Mark C. Childs contends that places built to support conviviality are critical components of a good town. He includes theory, brief case studies, and 126 design queries and discussions. These questions range from the general--"How can the life of the community be strengthened by the planning of a civic place?"--to the particular--"Is the place delightful on a Tuesday morning?" "What makes a good place for a rendezvous?" Childs explores the design implications of the automobile, electronic media, the natural environment, urban furniture and structures, public safety, and public art. Interspersed with Childs's text are brief essays by other authors addressing particular kinds of public spaces: parks, urban beaches, farmers' markets, and community gardens.
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Book Description
Vital public places—squares, post office steps, playgrounds, street corners—are centers of joyful celebration, heartbroken communion, civic discussion, or for simply hanging out. Squares is intended to help designers, planners, public officials, students, developers, and community leaders understand the history and theories of public commons, elicit community dialogue and desires, respond to the natural and built environment, and design compelling places.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...amazingly thoughtful and comprehensive; [Squares] could well become the standard sourcefor learning and teaching about squares." -- New Urban News, March 2005
"...an excellent primer for individuals interested in design ...thought-provoking work, it whets one's appetite to know more..." -- CHOICE, April 2005
"...an excellent primer for individuals interested in design ...thought-provoking work, it whets one's appetite to know more..." -- CHOICE, April 2005
From the Inside Flap
This discussion of what makes public places appealing and useful will inspire those involved with public planning and design.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!,
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This review is from: Squares: A Public Place Design Guide for Urbanists (Paperback)
Mark Childs really knows how to write about Civic Spaces. Highly recommend this book.
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