URP500: Images of Public Spaces
(and brief commentaries)

This page is a collection of public space images from Michigan planning graduate students in Urban Planning 500. (Everyone registered in URP500 has editing access to this document, which is located in the class's shared google drive folder; everyone else can view the page but not edit.)

Instructions for students:

Begin by selecting an example of a public space. Write a short narrative text about this space (see below for ideas about elements of your analysis/commentary). (Best to write this text on another application and then copy-and-paste onto your web page entry.). Suggested length: 125 - 250 words. Find one or more images of this public space (either your own photos or those from other sources).
Add your image and text as a new entry to this collective web page. To do so,
- Be sure you are signed into your UM account. (The Chrome Browser works best, but other browsers should work as well.) [alt link for editing]. Sometimes the link will take you directly to the site in editing mode. If it is instead just in viewing mode, click on the pencil icon (usually in the lower right) to enter editing mode (and the editing menu should appear on the right side of the page, including "Insert", "Pages," Themes," etc.).
- Select an appropriate format for your image + text in the "Insert" menu to the right. (Note: if you like someone else's entry format, you can select that entry and then click the icon on the left labeled "duplicate section," and then edit the duplicate. (Note: be careful to not edit/write over/delete anyone else's entry.)
- Upload an image (or several). You can either upload an image of your own or one you find on the web, one you scanned, etc. (List all image sources.)
- Add your narrative/critique/commentary.
- List your name, image location and image source.
Click "Publish" when you are done.

We will discuss your examples in class on Wednesday, Nov 16, 2022.

Note: if you encounter troubles in uploading to this page, email me your image and accompanying text, and I will add the material.

[To get this page started, I added a simple example from London.]

ADVICE ON YOUR COMMENTARY. Consider: What makes a great (or alternately overrated, misunderstood or problematic) public space? There is a wide range of public spaces, of various sizes and uses, and of varying mixes of public and private use, ownership, control, access. I look forward to seeing a wide variety of images and places (and not just the predictable ones). Identify good public spaces in unusual locations, such as in low density suburbs or poor neighborhoods, or in reclaimed spaces. Both international and US locations welcomed. Both big places and small. Remember that some photogenic and/or expensively designed spaces may work poorly as a public space, while some undistinguished, "ugly," and/or informal spaces may be popular and effective public spaces. And consider the impact of the COVID pandemic on the uses, restrictions and potential of public spaces. Do read the assigned texts for this session to inform you about key concepts and debates in public space.

Thank you, Prof Scott Campbell

Waterloo Station, London

Waterloo is the busiest rail station in the UK. (map location). Like other great urban train stations, Waterloo is a place both for hurried passing through (to catch a connecting train) and for lingering, shopping, eating. A balcony level (the vantage point of this photo) facilitates people watching and admiring the architecture (arguably not the prettiest conglomeration of old and new structures, but not boring). It is one of those spaces that gives you that vivid sense of being in a dynamic, rushing, impatient city. [photo: S Campbell, 2019]

URP500 (2022) - Be sure to insert your photos and text BELOW this line.

Ann Arbor's Argo Cascades

Marina Schwadron

The Argo Cascades are a feature of the Huron River and public park just north of Ann Arbor's Kerrytown district. The park is a 1500 foot series of 9 ponds connected by spillways, and is freely accessible to all members of the public. Kayaks, canoes and inner tubes can be brought from home or rented from the nearby livery. During summer months, the Cascades are alive with activity both in and along the water. It is especially popularity among local families, children and teens.

A $1.17 million construction, the Argo Cascades are a fairly new project as of 2012, replacing a former portage with free-flowing water for the first time since 1830. The park quickly became a successful community fixture. There are multiple options for nearby parking and the river is totally open with no fences or major enclosing features, thereby requiring little to no hassle or expense to enjoy the space. This means that, in addition to being an easy option for parents to keep their kids entertained on a hot summer day, the Cascades are an accessible destination for teens and young adults to safely yet independently socialize. Safety is maintained not by lifeguards or security, but by large numbers of parental figures who are naturally on alert for potential hazards.

