Design for walkability/rollability and flexibility for #todayspublicspace.
December 13, 2024 at 9:05 PM
Design for walkability/rollability and flexibility for #todayspublicspace.
St. James Park, Toronto. #todayspublicspace
A successful public space offers choices: solitude or sociability, activity or rest, shade or sun, structure or flexibility. Activated by the city itself, not consumption, it remains one of Toronto’s most complete urban places.
A successful public space offers choices: solitude or sociability, activity or rest, shade or sun, structure or flexibility. Activated by the city itself, not consumption, it remains one of Toronto’s most complete urban places.
June 15, 2026 at 10:24 AM
St. James Park, Toronto. #todayspublicspace
A successful public space offers choices: solitude or sociability, activity or rest, shade or sun, structure or flexibility. Activated by the city itself, not consumption, it remains one of Toronto’s most complete urban places.
A successful public space offers choices: solitude or sociability, activity or rest, shade or sun, structure or flexibility. Activated by the city itself, not consumption, it remains one of Toronto’s most complete urban places.
October 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Urban plazas are essential city building spaces. I evaluate them through a William Whyte’s lens: places to sit, street relationship, water, trees, sun/shade, and food. I also look for spatial enclosure and legibility. A simple but effective framework for understanding #todayspublicspace .
June 25, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Urban plazas are essential city building spaces. I evaluate them through a William Whyte’s lens: places to sit, street relationship, water, trees, sun/shade, and food. I also look for spatial enclosure and legibility. A simple but effective framework for understanding #todayspublicspace .
#toronto St. Lawrence Market North Building opens. While not as grand an expression on the interior as the historic market to the south, it’s still an impressive place, worthy of being #todayspublicspace . Of course, being an architect, I’m immediately drawn to the details of the structure!
April 30, 2025 at 10:21 AM
#toronto St. Lawrence Market North Building opens. While not as grand an expression on the interior as the historic market to the south, it’s still an impressive place, worthy of being #todayspublicspace . Of course, being an architect, I’m immediately drawn to the details of the structure!
#todayspublicspace
Which cities have the best green spaces? The image below is from the Detroit Mayor’s Land Use Task Force Masterplan where I was one of the team members setting a long term framework for land use, in this case green space, throughout the city.
www.fatherly.com/news/12-best...
Which cities have the best green spaces? The image below is from the Detroit Mayor’s Land Use Task Force Masterplan where I was one of the team members setting a long term framework for land use, in this case green space, throughout the city.
www.fatherly.com/news/12-best...
May 13, 2025 at 10:44 AM
#todayspublicspace
Which cities have the best green spaces? The image below is from the Detroit Mayor’s Land Use Task Force Masterplan where I was one of the team members setting a long term framework for land use, in this case green space, throughout the city.
www.fatherly.com/news/12-best...
Which cities have the best green spaces? The image below is from the Detroit Mayor’s Land Use Task Force Masterplan where I was one of the team members setting a long term framework for land use, in this case green space, throughout the city.
www.fatherly.com/news/12-best...
#Thanksgiving in the D highlights that #Events can shape our appreciation of our streets as public spaces.
#americasthanksgivingday Parade!
The Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game!
Skaters in Campus Martius!
The Holiday Market!
Always a blessed day!
#todayspublicspace
#americasthanksgivingday Parade!
The Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game!
Skaters in Campus Martius!
The Holiday Market!
Always a blessed day!
#todayspublicspace
November 28, 2024 at 11:46 AM
#Thanksgiving in the D highlights that #Events can shape our appreciation of our streets as public spaces.
#americasthanksgivingday Parade!
The Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game!
Skaters in Campus Martius!
The Holiday Market!
Always a blessed day!
#todayspublicspace
#americasthanksgivingday Parade!
The Lions annual Thanksgiving Day game!
Skaters in Campus Martius!
The Holiday Market!
Always a blessed day!
