Help me find this urban public spaces book.
May 7, 2012 7:04 AM Subscribe
Help me find this urban public spaces book.
I remember reading this book that described the design and use of public spaces within cities back in the late 80's or early 90's. It used diagrams and photographs to talk about how people tended to congregated at street corners and how different designs of public seating influenced interactions there. I don't think it was a textbook, simply because I don't recall it being theory heavy and I do recall it was accessible to my 11/12 year old self.
I have this vague recollection that the title was something like "Public spaces, city spaces". I don't think it was the Public Life of Small Urban Spaces (at least not upon looking at the Amazon previews), but something very similar.
I remember reading this book that described the design and use of public spaces within cities back in the late 80's or early 90's. It used diagrams and photographs to talk about how people tended to congregated at street corners and how different designs of public seating influenced interactions there. I don't think it was a textbook, simply because I don't recall it being theory heavy and I do recall it was accessible to my 11/12 year old self.
I have this vague recollection that the title was something like "Public spaces, city spaces". I don't think it was the Public Life of Small Urban Spaces (at least not upon looking at the Amazon previews), but something very similar.
Seconding William Whyte.
posted by epanalepsis at 9:09 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by epanalepsis at 9:09 AM on May 7, 2012
Ms. gofargogo says it's this: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
posted by gofargogo at 9:15 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by gofargogo at 9:15 AM on May 7, 2012
People Places: Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space? It definitely addresses things like seating and sunshine in public open spaces, but it's a bit later than your guess, published in 1997.
posted by salvia at 9:50 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by salvia at 9:50 AM on May 7, 2012
It sounds like you're describing Whyte's work, but it should be noted that not only did he write both City: Rediscovering the Center and The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, but they even contain some of the same material. If your recollection is vague, it could be either book.
posted by Jehan at 11:05 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by Jehan at 11:05 AM on May 7, 2012
Response by poster: Yes, I'm getting the distinct impression that Whyte's work is what I'm thinking of. I'm off to get both books from the library to confirm this.
posted by Mercaptan at 11:20 AM on May 7, 2012
posted by Mercaptan at 11:20 AM on May 7, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by moonmilk at 7:13 AM on May 7, 2012