October 17, 2010

By: Cooper-Hewitt N. from New York, NY
Comments: 12

Posted By: Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum
On: 5/26/2009 12:01:40 PM

Reclaiming the inner city is a massive challenge, particularly if it's NYC and Times Square at that. However as one sign of change on the horizon, several blocks of Broadway between 42nd and 47th streets were converted to traffic-free public space over the weekend, complete with banana lounges for the crowds spilling into roadways that had previously marked hostile, not to say dangerous, territory. Another sign of change was the story rating front page news in the New York Times. It's one of a number of road closures that have begun to knit together some iconic inner city spaces for pedestrians. The fresh design ideas are coming from the city's transport commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, inspired in turn by Danish urban design guru Jan Gehl. Gehl's mission includes the re-design of cities around the world for pedestrians. So far he has worked to transform his home-town Copenhagen as well as parts of inner city London, Melbourne and Sydney, and is currently working with city officials in NYC on some familiar design strategies. These are often apparently obvious: shutting down traffic, freeing major pedestrian spines, reclaiming iconic spaces, encouraging cycling etc., however bringing real change to cities requires enormous political support and public good will. So far the results in other places have been positive, however, the ideas are still hotly debated, which makes them an ideal discussion starter in design classes. Reclaiming the city is also a great design exercise that can have your students using design ideas to bring positive change to their own neighborhoods. If it can be done in NYC, why not in main streets across the country? See the full story: "Lose the Traffic. Keep That Times Square Grit" (Damon Winter, NYT May 26).

Posted By: Jeffrey Sadoff
On: 11/30/2009 4:40:49 PM

I really love what they did in Times Square. I remember going to Times Square as a teenager and boy has it changed. It is a small oasis in the midst of the hustle and bustle of NYC. Granted, you still have the sounds of the city..but you can take a short break on you way to another show..meeting... Now if you want relaxation in the midst of the city I recommend you visit the High Line down on the West Side...talk about urban redesign/repurpose. A lot of that has been going on in Chicago for the last several years and with great success. As I approach National History Day with my students the theme of innovation is not only present in the here and now, but in how urban designers and innovators used the natural and made-made elements to create a congeanial space for us city dwellers. JSadoff

Posted By: Debbie Taylor
On: 11/30/2009 10:55:26 PM

I am not too familiar with NYC. I have only been there twice. What exactly is High Line Down? I googled it, but I'm not sure that I completely understand the concept. As for Times Square, I find it visually overstimulating but interesting. When I was there over the summer, it definitely was a fun place to be. In the midst of it all there was what I am assuming was a homeless man kicking back, taking it easy.