This park is enormously significant for Ann Arbor's public interest. Because of its low-cost accessibility, attendance of the Cascades is diverse, spanning across demographic groups (especially age and class) in a way that is exceptional in comparison to other, more expensive downtown activities.

[photos: Doug Ryan, Courtney Sacco]

Panaji Church Square (Praca Igreza)

Tahir Noronha

[LOCATION]

The square adjoining the Church of Nossa Senhora de Concecao in Panaji was the first public space in Asia that was built with funds from a colonial power. It was part of Marquis de Pombal's 1774 plan for the greeenfield city of Nova Goa and completed around 1790. This 80' x 570' foot square costed the Portuguese regime approximately 11,000 xerafins; $63 Million today. (Pinto 2006) The iconic church on the hill predates the space, it was built in the 1630's. Church Square remains an iconic public space in the city, it is always full of tourists, and it connects Jardin Garcia de Orta the Municipal Garden to Camara the city hall.

Since the 1980's traffic has been allowed into church square, fracturing the space. There have been several attempts to beautify the square, this included the installation of concrete benches along the last part of the square in 1994 and planters along the divider. I have been a vocal critic of allowing cars into the square, I find that they reduce the walkability and force visitors to perpetually be alert. To the west of church square is the Clock Tower Garden (CTG). This used to be a public building with a prominent clock tower which burnt down in 1979. Since then it has remained an open space. There have been several proposals to construct a multistory parking structure there, which I think is a terrible idea.

In 2014, after the passage of the Street Vendors Act, the city rounded up all vendors and relocated them to CTG. The city bought them new carts. Throughout my undergraduate studies, we used to frequent the carts, as they served food 24/7. They were a rare safe and busy space at night in a city which is predominantly commercial and institutional.

In 2019 the street vendors were forcefully removed as a part of the Smart City Masterplan, out of the 31, eight were relocated on the beach, and 23 were put into a square in the old market. Many shut down as the new location was not practical. Church square changed a lot with the removal of the vendors and calls for the parking structure have re-emerged as the city sees its empty space.

Photos: [left] Praca Igreza, 2019. Tahir Noronha
[bottom left] The CTG when food vendors occupeid it. Joe Goa
(read about Joe; anonymous urban influencer, active since 1997 here.)
[bottom right] The CTG in 2019. Tahir Noronha

Ann Arbor Social District

Izzy Beshouri

Encompassing parts of Ashley, Washington, Liberty, Fourth, and Main Street, the Ann Arbor social district launched in early December 2021 and is open Thursday through Sunday from 4 to 11pm. The district is typically filled with outdoor dining tables, performances including local bands and magicians, and walkers enjoying the peopled scenery. Patrons can also buy alcohol and carry it with them inside district boundaries.

Public interest is overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining this adapted social space, as was demonstrated by the 96% of surveyed community members being in favor of the street closures. Some businesses have regretted losing the parking in front of their stores and previous participating areas such as the State Street Association have stepped back from regular closures. But on Main Street, the hope remains strong that these closures maintain as a regular fixture, with the proposal to add bollards to the area to facilitate closure set-up.

I am personally a huge fan of the Main Street closures. In the early morning before peak hours, the closures provide a safe running route through normally pedestrian-hostile environments in the downtown. Later in the day, the closures offer a multitude of experiences between enjoying the street performances, outdoor dining, social drinking, or simply the contemplation, people-watching, and anonymity offered by a busy, walkable space. The attractions pull in a variety of age groups, from games and magician sets for kids and additional alcohol-related flexibility for adults. The programming both attracts the business of out-of-towners (e.g. Taste of Ann Arbor) and encourages political participation (e.g. Ann Arbor Green Fair). It also activates an incremental step away from auto-dependence towards carbon neutrality. For these reasons, it presents as a well-rounded community space.

[photos: Jacob Hamilton, 2021 and Jenna Kieser, 2020]

Nichols Arboretum Theo Shapinsky

One of the quintessential public spaces for Ann Arbor residents and University of Michigan students alike, Nichols Arboretum provides a respite from the monotony of professional or student life. Established in 1906, Nichols Arboretum encompasses 123 acres of natural beauty within walking distance from central campus and the medical center.

