Amanda Burden: How public spaces make cities work

Summary

The speaker, a city planner and animal behaviorist, emphasizes the importance of public spaces in cities, arguing that they are the heart of urban life. They share their experiences studying spaces like Paley Park and Battery Park City, highlighting the significance of details in design and the balance between commercial interests and public good. The speaker's work in New York City, including the transformation of waterfronts and the creation of the High Line, showcases the power of public spaces to enhance city life and the need for continuous advocacy to protect them.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Cities are fundamentally about people and the public spaces where they interact are crucial to their vibrancy.
• 🌳 Successful public spaces like Paley Park in Manhattan offer comfort, greenery, and a sense of community, attracting people to them.
• 🛋️ Comfortable, movable seating in public spaces encourages people to stay longer and enhances the social atmosphere.
• 🚧 The design of public spaces should prioritize human experience and individual comfort, not just aesthetic appeal.
• 🌱 Greenery and natural elements in urban settings are highly valued by city dwellers and contribute to the success of public spaces.
• 🏗️ Urban planning should focus on creating meaningful public spaces before or alongside development to foster community and livability.
• 🌐 The High Line in New York City is an example of how repurposed spaces can become beloved public areas, drawing millions of visitors.
• 🛣️ Transforming underutilized spaces like waterfronts and railways into parks can significantly enhance a city's quality of life.
• 🏘️ Zoning regulations can be a powerful tool for directing development towards public transit and creating walkable, car-free neighborhoods.
• 🌟 The fight for public spaces is ongoing, requiring constant advocacy to ensure they remain accessible, well-maintained, and true to their purpose.

Q & A

What is the speaker's perspective on the essence of a city?

The speaker believes that cities are fundamentally about people and the public spaces where they go and meet, which are more important than buildings themselves.

Why did the speaker choose to study Paley Park in Manhattan?

The speaker studied Paley Park because it was built by their stepfather and it became a small phenomenon with a profound impact on New Yorkers, demonstrating that successful public spaces are not accidental.

What are the key features that the speaker observed made Paley Park successful?

The key features that made Paley Park successful were comfortable, movable chairs, the presence of greenery, and a sense of community where people attracted other people.

How does the speaker describe the traditional design of plazas in cities?

The speaker describes traditional plazas as having a stylish, Spartan look associated with modern architecture, which often results in desolate and even dangerous spaces that people tend to avoid.

What was the radical idea the speaker's team proposed for Battery Park City?

The radical idea was to build a small but high-quality public open space first, before any development, to see if it would make a difference in attracting people and investment.

Why was the speaker's experience with Battery Park City significant for their later work?

The experience was significant because it demonstrated the importance of attention to detail in design and the impact that quality public spaces can have on the success of an area.

How did the speaker approach the challenge of accommodating one million additional New Yorkers?

The speaker approached the challenge by focusing on vertical growth, utilizing the transit system, and redirecting new development around transit hubs to create housing without increasing car dependency.

What was the speaker's strategy for rezoning New York City to accommodate growth?

The strategy involved setting height limits near transit, redoing zoning to target where new development could go, and prohibiting development in car-oriented neighborhoods.

Why was the High Line a contentious public space according to the speaker?

The High Line was contentious because it was an elevated railway turned into a park, and there were commercial interests that wanted to convert it into a commercial space, which would have compromised its public nature.

What lesson does the speaker emphasize about the importance of public spaces?

The speaker emphasizes that public spaces have power beyond just serving users; they improve the city's image and the quality of life for residents, making them feel better about their city and contributing to their decision to stay.