Since our initial assignment to watch William H. Whyte's video: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, I have tried to find Whyte's seven requirements he concluded that are necessary to have a successful urban space in each field visit we went to in New York . These requirements include: sittable space, street relationship, sun, food, water features, trees, and triangulation (strangers). Whyte clearly emphasizes that sittable space is the key factor to a successful public space. He states, “People tend to sit where there are places to sit”. Users will even sit in places that are not meant to sit on. Urban spaces should not only offer one type of seating but “choice should be built into the basic design. Even though benches and chairs can be added, the best course is to maximize the sittability of inherent features.” He also states several recommendations for positive sittable space including: “one linear foot of sitting space per 30 square feet”, movable seating, “making the most of ledges, especially the front row”, “make benches two back sides deep to provide more choice”, and planters. This is a good start to a list of requirements for seating in public space it lacks information of how people actually use the forms given to them to seat on. Considering that seating is the key factor to good public spaces, why is there not more information on how people actually use the provided seating and inherent seating built into the urban form? To offer more choices, designers need to know how people sit or even lay in urban spaces.
For my final project, I choose to study seating in public spaces to better understand how users adapt to urban spaces and forms in order to explain what elements of seating should be included in successful urban spaces. Using Columbus Circle as my case study, I used photography and on-site visual documentation of how people adapt to the provided seating and inherent built forms of the space. While on site, I documented different positions sit in on benches, where they like to site on ledges, where they like to lay and sunbath.
In Whyte’s Video he mentions that benches should be two back sides deep not to provide more seating but more choices. He mentions the choice to sit facing one way or the other but I discovered that deep seating provides more choice then shown in his video. It provides users to sit far back with their legs out straight on the bench, couples or small groups and sit crossed legged and face each other, and it allows people to sit down and then lay back with their feet on the ground.
Although there are benches provided in this space, users still find other spaces to sit on. Directly in the center of the circle is a monument with stepped ledges that users sit and lay on. This Whyte remarks that spaces should provide front row seating for the users of the space but this rule changes when you have elevated seating options. People tend to sit at the top and not at the bottom or so called “front seat”. Elevated seating provides better views of the users surroundings and in this particular space, it allows the users to see beyond the fountain. I have also found this same condition on the Highline.
Besides just sitting, I encountered numerous users using the seating and fountain ledges as places to lie down and nap. Although, most would consider napping as something you do in a private space many people choose to nap in public for several reasons including gaining warmth from the sun and “not to escape the city, but to partake in it.” (Whyte) People who choose to lay in public do not necessary lay off to the side but often close to others who are sitting or even walking through the same space. Both people who sit and lay want to bask in the warmth of the sun. Also, stone and concrete holds the suns warmth creating perfect laying condition for those who wish to take a nap and keep warm.
When designing a public space seating should not only be considered for sitting but also laying down. Form and materials choice should both be considered when designing a public space. Users should have multiple choices on not only seating location but also seating/laying positions. Spaces should provide sun and shade to increase seating options. Elevated or stepped ledges should also be made available for those who like a better view of their surroundings.
No comments:
Post a Comment