Nichols Arboretum functions as a great public space because it offers a variety of green spaces and it is accessible. From the peony garden, which boasts the largest collection of peonies in North America, to the main valley to the Huron River to Dow Prairie, the arb provides both community spaces and privacy to its visitors.

Having worked at Nichols Arboretum this past summer, I can say that there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the arb looking the way it does. This hard work pays off as the arb is one of the most beloved public spaces in Ann Arbor.

MINNEAPOLIS COURTHOUSE PLAZA

Minneapolis, MN , Martha Schwartz Partners

Rachel Kerr

Created by Martha Schwartz and partners, this public space is a very "out of the box" concept that incorporates mounds of grass throughout the public space that are supposed to mimic moraines formed by glaciers in the Midwest. The design uses these mounds for privacy all placed at a 30 degree angle, some have trees and some do not. There is a mixture of seating in this space that are made up of log and metal benches.

While this design may look very cool and I think it brings a lot of interest to a city hall, I think that this design failed in many ways. Firstly, pretty soon after the installation was completed it was realized that the mounds of grass were incredibly difficult to mow and maintain, making this design more about the look and less about the practicality of a space. Further, the mounds were thought to bring more seating to the space but they are so angular that they are unusable to comfortably use as seating. Further, this space does not feel particularly warm and inviting and is more aesthetically pleasing than an example of a strong community space. Nothing seems to be designed with humans in mind in my opinion.

Mercado de la Cebada - Madrid, Spain

John Morrow

The market that changed with the times.

For most of its 144-year history, this market was about as traditional as it gets. Fishmongers, butchers, and produce vendors filled the market’s stalls and fed the locals of Madrid’s La Latina neighborhood. However, it wasn’t simply a marketplace for goods and services. It was a social sphere – a place where neighbors and strangers could meet and exchange stories and news.

But the market’s history wasn’t always so simple. The arrival of the modern supermarket at the turn of the century almost erased the market from the map. Lured by the cheaper international commodities offered at the new stores, shoppers abandoned the traditional market putting many vendors out of business. In fact, there was a plan to tear down La Cebada and replace it with a shopping mall. Public protests and a new mayor saved the market from demolition, but it needed to adapt in order to survive.

New businesses brought new life to the space. Today, wine bars, coffee shops, and arts and crafts stores are dotted in-between the old-school seafood and produce vendors. On Saturdays the bars and food stalls join forces – the bars cook the products customers buy – turning the market into one big party.

But is a market like this a public space or simply a business? I think the way that the public defended it from demolition and the fact that the businesses still cater to the working-class/every-day people they originally served plays an important part. It is just as much a social gathering space today as it was a century ago. It belongs to the public.

Maidan, Kolkata, India

Aritra Gupta

Located in Kolkata, the Maidan, also known as the Brigade Parade Ground, is a historical and cultural centre of the city, as well as a centre of leisure and entertainment. Being the largest urban park in Kolkata, it stretches from the Raj Bhavan building in the north to the National Library in the south and from the Hooghly River in the west to the Victoria Memorial in the east. The park, dotted with statues and architectural works, the most notable being the Victoria Memorial, incorporates numerous playgrounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens, several football stadiums, and the Kolkata Race Course.

The location of the park, in my opinion, is significant in its ability to attract people. It is located right next to the Indian Museum, the Victoria Memorial and Park street, all of which are significant spots on the urban fabric of Kolkata. The park is well connected to the rest of the city, having metro stations and bus stops all along its lenth. The park is bounded by Princep ghat and the Hooghly river on the west, giving it a very clear sense of place.

Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park - Las Vegas, Nevada

Andy Larsen

Images from Ray Gonzalez (2022) and Matt Holcombe (2012)

What was once a railroad yard in downtown Las Vegas now has the Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park. It is a privately owned public space (POPS) by the Smith’s Center for Performing Arts and also hosts events such as concerts and community gatherings. The 2-acre Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park is unique for two reasons:

It is a quiet, peaceful park despite being located just a couple hundred feet from Fremont Street (one of the biggest, most crowded tourist attractions in Las Vegas)
It is a rare green space in Las Vegas, especially downtown, with a grass lawn, trees, and flowers

Along with this, visitors are able to ride their bicycle on the trails built within the park. With the rest of Las Vegas not being so bike-friendly, the park gives bicyclists a relaxing spot to gather and ride around. Many people have picnics at the park and the surrounding architecture along with the view of downtown makes it a great place for people to unwind. In an area that severely lacks public spaces designed for residents of the area, I see it as a valuable place.

