PLACEMAKING NEWS
18. February 2011
Placemaking happenings in 2010
PPS.org : The High Points of Placemaking Around the World in 2010
One of NUDA´s cooperators and important contributor to the Waterfront Synopsis
in Stavanger september 2010, PPS, is filling us in on placemaking happenings in
2010:
As cities, even countries, move toward a place-based agenda for determining how
they will develop in the future, PPS has discovered emerging trends that can improve
how we create vibrant, livable cities. Looking back on 2010, we realize just how
far the idea of Placemaking has come as a strategy for building great public spaces
and communities around the world.
Compiling this list of the Placemaking highlights of 2010 confirmed for us that
these ideas have real importance to people in different types of communities,
in different styles of public spaces, in different economic settings and in different
parts of the world. As the year ahead unfolds, we think these trends will continue
at an even greater rate.
Upcoming PPS newsletters will focus on exciting plans for our transformative
agendas on markets and transportation, as well as our Digital Placemaking initiative,
waterfront developments and a new PPS training course on managing and improving
public spaces. We will also continue to revisit our core values, which began with
Holly Whyte's captivating book and film about the importance of getting the details
right in the design of public spaces..
Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper
Projects that are generally of smaller scale, can be constructed more quickly
than traditional developments and can be done for a smaller amount of capital
are catching on as a new way of doing development in public spaces. Eric Reynolds,
founder of Urban Space Management in London coined the phrase "lighter, quicker,
cheaper" nearly 40 years ago when he implemented an innovative project at the
UK's Camden Lock in London.
Such projects are being implemented in a variety of environments including markets,
waterfronts and even on parking lots throughout the world. The results are destinations
that grow out of the community in which they are located, creating jobs and a
sense of community ownership.
In 2010, PPS hosted two forums that brought together implementers of the idea.
Eric's business partner, Eldon Scott, is promoting the concept in the U.S. with
innovative markets in New York, including the Union Square, Madison Square, and
Columbus Square holiday markets.
pps.org