Revival in the Square

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TRANSFORMING CITIES

NICK CORBETT

REVIVAL IN THE SQUARE

NICK CORBETT

1 RlBA Enterprises

CONTE NTS

IlWL IN THE SQUARE

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IAPTER THRE

PHYSIC

ul AND ROBUSTh

IAPTER FOU

RENAISSANCE IN BIRMINGHAM

THE STATUE OF CHARLES I

Revivul in the Sguure demonstrates the way in which local leaders have devised strategies guiding investment decisions that have significantly transformed urban areas. The great advantage of this approach is that the experience of creating a major new public space gives local authorities the confidence and exp their public spaces. experience of delive space and the book i s well illustrated with exciting case studies, many of which have been recently completed. A better quality public realm is a key part of delivering any urban renaissance and I welcome the contribution that this book ma

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rn rne Jquare Recause welcome R w i l l give confidence t o people who want t o challenge t h e s t a t u s quo in t h e design and management o f public space. The book Apmonstrates how a strategic approach can eveloped to channel resourcc n t way t o transform t h e ent. It shows how unc public spaces can be :ivic values and commercial veness, and how public space c a n ple together for a positive, shared *irban living. I

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INTRODUCTI 0 N REVIVAL IN THE SQUARE This book provides a new insight into how urban design strategies for new public spaces can transform our cities. It complements the many existing design manuals and publications on urban design theory by showing how ideas can be realised on the ground. It provides a bridge from theory to action. The book is founded upon the premise that the design and management of public space will be a key component of civil renewal. In a recent MORI poll in the UK, 30 per cent of respondents said they did not visit public open spaces because they were afraid of crime.1 Given such statistics, the themes of this book are of urgent significance, not least for dealing with this sense of fear.

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InIwrbookms~ond~4f611114t~na(k8,2JanaJ~~kd~ cmawr3 plrnnino and mwem qurm at finrnddandhwnrncors.Jircobr~~hawthsphyricrlandwrdrlcomponsnttof raua=fuldqlR~,andIwrboalCfhrtpkljrhsd-fblty~olp,has #MdasafOundltknforcumrrtultw~~Inthe~yeaFs,may bodomndaudkrhrvs p r o d w m l t h r t ~ r r p o n J I c o w c r i t i q u oa d ~prctid~dheridmlJthOugr~studieshaw!be€mpr#ishad mdplblicpolicyhrrkenrefhledtorsllaaJanaJocow~msndrtkns, most public space b UnkrtPMngd much of it is pedvedto be unsafe. Time are m a y aamptes ofgood pnaica but the bask mi&rksr #rwlfbd by J a a h mmin

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TRANSfD

5 CITIES :REVIVAL IN THE SQUARE WTRODUCTION

lhe public maim pn#ntr a compk# managment problem because ofthe sheer n u m b of tepi and prorscdonrl intmsts invdved The dWfemnt gwemmental, professbnal,andanpomeoqanisatbnsimdvedwiththedesign,~and management of public space have traditionally been divided into separate spadalisms, all tackling dmerant prrr ofthe probkm. This h8s resulted in eprtlse daMkQing ina fmgmemdway, and inrivalries and communkatimgaps Mningthe ralatkmship between the main stlkehddem H t h e key players invohradwiththe design and management of public space withdraw into their own 'bawao', the gaps b e t w e e n t h e b a x e s k B V b ~ ~ m ~ ~ m ~ k s e e n a diqum of planrim or engineers, remota pdhicrl dsddon mrlon, ahrtisingcompankr,ordhampamrrrdddentsasw&ima tfthe legitimate stakehoklm in public spacedo notefisahrdy communicate and wopamte with each *,the rswlt on the pund is that neglect and antkodsl activity beginto drip intothe gap!& Most city inhabitantsare hmiliarwiththewlting pmMems of amironmantol crime, w h i i inchde @posting, @hi, I-, Ulepl adwtising, w n g ,odkiting, and dediw A new kind of dacitkn making infrastructureor'wiring'is raquired -the stakehokrsin pu#kspace-this k required to connect, coordinate, and empower the decisbn m a h and other stakehokh. This bookshaws haw the gaps between these g n q s cm be dosad t h q h stleadership, manslpmant,and highquality design - all to assist in the delivery of an urbsn renaissance. The book has two main themes. First, it is about how the dadskn-making i n f m t w r e cm be devdopad to dose the gaps between the key stalwhobrs imdved in the ptovisbn of public rpace, and sacand, it is about the physical design and management requiredto cmte and maintain viable public spaces The story of the ranaicrrmce of Birminghamcity cantre, inthe UK, is a seamthat runsthroughthe book and cuiminateswfth the detailed c m study pmvidad in Chapter Four. be iyto London's Tmfatgar Square am also examinedin detail, Wgether with other aumpkr from ths USA and Europe. City squares are used to focus the dkarsskn in this book because they are the most intensively used public spaces-the kct that them has been a recent rmuqpce intheir design also adds totheir interestlhesesqwresare pu#kploces that k i v e a unique identity from tha buildings, structures, and landscaping that andosh them and give them fonn.lheirk&ntity is ako derived fromthe paopkthat occupy the buildingsand spaces a d the usasthey putthemto. The squaresthat are discussed areofvarkusshapes, sizes, and functkns.They often induda trees and other landscaping, but crucially they are all an integral part ofthe built fotm ofthecity. They perfom an architecturalfunction because they date to sumnding buwdings throughtheir W i n and use.Cminga city square touchesupon may urbsndesign