Balboa Park (San Diego, CA)

Revati Thatte

Balboa Park is a 1200 acre "historical urban cultural park" near downtown San Diego. It includes several museums, green belts, walking paths, theaters, and the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Balboa Park's defining features include a large, circular fountain at the entrance (top image), a lily pond by the Botanical Garden (bottom image), and an organ pavilion with ample seating for concerts. The 1915 Panama-California Exposition was hosted in Balboa Park, which directly influenced many of the park's architectural features.

Balboa Park is a great place to spend a Saturday outdoors with the family. Due to its large promenades and pedestrian-only streets, Balboa Park often hosts street fairs and cultural events. Additionally, many of the museums offer free or discounted admission to families with children and feature exhibits on science and natural history. Parking is entirely on a first-come, first-serve basis -- essentially, if you can find a place to park, you're good to go.

I grew up attending events at Balboa Park. I have fond memories of running around near the fountain or through the gardens by the museums. I believe the park serves as a functional public space, in that it is available to the public without barrier to entry, it provides ample space and activities to keep a large number of people occupied, and it is thoroughly maintained via regular upkeep.

I think Balboa Park is a great public space and a highlight among San Diego attractions. I do think that its accessibility decreases its strength as a public space, as many people have to drive to the park in order to experience it. Visiting Balboa Park, therefore, is more of a planned effort, rather than a spontaneous experience.

Top image source: Water Authority (2018)

Bottom image source: Chris Stone (2021)

La Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao

La Plaza de Mercado Paloquemao is located in Bogota, Colombia. The market offers various goods and services for communities in Bogota. From fruit vendors to butcher shops, you can find almost anything you want. In addition, La Plaza has plenty of restaurants and apparel shops. These Plazas are bustling so it offers a chance to talk to people in your neighborhood or eat a nice lunch with friends and family.

The property used to be owned by Colombia's National Railway Company since the area served as a trading spot in the 1850s. However, around the 1980s, the local government ordered the company to be liquidated. Local vendors and retailers organized to buy the property and have since improved it to be La Plaza we know today.

I think Plazas ("markets") are a public space that offers a lot of services to the community. It's a very common piece in Latino Communities, in the US and abroad. The best way I can describe the character of Plazas are what US malls wish they could be.

Source: Nosotros | Plaza de mercado Paloquemao. (2022). Plazadepaloquemao.com. https://plazadepaloquemao.com/2020/11/05/nosotros/

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SL Square, Tokyo, Japan

Ryotaro Konishi

In railway-oriented Japan (Tokyo), station fronts often serve as public spaces where people can easily gather. Among these, the Shim-bashi Station Square (commonly known as "SL Square") in the center of the business district is the most famous as sanctuary for businessmen ("salarymen" in Japanese). TV interviews with "salarymen" are always conducted there.

An old steam locomotive (SL) has been installed in the center of the square since 1972 as a landmark for meeting people. In fact, Shim-bashi here is the starting point of the first railroad laid down in Japan in 1872. The smoking area attached to the SL is always crowded with "salarymen". On weekend nights, there are often beer and sake festivals, and as you can see, it become a quite busy place.

But after COVID-19, the number of passengers at the station has dropped to 2/3 (though still 200,000/day), and the festivals are no longer held. In addition, due to the anti-smoking ordinance, outdoor smoking areas were removed and new indoor smoking areas were installed recently. These changes may alter how SL Plaza is used. Personally, though, I miss the cluttered state it used to have.

photos: [1 (1980s), 2] Yoshimoto, Kiichiro [3] Fukushima sake festival webpage

The Belt (Detroit)

Clare Kelley

Located in Detroit’s former garment district, The Belt, is a culturally redefined alley developed by the city’s Library Street Collective. The community space, tucked away in the heart of downtown Detroit, contains murals and installations by local, national, and international artists and several tables and seating areas for people to sip coffee, chat, or enjoy the creative environment. The Belt also offers bars, restaurants, and music clubs and often hosts musical events and block parties. Five large steel frames are placed throughout the alley to hold a rotating exhibit called “Public Matter” that displays contributing artists' work. The Library Street collective focuses on artists that want to create and engage with the public in Detroit. Completely free and accessible to the public, the Public Matter exhibit, creates a space for public art.

