corridor intersections are thoughtfully placed and well-scaled, then intersections can become comfortable outdoor “rooms” of destination.  Because people like to frequent comfortable public places, well-formed intersections become places where commerce thrives, housing is sought, and the chance meeting between residents and frequent visitors becomes a commonplace result of vibrancy.

If, however, buildings at intersections are set far back from the public sidewalk, then no outdoor “room” will be formed and the place won’t feel comfortable to occupy. Corner parking lots, or small buildings far from the street with too few windows, lead to economically depleted places. Worse, buildings that present blank walls at intersections cast an unsafe, desolate shadow on all corners of the intersection – not just their own.  They provide an excellent place for crime because they do not provide what Jane Jacobs called: “eyes on the street.”

Even in neighborhoods with little or no mixing of uses, corner buildings are important. Even modest corner buildings, when thoughtfully built or renovated, have twice the power to indicate the character and quality of a neighborhood.

Street corridor intersections offer opportunities for special placemaking for neighborhoods.  If a neighborhood has forward-thinking zoning, it can prescribe different levels of activity at its key intersections.  For example, just a small amount of commercial vitality at a key intersection of a residential neighborhood can offer an amenity for the entire community enriching residents for several blocks.  

At uniquely shaped intersections – where streets are not in a pure rectangular grid pattern – corner buildings have an even greater opportunity to form special places.  This can lead to memorable, even iconic, symbols of pride and value.

Buildings also shape public gathering spaces such as plazas, parks and cafes. Some of the most beloved places in America wouldn’t be the same if the buildings that formed them weren’t up to the task.  From intimate pocket parks which provide special places for momentary contemplation (or a pleasant lunch), to grand public squares and parks, there is not a longer lasting source of civic pride than a great civic place shaped by great buildings.

A place doesn’t need to have tall buildings and busy streets to form a great gathering space worthy of pride. Calm, residential neighborhoods are well-served by incorporating more intimate places – such as pocket parks and civic greens – when those gathering places are shaped by walkable streets and homes with ample humane elements like windows and front porches.