An Idea Book for Placemaking

Public Zone

This zone generally consists of the streets and sidewalks proximate to a building, which serve a very public use. The public zone generally requires less security than other zones yet it is the place at which people get their first overall impression of the building. This space is sometimes managed by a Main Street-type of management organization. Amenities such as lighting, benches, waste receptacles, bus stops etc. are all part of this zone.

Sidewalks

The streets and sidewalks that surround a public building—its public zone link it to the rest of the city. The way these public spaces are designed, and how effectively they connect to the larger urban fabric, are significant factors that impact whether or not the building itself will be a good neighbor and a positive catalyst for or a burden to the rest of the city.

Principles:

Visual Connection

There should be a clear, visual connection between the sidewalk and the semi-public zone so that pedestrians feel comfortable walking past the building. Pedestrians will avoid or rush along a sidewalk lacking an interesting streetwall, creating a liability for nearby businesses that depend on foot traffic. But a sidewalk that carries pedestrians past places of visual interest can yield economic benefits, particularly for a smaller city. For example, a courthouse located in the heart of a downtown shopping area can enhance the retail continuity of the street by providing a welcoming edge to the public zone. Whether through flower beds or art exhibits that face onto the sidewalk, the courthouse can exert a subtle influence that encourages people to stay downtown and frequent neighboring retail businesses.

Accessibility

In addition to the visual connection, there should ideally be a physical connection between the sidewalks and the semi-public zone as well. In other words, the semi-public zone should not be walled off from the sidewalk by jersey barriers or other heavy-handed security measures. The building should instead be secured in a way that makes the public feel welcome to cross into the semi-public zone from the sidewalk.

Functionality

The degree to which a sidewalk successfully connects the public building to the city - that is, how well it functions — depends upon a variety of factors including it’s width, character, and design. These factors also determine whether or not a sidewalk will succeed in attracting people to supportive of the places proximate to them. Understanding how sidewalks function is often ignored when designing the interface between a public building and a public space, or a public space and the street edge.