The reimagined empty space has been transformed into a creative, inspiring, and pedestrian-friendly public environment that offers an escape from the stresses of the city and creates an intimate atmosphere for citizens to hangout and enjoy arts and culture. Most people view alleys as dark, dirty, and somewhere to be avoided, however, when stumbling across The Belt one will find an “artistic dreamland”. With no barriers to entry, this great public space attracts a diverse community and creates a space for citizens to connect and engage with arts, culture, and each other.

(Photos: Dale Carlson, 2016, PD Rearick, 2021, Emily Berger-Crawford, 2017)

URP500 (2022) - Be sure to insert your photos and text ABOVE this line.

Chandler Park in Memphis, Tennessee

Dana Gentry

Images from the Groundswell Design Group (2017) and Brad Vest of Commercial Appeal (2017).

In 2017, Chandler Park underwent a revitalization project made possible by the Memphis Grizzlies, an afterschool program called Knowledge Quest, and partnership with Cummings K-8, an elementary and middle school directly adjacent to the lot. The most notable products of this project were the bright blue basketball courts (visible in the first picture and in the background of the second). The second image shows the majority of the park's open space as well as the dirt track that surrounds it.

Though Chandler Park is still a space for the public, its significance to Cummings during the school day and after school has modified its functionality and established it as a site primarily dedicated to youth learning, sports, recreation, and extracurricular activities. Because Cummings does not have any indoor sporting facilities, gym classes, afterschool programs, and school sports teams use Chandler Park as an outdoor gym, track, and basketball practice court (as well as a site for Field Day at the end of the year). Additionally, extracurricular afterschool programs across Memphis (like Memphis Inner-City Rugby and Code Crew) use Chandler Park as a site to host students from multiple schools.

Parque La Mexicana in Mexico City, Mexico

Maria Garcia Reyna

Enclosed by skyscrapers and dense city housing, Parque La Mexican in Mexico City is a vast open park that spans just over one kilometer. It contains elements of play and scenic paths built into the landscape and contains additional things such as a water reserve with a beautiful view, dog parks, a skate park, paths for bicycles, rollerblades, and strollers.

One of the things I greatly appreciated about visiting was the lack of city noise that made it through the park. Despite being next to some of the densest parts of the city, this park acted as a pleasant break from the city and was refreshing to experience.

In addition, there is a strip of restaurants the blend in with the rest of the park as well, encouraging people to take a break during their day, or come back to visit later in the evening. There is something for just about anyone and it encourages people to visit at all hours of the day to be active and interact with their community.

[photo: Parque La Mexicana: Instalaciones, 2018]

Tour Hassan | Rabat, Morocco

Melika Belhaj

Personal Photograph (2018) & Historic Photograph (1916)

Tour Hassan in Morocco's capital, Rabat, is the present day ruins of a mosque that was commissioned to be built at the end of the 12th century in but never completed construction. The minaret pictured here was intended to be one of the tallest minarets in the Muslim world but only reached 44 meters before construction came to an end. Although the original vision of the mosque was not actualized, the grounds have become both a historical monument as well as a public space enjoyed by Moroccans as well as tourists. This site can be accessed by foot from central Rabat neighborhoods as well as the medina (old city) by foot and is a stop on Rabat's (relatively) new tram system. From the minaret, you can see the Atlantic ocean, a view of Rabat's sister city, Salé, and the outskirts of the medina. In the midst of a busy and dense city, this open and public space provides a kind of unique solace and beauty and a reminder of what once was, what could have been, and what simply is. The intricate and stunning Islamic architecture, design, and zellige (textiles) stand the test of time and in-and-of themselves, create a kind of sanctuary.

