Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back every week for new roundups and items.
Parklets Everywhere
“Parklets are San Francisco’s contribution to the ever-expanding field of “tactical urbanism,†a phrase used to encompass yarn bombing, food trucks, street closings, and a host of short-term activities in between. Thirty-six parklets have been installed since the first one appeared in March 2010, and another 20 have been approved by the city and await completion.”
What Makes a Successful Place?
“Great public spaces are where celebrations are held, social and economic exchanges take place, friends run into each other, and cultures mix. They are the “front porches†of our public institutions – libraries, field houses, neighborhood schools – where we interact with each other and government. When the spaces work well, they serve as a stage for our public lives.”
The Rise of ‘Urban Ecology’
Urbanization brings with it all sorts of effects on human behavior, but sometimes lost in the mix are the corresponding effects on plant and animal life. Understanding this ecological impact will become increasingly important as cities expand their environmental footprint and implement policies to address climate change.
18 Places to Feel Dwarfed by Nature
“Some places — and activities — have a way of making you feel really, really small.”
