More community = less architect: The piazza

[Neil Takemoto]

Please post examples of more community = less architect: The piazza here!

[Gabe Seidel]

Architecture is a valuable art and a critical element of character and local identity for places and communities. More than that, architecture is incredibly influential in forming behaviors that make for more and better community. From an architectural perspective, community should be the primary source of inspiration for good architecture. At the risk of being labeled as physical determinism, just look at how the built environments (neighborhood structure and housing styles and programs - i.e, architecture) of places like the Pearl District in Portland, Pittsburgh's Strip District and South Side, and at the opposite end, exurban Phoenix, have cultivated different degrees and manifestations of community. Really, more community = better architect.

[Neil Takemoto]

I hear you Gabe, but it was just a typo (I left out part of the title from the original article, which this is linked to) that miscommunicated the message in this forum. The point of the article is that many of the best public spaces are like large empty stages without permanent fountains, trellises, stairs, walls, buildings, structures... trying to tell people how they should behave.