Amazing spaces

More than half of the world’s population (4.5bn people) now live in urban areas and increasingly in highly-dense cities. This trend shows no sign of stopping for the next 20 years and that figure is expected to rise to 7bn by 2050.

It’s clear the future of the human race will be urban, but the challenge for our industry and politicians will be to ensure our towns and cities are liveable.

The factors that contribute to a successful city are wide-ranging and hotly debated. As landscape architects (we are a sister company to Pragma) we can play a significant role in achieving this goal. Our focus is typically on the external spaces in between buildings: from public streets, squares, parks, community gardens as well as private spaces. It’s now commonly agreed that the ‘spaces between’ are crucial in making a liveable city.  That’s great news for landscape architects like us as typically everything that’s open to the sky falls into our remit. Essentially, every time you step outside that space you can or should have been touched by us.

Public spaces often form our first impressions of cities. This is where we meet our friends and family, bump into our neighbours, relax or partake in physical activity of some kind. They set the scene for everyday life.  If designed well, they promote social inclusion and connect us to nature in a profound way, thus greatly contributing to our overall mental and physical wellbeing.

So, with this in mind, how do we at Uncommon Land seek to make cities amazing places to live, work, play, raise children and even retire?  Below are some of our core principles we consider when working on urban projects:

People First
How we shape urban spaces matters to people. Social connection increases based on the design, location, and frequency of shared spaces around us.  The more we interact with our neighbours, the greater our sense of belonging. If we feel a sense of belonging to your neighbourhood, it’s hugely beneficial for our mental health. Connecting people to nature is also key; we recommend creating a mix of wild and controlled green spaces that provide opportunities for people and nature to thrive in balance.

Variety & Distinctiveness
Places with personality that respond to local character and identity, with a mix of public and private spaces which are suited to different user preferences provide distinctiveness. Also creating sensory rich spaces through careful selection of plantings and hard materials can give a range of sensory experiences throughout the year.

Programming & Flexibility
We plan with adaptability in mind; places that are designed as a stage for a range of diverse uses and seasonal events to take place. Considered programming enables a mix of informal and curated events and activities that bring people together, generate revenue and breathe life into communities. Also important are our streets. Walking and cycling should be a joy: safe, comfortable, interesting. The quality of pavements, parks, and squares is one of the ultimate signs of a healthy city. We must accommodate the car, but let’s do it gracefully. Street design needs to enable pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles to share the space without letting cars dominate. This is critical for overall experience as well as the environment. Finally, providing places for children of all ages to play, as well as hangouts for teens.

Accessibility
Urban spaces should be welcoming; accessible for everyone with frequent seating, toilets in public spaces and facilities for all ages and abilities. They also need to be safe and secure, designed with natural or passive surveillance in mind.

Globally, Uncommon Land in partnership with architects, developers, engineers, and consultants, we are creating places with personality that are people focussed and context-driven. If you’d like an informal conversation about our work, please don’t hesitate to contact me. You can also see examples of our work here.

Simon Grimbley,
Director, Uncommon Land
simon@uncommonland.com