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TRANSFORMING CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE INTRODUCTION

and q p e m t b n issues, andthe condusionsreachedwilloften be applicable to other public space and the built envimnment in general. The squares used as case studies are puMk spaces that embrace a mix of land usm,suchasmsMmws,businesses, andmteminmentuses, and whkh have a high degree of accessfromthe sunwndingdty. By concentratingon public squares, thm wHI be a focus on uwting dynrmk places where there is the crpcldty for cmwck to offlwr and where smds can be sown forthe d e d o p m t ofcommunity. Urban design is aboutcmtingbuildingsand publk spaces that interact with each othar and result in visually stimulating, safe, and sustainable settlammm M a n dedgnem seek to understand the thmdimensionrl qualities that provida people with dear and satisfying images ofthe dty, and which make the city rardr#a and nrvigs#s~#antifying~kec3~l~thatckfi~thecity~nd its publk spaces v a can begin to understand how to create a more legible city environment and how public space becomes an integral part of this urban moQhohW. M a y pdiakbns in all kvds ofgovemment,and fium all pam ofthe p o l i i l spectrum, appearto be ammeclthat the quality of life of city rsskknw is being ~~kJHlt/~l~radenvimnmentalcri~withinpr#krpoca.Thera h an increahg politkal engqpmt with public space due to pempths of 1-withinatwsofthewaldb mostp~osparor#idt&s. Inhetican cit&s,such as New%&, local business and midentsgmups have taken dirsct d o n overthe design and management oftheir pl#kspacesthmugh BusinesslmpmvbmamDistricts(BIDs), andthese are now beginningtooperate inthe UK Through BlDq community groups have taken control of public spaces where tnditiolulfoms ofgovemance had left a power vacuum. This was ckmomtratedin Bryant Park in New Y& which became the haunt of drug dealers until the b l communityredaimedthespace. Aaors the urbanised war#, environmental sustainability is high on the pditkal agenda -this has implicstronsfor urban design. In most large cities, whemverthere h s t m g political leadership attemps are now bejng made to make city centres ttMcthra placesto live in, and to increase the density of new .This serves to q p e m t e derelict industrial Iandsqes, to accommodate W i n g demand, and to ptwent further urban ancmchment upon the open countyside. If peoplecan be ancouqpd to live inthe dty,where there is a highbuildingdensity and a mkdhnd a t h e y are likdy to be ptyskally dosertotheirwork pkca and to a range ofessmtids d c e s , This dmer pmwimity reduces the need to trawl, and so mducescwdepedmmandthemwcbtedtrdlic,uckhts,noise,mdairpollutbn.

