Placemaking Project Part 1

I am attracted to public places that are pleasing to the eyes, are clean, and are designed with a consistent theme throughout the place. 
The photo above is of the National Mall in Washington D.C. I love this place because the openness of the Mall surrounded by trees, water fountains, and historic buildings creates a beautiful scene. It is especially pretty in the fall. It is kept clean for the most part and the older buildings around it all look meaningful and important. I love the National Mall because not only is it attractive to look at, but there is also a sense of patriotism and history there. 

 Public places that do not have the same appeal as the National Mall are usually rundown, dirty, and do not have any unique theme. They are normally boring places without anything special to give them that spark.
The photo above is from Skid Row in Los Angeles, California. I think Skid Row is an unattractive place that I would normally avoid. It is different from places that I love because it is very dirty, the buildings in the area are mostly rundown and are bland colors. Skid Row also has many homeless people and a lot of crime. I have only ventured into the place to give something to homeless people  to help them out. It is not a place to go to have a fun time; It is usually pretty emotional when you are there. 

 In class, we discussed what it meant for a place to be considered a sustainable community. 

 "A sustainable community resembles a living system in which, natural and economic elements are interdependent and draw strength from each other."
-Minnesota Sustainable Economic Development and Environmental Protection Task Force

 The National Mall and surrounded area is a sustainable community. I like how the Mall acts as a break in the urban city that is Washington D.C. You can go blocks from just seeing office buildings and other government institutions, but when you reach the Mall, it is open and grassy. Your sense of place almost changes as if you were in this little oasis in an urban land. You can look either way down the Mall and your view of the place will not be obstructed by any buildings. This natural side to the community was truly designed to bring people to this place. And while bringing people into this place, you bring them into the area to see all the museums and historic sites. The people eat here and spend their money because they feel as though it is a nice, safe place to do so. People also come to the Mall for the history entirely and in turn end up seeing the more natural and open Mall. I think the design of the Mall being open and having important buildings around it really plays well with itself as both sides bring people in and cause people to care for this place. The National Mall is attractive to the eye, but to the brain as well. I believe that it is a bright place with a clear purpose and suction for people to visit. This all makes it a sustainable community in a very busy area. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sustainable Placemaking Project Part 6

Image
Final Vision for McKeldin Mall: McKeldin Mall is a sacred place on the University of Maryland Campus. There is no other place around like it and yet there is not much actually on the mall. The simplicity of this place is what gives it so much and why it provides so much to the people at the University of Maryland. The plan of action for McKeldin Mall is to continue this simple place as a special one, but to enhance the strengths that the mall already has. McKeldin Mall is a social place so we are making it our goal with this plan to improve the social sustainability of the place and the community. The mall is meant to be an escape from the campus, a relaxing and open space.  I visualize the revitalized mall as a sanctuary and escape for those who call College Park and the University of Maryland home. I wish for people to see McKeldin Mall as a nice break from the busy urban campus and to feel relaxed when they visit the mall. I believe that the i...
Read more

Placemaking Project Part 2

1.      The public place that I have selected is McKeldin Mall at the University of Maryland. It is a quad area in the heart of campus and is located in front of McKeldin Library. It is surrounded by school buildings and is adjacent to Campus Drive that runs straight through the center of Maryland’s campus. The mall is a large, grassy, open area that is surrounded by large Willow Oak trees and school buildings. There are many walkways across the mall and in the center; there is a large sundial and fountain. This place is currently used as a place to meet people, a place to relax after class, and play games with each other. Thousands of people also walk, run, or bike across the mall everyday. Many events are also held on the mall. The mall is in great condition and is kept clean. 2.      I chose this place because I think it is the most aesthetically pleasing part of Maryland’s campus. I think it is unique because it is a nice change of scenery ...
Read more

Placemaking Project Part 3

Image
McKeldin Mall Observations & Field Report:    Date: October 25, 2018    Time: 2:00 - 2:30pm    Location: Bench by the fountain in the center of the mall The weather was cold and windy. The air was dry and the sky was fairy cloudy. It feels like winter is setting in quickly as just a few weeks ago it was very hot and sunny. By the end of my observation period, I was ready to get inside to warm up. I saw many people walk, run, bike, and skateboard across or along McKeldin Mall. I even saw a golf cart drive through the grass at one point. Other than the people, I looked around at the trees and the buildings of the mall. The large Willow Oak trees were losing their leaves and the buildings looked historic. It made me feel like the mall was in fact a crucial part of our campus. I mostly heard the falling water of the fountain and of the people talking who passed by me. I looked at the walkways across the mall and noticed that they are placed in direc...
Read more