Đường Nguyễn Huệ | Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam

Anthony Bui | Image sources from VnExpress

Đường Nguyễn Huệ is a 1 km pedestrian street in District 1, the CBD of Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam. On one end of the street is City Hall, a French colonial style, and on the other end of the street is the Saigon River. When walking from one end to the other end of the street, one would be surrounded by French Colonial architecture filled with popular bars, restaurants, and shops. In the morning, it is filled with seniors exercising. During the day, it is filled with office workers going out for lunch, and in the evening, it is filled with young people enjoying the night. It makes the city feel like it’s never sleeping.

https://romesite.com/piazza-del-popolo.html

Piazza del Popolo- Rome, Italy

This is the Piazza del Popolo, which translates to "The People's Plaza" or "The People's Square". When I visited Rome in 2019, I loved this spot. We walked through it a couple times a day, and it was always full of people, vendors, and performers. What was also cool was that, at the time, they had installed an art exhibit connected with a nearby hospital. Every time a baby was born, the lights in the plaza would turn on for 30 seconds. I thought that was a beautiful way to celebrate life and the people, which was fitting for this public space. This plaza also has cultural significance because, from it, 3 vias diverge, all of which lead to important cultural monuments or buildings like the Spanish Steps, the Roman Forum, and the road that leads to the Vatican.

What I like about this space is that it has been, and always will be, an outpouring of life and culture for the people.

Rosa Parks Circle - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Christian Carroll

This is Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I personally have been to this plaza a number of times and have had engaging experiences nearly every visit. The park is located in the heart of Grand Rapids (a mid-size city) next to the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM). In winter, the park is retrofitted as an ice rink and contains a stage with year round events. During the weekdays, food trucks often fill the area behind the stage, which helps promote the space as a place of engagement throughout the week. Currently, the park is undergoing some major renovations (click here). The goal of the renovation is to increase greenspace and areas to sit. Overall, this space has an allure that is very valuable, especially in a mid-size city.

Belanger Park | River Rouge, Michigan

Picture Sources: https://cityofriverrouge.com/belanger-park/ and https://www.detroityes.com/webisodes/2005/02-downriver/03-ballengerpark.htm

Kimberly Swinehart

Belanger Park is the main park and recreational area in the small suburb of River Rouge, about five minutes south of the Delray neighborhood of southwest Detroit. It overlooks the Detroit River and is a popular spot for children in the area to play and for people to fish. The park is surrounded by Great Lakes Steel, DTE Energy, and Zug Island, all of which are major pollutants in the area. According to the city's website, there is a $5 admission fee to get into the park, however, I have been there multiple times and the gate has been wide open, with no one actually checking. I grew up in Downriver, and particularly spent quite a bit of time here in Fall 2019 interning for an environmental justice group doing work in this area. Though some may not consider Belanger to be the most attractive public space due to its location in conjunction to industry, I do believe that it is an effective public space since it is used quite often, especially during the summer, it has a nice riverfront, as well as a large playground. Even though there are similar riverside parks in the close-by suburbs of Ecorse and Wyandotte, River Rouge deserves to have their own as well. Despite this, I do understand why some may consider it a "problematic" public space and am interested in hearing others' thoughts.

Some Links:

http://savelifta.org/about-lifta/

https://www.palestineremembered.com/Jerusalem/Lifta/index.html#OralHistory

Lifta, Jerusalem

Bryant Hepp

Lifta is a nature reserve and park on the site of a depopulated Palestinian village. It's unique because it is the best-preserved depopulated village in Israel and because it is actively used as a space for educational, cultural, and recreational activities by Jerusalem residents of different cultural and religious backgrounds. Those residents are also engaged in cross-cutting, grassroots efforts to prevent it from being developed into 250+ luxury housing units. In my experience as a tourist, integration of nature and historical artifacts into the multi-use public space invited me to think about the Palestinian residents who lived there until 1948 on a human scale.