.lthvitaJto~in~ina~dty.As~cbndty~sotoo doesthenaadforpr#icoQc#lqace-adtheneadfor~~n.Thecity

TRANSFORMIH6 CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE INTRODUeflW

square a n provide visual rdkf and recreational open space within a densely dedoped area, and it can also setveto promote stanclsrds in public behavbw If people aretobe aware ofthe COmplmdhJ andvar&tydthes&etythaywe a put d, andiftheyareto~notionsofcMc#antityandraspaafor~ttmmurt be a pkca wham thy can occpvknrlly see and expdmce a d i w m ~ ~ o 9 s e c t d bn thatsoc&ty.When people a n adva& partidpate in Ikwithinttmplblkrealm,they learn haw to condllct themdwswithinit. mh is especially hnportsnt foridem rbout dtkenship. By simply ttmndingin a M y pr#k ~qurrrr,wkuediflsrwrt agepupsanddiffemtmem~ofsoc&tyrtagathemdtopther,ttmbarhwed aKparkncathatewAcesapoohhrasmseofpart#petbn.Inuhrsna~whmthmam n o w e I W public spaces,public life and civility bewmesedwsly &lhem is a retreattotheptlvacyandpoumtialbdrtkndhomqwhammedia~wneHtthe i n f h u t b n w e ~ t h ~ t h e t d s l v h b n , ~ ~ a n d R d k . Ifthedesign,hpkmmh,andma~dnewcityor(wrasiswdarakbn t h e a partnership clppmrdr that -with kal paopb, urban chamctwand oodrl Cohsrbn can k s t r a n g h d . City squaresanthan contributsto a ticher mix dfsdlitissthatottrectbathkcsl~andvkitors,sndwnhdpaomPkhacity~ complth/M in attnctingmobik immentwithinthe global mrtkbtpkcs k is hdpcul to U n d m t m d why city rqurrsr haw been dewbped by dwmt communitiesthmugh hhtory, and to m t h e demandsthat thara spaces hrvh beeneqectedtorptisfy. Hktoricrlanalysiscan hdptoartsblishthetnesthat~ hawbeendewbpedtoaddmssthmughthergar,suchasthenaedtopddea populationwith a place for festivals or with a symbdk focal pdnt that reinfcwwsthdt cdkctivo kkntiry. An un9lrrtmdingdthe past can often inform the prasant md indkate how the future might unfold, and so this book m a h some demnceto historicsl urban davakpmmt. Fblitkrlkdets#andthosawho ~ p o m rhaw , ! q # t t t o control rcthritb,wi\hin lay publk spaces and,hrub created new city sqwm and processionrl mutesto symbdisethairpomrandcontml. F o r m inthefimthrlfdthe 20th centuq, Musodini wecl urben des@ to symbolise a link betwen himself and Romh@bus past He atmptedto Qthis by Qmdishingthemedhvrldisttict that hadgmwn ewer the ardent Roman Fonrm and aaahrq a new pmcdtmal rwte OMT it. This route linked the ancient Coliseum with the city squrre ofPknrMezia,wham Mussolini reskkdintheWttorirnoPalace. TO an undamocrptic administration, a city square is a threatening cndk for unconfamkt gatherings and demomtrstknr.Tbnanmm Square in Beijing, Chin4 is known aroundthewodd because ofttm killings ofant@nmment protarrtonthrrein 1990.In honco’s Spain, sttict coMID(swhkh lastedfor chcrdes,wars placed avwtbh usaofpublksqwm.7hararwrgancainthedasiendnewSponhhrqw~~

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TRANSFORMIN6 CITIES :REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE INTRODUCTION

TRAWSFOORMIIO CITIES :REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE IN

