Someone once said that, "As the purpose of art is to evoke an emotion, so the purpose of architecture is to evoke an experience." In educating those unfamiliar with the basic principles of architecture, I like to assume this statement to be true, as it generates a workable and even tangible definition of architecture that anyone can relate to. Birmingham is a perfect case study for the foundational principles of urban architecture. Often side by side, both good and bad architectural practices within the city are easy to point out. In this first installment, we'll take an general approach to some basic tenents of Architecture by looking at some successful examples along Highland Avenue in Birmingham's Southside.
Green space, green space, green space! People are naturally attracted to green space. Pocket parks, community parks, planters, trees - the more the better!
Human Scale - wide shop windows and entrances lining and lighting the street seem to reduce the height and increase the depth of buildings. Pedestrians feel at ease walking alongside things more their size. Tall blank walls are domating and oppressive.
Accessibility and Convenience - Sidewalks and crosswalks are abundant and everything you need for the week is within a short, pleasant walking distance from where you live: food marts, drug stores, restaurants, retail, businesses.
Buffers / Zones - If we're going to walk to a destination, it doesn't matter how nice the experience, if we don't feel safe, we aren't going to go. Creating buffers between moving traffic, parked cars, and pedestrians increases security while opening up opportunities for space-making. Planted medians and tree-lined sidewalks serve a useful function while enhancing the experience.
Whether we notice it or not, we all like good architecture. We are drawn to it and seek it out...because somehow we know that with good architecture we are guaranteed to experience something special. Stay tuned for more installments...
Comments