Lifta combines a pleasant sensory experience with a tremendous psychological/historical experience. The historical artifacts, public-use spaces, and nature combine to create a perfect area for reflection or relaxation. The terraces and collapsed houses are filled with fruit trees, cacti, and wildflowers. Water flows from an ancient spring into a pool and through a path of stone irrigation trenches. Youth often swim in the pool on hot summer days. The first time I went was with a Palestinian tour guide who told us about his childhood in the village: we could walk into the old mosque, or his friend's old house, and he could tell us how he experienced life in those buildings 80 years ago. At the same time, the exact history that you've walked into depends on your identity and positionality. Much of the organizing efforts around preservation emphasize not only that the site is well preserved since 1948, but that olive presses and other structures in the village date back to biblical times. The intensity of the site's several historical significances contrasts with its pleasant and relaxing sensory experience in a way that is unique among Jerusalem's many contested sites.

There's a much longer story to tell about the coalition opposing the site's redevelopment: it includes Palestinian activists and families who lived there, the Israeli Antiquities and National Parks Authorities, and Israeli environmentalists. Many of these groups have incompatible visions for the site and broader society, but their shared interests in this case have had a tangible result in preventing the enactment of Jerusalem's construction plan 6036 for almost a decade to date.

Chemistry Building Atrium

Matthew Hastings

Personal photographs taken November 16th, 2021.

I find the Chem Atrium to be a very uncomfortable spot. I have taken classes there a number of semesters and always disliked waiting in the atrium. The space is very big and uses a lot of brick, too much brick I would argue. All the martials used are hard materials: brick, concrete, glass, that make the space feel less inviting. The building quickly changes from wide open space to small hallways (one somewhat visible in the middle right of the picture to the left) where lighting is poor. The space does have some seats in the lower level a few frail looking trees, but they do little to make it feel more hospitable. The upper floor (pictured) has no sitting space other than small ledges or by a wall. Many chemistry offices overlook the space, yet don't give Jane Jacobs "eyes on the street" feel to me. The place is not a place to hang around in, and those who do are usually just waiting for their classes, not hanging around for very long. Possibly evidenced by the grand total of three people in the large space in the middle of the day when I stopped by (about 1pm).

Tel Aviv Central Bus Station | Tel Aviv, Israel

Annie Linden

[image sources: Ari Amit of Israel 21c (2021) (left) and personal photograph (June, 2016) (right) ]

The bus station was designed in 1967 and it incorporated a shopping center, movie theater, and multiple bomb shelters into the seven storey building. It was intended to be the world’s largest bus station, a fact that makes little sense for one of the geographically smallest countries. The architect, Rami Karmi, has stated that he wanted the structure to be confusing so that people would spend more time and money in it. However, it didn’t open until 1993 and the city’s center had shifted north. While most Israelis do not use it and consider it to be a monstrosity, the station serves as a gathering place for African asylum seekers and other newly arrived migrants. These are groups of people that have largely been marginalized by the rest of Israeli society. Additionally, the station consists of enough cement that it has been deemed unimaginable to safely and economically tear down.

The Underline

Miami, Florida

Photos by Ellison Hersch, 2021

Above and to the left are photos of Miami’s Underline. The Underline is a 10-mile linear park that runs under Miami’s Metrorail, an elevated rail system that follows along US1. Some of the sections of the Underline are still under construction, but the conversion has created a continuous urban trail with more safety features for crossing busy streets. The largest completed section is in Brickell, one of Miami’s densest areas. The Underline starts/stops at the Miami River (pictured left) and continues south with basketball courts, tables, benches, ping pong tables, and a stage for public performances. This section is called Brickell’s Backyard and has already started to host outdoor family days, art classes, story times, happy hours, farmers markets, and more. Only certain sections of the 10-mile park will be this active, while other parts will focus on safe bike paths with natural plant life. The Underline is assisting in activating the spaces around public transit stops and attempting to create community in this underutilized space.

This photo was taken in Sawakin, a city located in Port Sudan, Sudan. Port Sudan is widely known for its beautiful coral reefs, which makes it a popular diving destination. What I noticed from my travels and experiences is that many people come to Port Sudan to dive, but never engage in local tourism and attractions. Which leaves many public spaces, such as the one photographed here, scarcely visited.