#todayspublicspace
Urban Designers need to incorporate play into urbanism. It’s vitally important that our public spaces, especially our streets, be designed for users of all ages.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Urban Designers need to incorporate play into urbanism. It’s vitally important that our public spaces, especially our streets, be designed for users of all ages.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
Water brings public spaces to life. It cools, calms, and invites people to linger. Interactive fountains encourage play, social connection, and stress relief, while making outdoor places more welcoming during hot weather. A key ingredient of #todayspublicspace.
June 17, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Water brings public spaces to life. It cools, calms, and invites people to linger. Interactive fountains encourage play, social connection, and stress relief, while making outdoor places more welcoming during hot weather. A key ingredient of #todayspublicspace.
Cadillac Square. Detroit.
An under-acknowledged public space.
An example of a flexible, year- round space that’s able to assume many functions; food trucks, seating, sports play, seasonal markets.
This is urban site-scaled resilience; making the city adaptable.
#todayspublicspace
An under-acknowledged public space.
An example of a flexible, year- round space that’s able to assume many functions; food trucks, seating, sports play, seasonal markets.
This is urban site-scaled resilience; making the city adaptable.
#todayspublicspace
July 12, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Cadillac Square. Detroit.
An under-acknowledged public space.
An example of a flexible, year- round space that’s able to assume many functions; food trucks, seating, sports play, seasonal markets.
This is urban site-scaled resilience; making the city adaptable.
#todayspublicspace
An under-acknowledged public space.
An example of a flexible, year- round space that’s able to assume many functions; food trucks, seating, sports play, seasonal markets.
This is urban site-scaled resilience; making the city adaptable.
#todayspublicspace
“The street is the most important component of the public realm.”
Allan B. Jacobs
Every street has potential. How we treat pedestrians, cars, trees, and light defines the shared experience. With vision and care, even overlooked streets can become #greatstreets and #todayspublicspace.
Allan B. Jacobs
Every street has potential. How we treat pedestrians, cars, trees, and light defines the shared experience. With vision and care, even overlooked streets can become #greatstreets and #todayspublicspace.
October 19, 2025 at 11:54 AM
“The street is the most important component of the public realm.”
Allan B. Jacobs
Every street has potential. How we treat pedestrians, cars, trees, and light defines the shared experience. With vision and care, even overlooked streets can become #greatstreets and #todayspublicspace.
Allan B. Jacobs
Every street has potential. How we treat pedestrians, cars, trees, and light defines the shared experience. With vision and care, even overlooked streets can become #greatstreets and #todayspublicspace.
We often think of main streets as just as elements of small town downtowns, but main streets anchor our neighborhoods, specialized districts, and commercial corridors also.
#todaysmainstreet comes in different scales and characters, providing the spine for resilient communities. #todayspublicspace
#todaysmainstreet comes in different scales and characters, providing the spine for resilient communities. #todayspublicspace
February 20, 2025 at 10:48 AM
We often think of main streets as just as elements of small town downtowns, but main streets anchor our neighborhoods, specialized districts, and commercial corridors also.
#todaysmainstreet comes in different scales and characters, providing the spine for resilient communities. #todayspublicspace
#todaysmainstreet comes in different scales and characters, providing the spine for resilient communities. #todayspublicspace
#imagesofTO
TD (Toronto Dominion) Center.
While many focus on the horizontality of the open space here, I’m always more intrigued by the vertical striations of the building exteriors that pull the eye upward. It’s there that the visual interest of the architect is revealed.
#todayspublicspace
TD (Toronto Dominion) Center.
While many focus on the horizontality of the open space here, I’m always more intrigued by the vertical striations of the building exteriors that pull the eye upward. It’s there that the visual interest of the architect is revealed.
#todayspublicspace
July 27, 2025 at 11:47 AM
#imagesofTO
TD (Toronto Dominion) Center.
While many focus on the horizontality of the open space here, I’m always more intrigued by the vertical striations of the building exteriors that pull the eye upward. It’s there that the visual interest of the architect is revealed.
#todayspublicspace
TD (Toronto Dominion) Center.
