City Planner Michael Gordon was guest editor for Sitelines, the journal of the B.C. Society of Landscape Architects.
Michael:
The topic of the issue is “Playground Rules,” focused on shared common spaces in apartment and townhouse buildings.
The key interest for me … was to explore how shared common spaces in apartment buildings could be better used, allow for a broader array of activities and offer opportunities for neighbours to get to know each other.
- Jane Durante wrote an excellent piece on her design work on these sorts of spaces.
- Kelty MacKinnon wrote a fascinating piece on the historic use of breezeways and courtyards in Chinatown and how we are losing them.
- Jen Stamp reflected on her work on designing for urban agriculture in the Olympic Village.
- Jay Lazzarin wrote about the kind of space emerging in northern communities in medium density developments.
That sounds like a dreary place for kids and to compound the misery, the aren’t even allowed to play by themselves but require parents to loom over them constantly. I was hoping to see some comment in the link about how oppressive and harmful these sorts of rules can be but if it was there, I missed it.
Thanks Alex for you comment. The inspiration for me choosing this topic was that as a skateboarder I have been documenting ‘no signs’ for many years that single out me and my skateboard as ‘verboten’ activity in many spaces.
I suggest you have a careful read of the typology I prepared on common spaces because in it I identify many of the design elements that discourage use.
I did prepare an article on ‘no signs’ that speaks to your point. Regrettably, there was not space for it. I will pursue the publication of it elsewhere.
thanks again 🙂