war# we live in. At ollc M,the increasingfkw ofinformption has rapidly chanpd mayrrspaasofourli~-itinflwnahswlturolandpditicolprkritias,~wharsand hawweIhrs.lheinformotknagehrsinfkrcmcadthewrythatweintsroawithdtks,d the way that wh shrpb them. lhis book examines haw we can design and manage publicSP=inavwythattwfmd--drsnEdnllgcpaart#nc * quttm design,the social and economic forces opemtingupancities can be channdhd to create PttRCtiva, sofa, d y m k , and socially M u s h public pkcaa Such places rdnforce a colkcthra identity and sense of belonging throughout a d k s e urban population. lhe design of public space is especinlly important in bringiqg paqrk togaharand in creatingo shared -ce ofacity.lhemain sqwn isoftendosdy msocktdwiththeunique~ofapartkular~ Foras~wrdtieshQM~,thecitysqwnhssbaanafocusfortheplblkHfa ofthe urban population. Whik many city squares w m neg&ctd duringthe 20th century, often being dominated byand car pdcing, dtks andtheirqbm am now ampethg in a gbbal tnatlwtpke and so the hnellp of indMAwl cities b i~~i~impwtsnt.~arwndthedardopadwol#anancw~qdty ~tow#kwiththeptvsFbaectortoOinurbandesign8nd~ andrwmcitysquaresanprov#ingafoa#rforthiiactMty. gybn~w#icrs~wbsnpqwbtiondtheneedtomrka~~for theirinhs#tmnts,~FslotadtodtydmignanbeaKninga~pol~prkrihJ. 7hs themes ofthis book will thelwfm be of prrtiarbr interest to those who make dacisbmonthewaythrtdtksam~andto~whoWtoinCluancamd pdvisaQdrionmolrwa While urban design principle0 a n often dted as objechs in new dewhpmw inWstivhq the parfolmence ofthe resulting public space often falls dissppointir@y shortofarcpactptlorw. * Realisingurbandesiiobjdvesisdifficultinpmdceduetothe compb#ity of the dewbpmm procaga For example, a dwdopmm pmject will typimlly involva finding the right bcrtbn, assembling land, organising finmca, -the prbritiasof strategic planning, site planninp,and slrhithaunldesign, and maintainingmomantumand potitkalsupport. ~IinstiMknshsvh~lyfoundcommongraundinthecwsaforurban d e s i i and raghnmhon ' In December 1997 the Urban Des@ Alliance (UDAL) was formadintheUKkJthe~~lorpsn~and~withani~inurbon design and mgemmmn ' TMS a l l h has gfuwn and has almdy helped to bmk through the guarded barriers between the different professions. This kind of cooperotknhelpsto unite frogmcnrtrd sourcesofgcpartisa and infocmation-it doses the gaps and i n h t h e national debateon urban issues For urban d d p m t o be *they need to be able to influence the process throuphwhii the built amrironmant is dewlopd. This raguims an understandingofa

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TMWSFQRYIWECITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE lNTROOUClM#

koad range ofdisdplines, indudipolitics, planning, architecture, finance, law, and pmject menagemem lhese issuasare addrrrsgad in Chapter the ofthis boo&,which foarsason the rds ofurbandesign strptaoias in managingthedevdopnentpocess. Whamer the pmfessional bodcgrounds of urban designers, they will need to u m n d an ptyskal structure before cmtingnewprblk spaces for it ChaptmTWo andlhrae oftMS bodcthmforefoarsupon the physical structure ofthe city to help ensure that new squares and public spaces can data well to the r w t a n d i n g u h COMaKt issues rdotingto kcetig access#kgib#i fonn,swb, and use are all discusd. Chapter Four providas a detailedcase study of Birmingham's urban renaissance.

TRANSFORUIWG CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE INTROOUCTION

TRANSFORMIN6 CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE INfROOUCflON

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CHAPTER ONE MAKING PLACE FROM SPACE Producingan urban design strategy can assist in creating a vision, which is essential for implementing complex development projects. These strategies, which are sometimes referred to as urban design frameworks, need to be more focused than traditional policy documents or master plans. They need to provide for coordinated action by a partnership to secure implementation of commonly agreed objectives. The objectives of an urban design strategy need to be based on the aspirations of its partners -these partners will be stakeholders from community, private, and public interests. The objectives also need to be based on the constraints and opportunities posed by the study area and by financial realities. An urban design strategy might include the following components, and these help to structure the rest of the chapter: A Wan smment, signed by all partnefs, -with a plan showing the boundarksofthe study area and a set ofagainstwhichthesucasg ofthe -can bejudged. Aprogmmm that explains how the leadership and oqanisational s t w m of the partnership has been created to dwckp and deliwrthe strategy, outlining who k responsible for what. This should also include a mathodology of the workingprscticas and procassasto be followed in d e l i i n g the praject to an qpdtimatsbla.

