Streets
The Corner That Makes a Street Easier to Read
A legible street corner helps people identify crossings, follow the sidewalk, and understand how paths meet before…
The reading room
All articles
Browse essays on the design and use of shared city places. Each piece takes one feature or choice at a time and asks what it enables, what it costs and who might experience it differently.
Squares
One Square, Two Ways to Arrange the Middle
Compare open and divided square layouts to plan event space, clear routes, useful seating, and places to pause without…
Parks
From Parade Ground to City Green: Why Parks Took Root
Why parks took root becomes clearer through their civic and social histories: see how promenades, commons, and urban…
Public Design
The Bench-Placement Myth: More Seats Do Not Fix Every Pause
Bench placement can make public seating more useful: assess shade, views and nearby movement to choose a spot that…
Civic Places
A First Visit to an Unfamiliar Civic Building
A first visit to an unfamiliar civic building feels simpler when you know what to check at the entrance, how to find…