While many focus on the horizontality of the open space here, I’m always more intrigued by the vertical striations of the building exteriors that pull the eye upward. It’s there that the visual interest of the architect is revealed.
#todayspublicspace
Clarendon Court.
ByWard Market. Ottawa.
I’ve always enjoyed this space and the architecture of the building that surrounds it.
The scale of the space, the permanence of the materials, and the sense of history that it imbues, make it a great example for #todayspublicspace .
#urbanobservations
ByWard Market. Ottawa.
I’ve always enjoyed this space and the architecture of the building that surrounds it.
The scale of the space, the permanence of the materials, and the sense of history that it imbues, make it a great example for #todayspublicspace .
#urbanobservations
May 18, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Clarendon Court.
ByWard Market. Ottawa.
I’ve always enjoyed this space and the architecture of the building that surrounds it.
The scale of the space, the permanence of the materials, and the sense of history that it imbues, make it a great example for #todayspublicspace .
#urbanobservations
ByWard Market. Ottawa.
I’ve always enjoyed this space and the architecture of the building that surrounds it.
The scale of the space, the permanence of the materials, and the sense of history that it imbues, make it a great example for #todayspublicspace .
#urbanobservations
The design of our primary NA public spaces, streets, is the fastest way to a safer more equitable public realm.
Reimagining Fifth Ave- a focus on pedestrians aims to address its heavy foot traffic and its spatial inefficiencies.
#todayspublicspace #nyc
sustainabilitymag.com/articles/sus...
Reimagining Fifth Ave- a focus on pedestrians aims to address its heavy foot traffic and its spatial inefficiencies.
#todayspublicspace #nyc
sustainabilitymag.com/articles/sus...
December 17, 2024 at 12:10 PM
The design of our primary NA public spaces, streets, is the fastest way to a safer more equitable public realm.
Reimagining Fifth Ave- a focus on pedestrians aims to address its heavy foot traffic and its spatial inefficiencies.
#todayspublicspace #nyc
sustainabilitymag.com/articles/sus...
Reimagining Fifth Ave- a focus on pedestrians aims to address its heavy foot traffic and its spatial inefficiencies.
#todayspublicspace #nyc
sustainabilitymag.com/articles/sus...
Street Fairs.
The street as public space.
Taking over a section of the avenue for an event.
People, activities, commerce, and attractors such as food, combine to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Making “Place” from “Space”.
Field Study: Chinatown. Toronto.
#todayspublicspace
The street as public space.
Taking over a section of the avenue for an event.
People, activities, commerce, and attractors such as food, combine to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Making “Place” from “Space”.
Field Study: Chinatown. Toronto.
#todayspublicspace
August 21, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Street Fairs.
The street as public space.
Taking over a section of the avenue for an event.
People, activities, commerce, and attractors such as food, combine to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Making “Place” from “Space”.
Field Study: Chinatown. Toronto.
#todayspublicspace
The street as public space.
Taking over a section of the avenue for an event.
People, activities, commerce, and attractors such as food, combine to make the whole greater than the sum of the parts.
Making “Place” from “Space”.
Field Study: Chinatown. Toronto.
#todayspublicspace
Also, Play does not always mean recreation; sometimes it can mean wonder and engagement.
The focus on designing in this mode goes a long way towards creating spaces of inclusion and enjoyment.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
The focus on designing in this mode goes a long way towards creating spaces of inclusion and enjoyment.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Also, Play does not always mean recreation; sometimes it can mean wonder and engagement.
The focus on designing in this mode goes a long way towards creating spaces of inclusion and enjoyment.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
The focus on designing in this mode goes a long way towards creating spaces of inclusion and enjoyment.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
Our streets, for example, are one of our primary public spaces. How might they be more accessible for youths? Not by banning their use for recreation; but, by encouraging their use as a statement that streets can be shared spaces.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our streets, for example, are one of our primary public spaces. How might they be more accessible for youths? Not by banning their use for recreation; but, by encouraging their use as a statement that streets can be shared spaces.
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
#todayspublicspace
#cities #urbanism
Grand Central just replaced all its ads with art. What art can do for spatial experience can’t be underestimated!