Photos by Rasha Mohamed

Charminar I Hyderabad, India

Charminar, meaning "4 minarets", is one of the most recognizable landmarks in India. It is both historically and religiously significant as it has housed a mosque on its top floor for more than 400 years. Beyond the structure itself, the area around it has become one of the most bustling neighborhoods and markets in Hyderabad. I think Charminar is particularly an interesting example of a public space because of its religious affiliation. Hyderabad continues to host one of the largest Islamic populations in India (30% vs 64% Hindu) and this structure proudly displays that.

By: Harshita Pilla

Image from The Guardian

Sabarmati Riverfront I Ahmedabad, India

The Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad was a seasonal river, but it was made permanent through the design of a canal-like structure.

During the dry seasons, the river bed became a place for farming. With time it also offered place for various informal economic activities, and the river banks were used by informal squatter settlements.

Gradually, however, the intensive uses took their toll on the river. Untreated sewage flowed into the river through storm water outfalls and dumping of industrial waste posed a major health and environmental hazard. The river bank settlements were disastrously prone to floods and lacked basic infrastructure facilities. Lacklustre development took shape along the riverfront. Such conditions made the river inaccessible and it became a virtual divide between the two parts of the city. Slowly, the city turned its back towards the river.

There had been a long-standing acknowledgement that the riverfront could be turned into a major urban asset from its undesirable state. Proposals to achieve the same have been made since the 1960s and it was finally in 1998 that this multi-dimensional project was envisioned and undertaken by the city.

Reference: https://sabarmatiriverfront.com/background/

By: Vishnupriya Ravikumar

新宿駅 Shinjuku Station | Tokyo, Japan

By: Aislinn O'Leary

This station is filled to the brim with bustling people getting ready to depart or on the first leg of their journey. However there are places to stop and rest inside the station itself before being paywalled out. These fluorescent winding corridors cover miles of space for exits and entrances. This station connects to 16 JR lines, and two hubs to subway lines as well.

Congo Square, NOLA

Image: miamitimesonline.com

Image: afropunk.com

Congo Square in an open space in Armstrong Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. The "Code Noir" of 1724 granted enslaved people Sunday as a day of rest. The mayor of New Orleans implemented an ordinance that restricted enslaved people to Congo Square in 1817.

Congo Square became a place of worship, celebration, and economic activity. Both Catholicism and Voodoo took hold there. Key elements of dance and jazz were created in the square. Black people, including slaves, would buy and sell goods. Some were able to buy their freedom as a result.

-David Elam

Paley Park

New York City - Madison & 5th

Located at 3 East 53rd Street between in Midtown Manhattan, Paley Park represents the first implementation of the modern "pocket park." Characterized by its 20-foot high water wall at back, the 1/10th acre public space (which is enclosed by three buildings) provides visitors a natural respite from the stresses of urban life. Such tranquility is accomplished by "vertical lawns" of English Ivy, a strategically-placed canopy of Honey Locust Trees, and light furniture providing rest to any passer-by.

Column By: Christopher Dahman

Source: https://tclf.org/landscapes/paley-park

Marine Drive, Queen's Necklace

Source: Mumbai Mirror, 2018

Marine Drive, Day View

Source: Times of India, 2017

Marine Drive, Mumbai, India

Marine Drive is a C-shaped promenade along the Mumbai coast. The street lights on Marine Drive are known as the Queen's Necklace because they resemble a string of pearls in a necklace when viewed at night from an elevation anywhere along the drive.

Marine Drive is one of the best places to walk in Mumbai. You can see people from all ages groups, social classes, and ethnicities hanging out there. It is a place of refuge and social tranquility where no discrimination is observed and the promenade is accessible to all people. On the other side of the Netaji Subash Chandra Bose Road there are high-end restaurants at the same time small food carts sevring Bhel Puri (local fast food) on foodstalls can been seen. Marine Drive is an unique amalgamation and an example of how public places should be.

By: Srishti Jaipuria

URP500 (2021) - Be sure to insert your photos and text ABOVE this line.

Below are images from past years, when we used a tumblr site. (You can also access through this link). In 2021 we shifted to google sites.

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URP500: Images of Public Spaces (and brief commentaries)