La calle
constituye la base de la urbanidad, el elemento fundacional que
aglutina las edificaciones y el canal a través del cual se nutre la
vida urbana. De ahí su trascendencia. Y de ahí también la
importancia de su configuración física en la determinación de las
características de nuestras ciudades. Pero las calles no son
elementos aislados; forman parte de un tejido complejo en el cual
distintas vías conectan entre sí y enlazan esos espacios públicos
singulares que son las plazas, los parques y los jardines. Una calle
es pues, pese a su aparente sencillez, un elemento de alta
complejidad. Para abordarla correctamente no caben reduccionismos ni
lecturas monotemáticas. Se impone la visión global y una
participación amplia que implique tanto a especialistas como a
usuarios.
Bajo
estas premisas, desarrollo en el último número de la revista Paisea
un artículo que reflexiona sobre la calle como espacio
público primigenio e identifica diversos aspectos cruciales en el
momento de abordar su proyectación.
The
street forms the basis of urban existence and is its founding
feature, bringing together buildings. It's also the channel that
feeds urban life. This is what makes it so important and what makes
its physical configuration a key feature in defining our cities. But
streets are not isolated elements; they form part of a complex
network in which different types of thoroughfare are connected to one
another and link up with other special public spaces -squares, parks,
gardens. The street, then, is highly complex. The correct approach
should not be based on reductionism or single issue interpretations.
What we need is a global vision and wider participation, with the
involvement of both specialists and users.
These
assumptions brought me to develop an introductory article, in the
latest issue of the journal Paisea, that reflects on the street as a
basic public space and identifies several crucial aspects when
addressing its design.
Entradas
Shohreh Ne recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminarExcellent article Jordi.
ResponderEliminarThe notion of complete streets was so ably covered by Alan Jacobs' "Great Streets". The issue of making the street and the adjoining buildings and spaces integrated is something that is sadly ignored in so many contemporary designs. Plus, political intervention on behalf of development interests destroys many efforts to create the complete streets that we so enjoy in pre-WW2 Canada and America.
Ron Marini
Kevin Cricchio recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminarKatia Osokine recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminarThanks for your comments, Ron. Streets are certainly disregarded in many places around the world. Luckily enough concern is growing and will hopefully create a completely different mood.
ResponderEliminarI hope you are right about the growing concern, Jordi. In my experience as a Planner, the focus has usaully been on the private lands and their control, while Engineers concerned themselves with the public road allowance. I would say it is only in the last 15-20 years has the notion of complete streets and Planners injecting their views on what happens on and next to the public street shown some meaningful growth. I am wondering if the planning schools are focussing on the street and how to treat it as a whole unit and not as pieces, with each piece the domain of a specific discipline.
ResponderEliminarMohammed Ahmed recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminarThe perception is probably different in different parts of the world. Many European schools have incorporated the idea while works across the continent show a more integrative attitude. It's when I read things like the one on the link below that I start to believe that concern is growing. I do agree, however, that we are far from where we should be.
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.thepolisblog.org/2012/06/brussels-residents-picnic-to-reclaim.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&goback=.gmr_69691.gde_69691_member_126839621
Michele Curel recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminarMiguel Jiménez Salvador recomienda esto.
ResponderEliminar