The exhibit highlights the "resilience and humanity of the city".
#todayspublicspace #artinpublicspaces
ca.news.yahoo.com/grand-centra...
The exhibit highlights the "resilience and humanity of the city".
#todayspublicspace #artinpublicspaces
ca.news.yahoo.com/grand-centra...
October 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Grand Central just replaced all its ads with art. What art can do for spatial experience can’t be underestimated!
The exhibit highlights the "resilience and humanity of the city".
#todayspublicspace #artinpublicspaces
ca.news.yahoo.com/grand-centra...
The exhibit highlights the "resilience and humanity of the city".
#todayspublicspace #artinpublicspaces
ca.news.yahoo.com/grand-centra...
#NYC I’ve always been intrigued by the existing median spaces along Broadway as public space.
Why would people want to sit there?
I’ve noticed in my travels to New York that they seem to always be in use.
#todayspublicspace #urbanobservations
Why would people want to sit there?
I’ve noticed in my travels to New York that they seem to always be in use.
#todayspublicspace #urbanobservations
August 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
#NYC I’ve always been intrigued by the existing median spaces along Broadway as public space.
Why would people want to sit there?
I’ve noticed in my travels to New York that they seem to always be in use.
#todayspublicspace #urbanobservations
Why would people want to sit there?
I’ve noticed in my travels to New York that they seem to always be in use.
#todayspublicspace #urbanobservations
The other day on my walk I noticed this charming little exterior space adjacent to the historic old town hall. Intimate, yet open, secluded yet accessible.
It’s one of those little urban moments that you can’t always plan for, but should always accommodate for.
#todayspublicspace #walkerville
It’s one of those little urban moments that you can’t always plan for, but should always accommodate for.
#todayspublicspace #walkerville
July 16, 2025 at 10:16 AM
The other day on my walk I noticed this charming little exterior space adjacent to the historic old town hall. Intimate, yet open, secluded yet accessible.
It’s one of those little urban moments that you can’t always plan for, but should always accommodate for.
#todayspublicspace #walkerville
It’s one of those little urban moments that you can’t always plan for, but should always accommodate for.
#todayspublicspace #walkerville
The sights and sounds of a public space can be just as important as the space itself.
The sensory aspects can inform our impression of whether a space works or not.
It can turn a transitional space into a gathering spot.
It can turn a dead end into a destination.
#todayspublicspace
The sensory aspects can inform our impression of whether a space works or not.
It can turn a transitional space into a gathering spot.
It can turn a dead end into a destination.
#todayspublicspace
June 25, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The sights and sounds of a public space can be just as important as the space itself.
The sensory aspects can inform our impression of whether a space works or not.
It can turn a transitional space into a gathering spot.
It can turn a dead end into a destination.
#todayspublicspace
The sensory aspects can inform our impression of whether a space works or not.
It can turn a transitional space into a gathering spot.
It can turn a dead end into a destination.
#todayspublicspace
As I carted the garbage out to the front, instead of the rear, for the first time in 30 years, yesterday, it got me thinking about all the talk just a few years about the potential for our alleys to become much-needed, supplemental public space. Is it still a relevant discussion? #todayspublicspace
April 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM
As I carted the garbage out to the front, instead of the rear, for the first time in 30 years, yesterday, it got me thinking about all the talk just a few years about the potential for our alleys to become much-needed, supplemental public space. Is it still a relevant discussion? #todayspublicspace
#todayspublicspace Corner Stores. I’ve been thinking more about the role they could play as community meeting place, beyond its primary utilitarian function. Happens still along country roads, not so in urban ‘hoods. A way to breathe in new life/purpose, whether old or new structures. #thirdplaces
November 24, 2024 at 12:59 PM
#todayspublicspace Corner Stores. I’ve been thinking more about the role they could play as community meeting place, beyond its primary utilitarian function. Happens still along country roads, not so in urban ‘hoods. A way to breathe in new life/purpose, whether old or new structures. #thirdplaces