TRAWSFORWlN6 CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE CHAPTER ONE

A conmrtuu/cr~/ysis that describes the character ofthe area and its people and explains the backgroundto the pmllaa. lhis should also illustrate and justiQ the php&alboundrrkschosen for the study area. H An itv@emmttkn stmtqy that addresses funding by identifying where resources are coming from and how t h y will be albcated, and provideb a pc#singstmabgywithatimatobkfordeliveyofthewhola~ H Acommun@p-showing how the kcrl community and other key stakehokh are to be itndwd in devebping, approving, and implemming the strategy and the pmposalswithin it. H A~~pkntorhowhowthevitslityandcommardrlcom~it~of new publk placeswill be maintained owrtime.

Rodudnganurban designstrptsgythmugha partnershipapproach can pmvidea daorurunderstanding of an a m and haw itworlrs. Rodudnga amtextual analysis is assanaEsl for achievingthis- it prov#asthe physiccll and sodel informetknthat will inform decisbn making. By analysing haw the variow, tmponms ofthe built environment fit togatl#r within the study area, the conwlnual analysis will also prov#a a kind ofhealthh f o r t h e builtenvironment,showinghawitsparf#milnca could kimprovad Eoththephydaland humanpogrqhy aspectsofthecomxtual analydswillbe e x p h d inthii and sdquent ChSptaFs. lhe ultimate goal ofthe urban design strategy is to serve wtheMhicktthat brings topther people and raoources to dewlop an area under the banner of an agre8dvision.

CR EAT1NG PARTN E RSHIPS Producing an urban design strategy and developing new buildings and public spaces clearly requires considerable organisational, financial, and professional resources. Different organisations and individuals can contribute different abilities, expertise, and resources. These need to be brought together to form an effective partnership that can produce and implement an urban design strategy and proposalsfor new city squares.

The public sector It is often the role of a city council to facilitate the partnership, bringtogether the different players, and provide the impetus for the vision. The local authority is a partner that is geographically fixed to the study area and should therefore have B strong long-term commitment to it. The local ruthority is also democratically

TRANSFORMING CITIES : REVIVAL IN THE SOUARE MAKING PLACE FROM SPACE

eccountable to local citizens. If an urban design strategy is backed by a strong champion from the local authority, ideally an executive mayor with a reasonably long tetm of office, this can add to market confidence and to the certainty that the vhion will be implemented. The public sector can also sometimes provide land, finance, and possibly in-house professional expertise. Furthermore, when an urban design strategy focuses upon land that is derelict or without a registered owner, or when there is a complex pattern of ownership, public-sector planning pawan, are necessary to assemble the different parcels of land in preparation for redevelopment. An urban design strategy will benefit from having the committed support of lnfluentlal loul politicians and officers of the local authority, who will have access to crucial resources. They can also provide advice in satisfying statutory procedures, such as the need to gain planning consents. As with all partners invoked in the production and implementation of the strategy, public-sector figures need to be able to inspire confidence in the partnership and strategy by working in a responsive and innovative way, rather than falling back into a simple mode of regulation.

The private sector The prhnta sector is more expehced in managing the risk involved in finandng development and in providing a dynamic and cost-effective approach to The survival of prhrsthaactor davekpars is dcpanckM upon their ability to manage risk, and as such they are likely to make a dynamic and realistic contributbntowards a y partnership. Rhrota fitunce is usually required to meet the costs of dewloping new city squares or other aspects of a mgmemtion strategy. offaring a share of the development's profits or part ownership of built assets may attract private imwrtmant companies to enter into partnership arrsqpnents. When this is the case,legal contncts are required to clarify responsibilities and to detemine how Wu~~plofits and rasourceswillbe allocated. lt iscommon pmtka for publicgaaor partners to assemblethe dew@mnt sites required for impkmenting a strategy, and for private davaloperstotake overimpkmantstion on the gtwnd from there.

The community sector Loco1communities raprssant pools of kmwkdge on how areas function for those that live mndworf