The Biggest Party Ever in Alley Number 111 – UrbanLand
In the United States, alleys are typically far less inviting and most often viewed simply as functional spaces that accommodate requisite activities like deliveries, loading, and trash pickup. Rarely are they considered places where people would congregate or linger. But what if alleys could serve more than a mere functional and connective role in the urban environment and provide an inviting setting for events? …
… members of Art Alliance Austin, Austin Downtown Commission leaders, city public works officials, council aides, and students from the University of Texas Center for Sustainable Development.
This team transformed a downtown alley through an active public exhibition called 20ft WIDE that took place in Austin during April. The exhibition’s name refers to the 20-foot (6.1 m) standard width of downtown Austin alleys as laid out in the original 1839 city map plotted by Edwin Waller, the city’s first mayor. After scouting several alleys as candidates, the team settled on Alley Number 111, located on Ninth Street between Congress Avenue and Brazos Street.
