Project for Public Spaces has another commentary out, this time is about the Waterfront. I have always enjoyed their commentaries every since I discovered this organization. Their Hall of Shame section selected the Worst Waterfront Cities and Destinations. In both categories, I was (un)fortunate enough to know about two of the cities and the destinations. Both of my hometown, New York and Hong Kong are selected as the worst waterfront cities out of a total of 7. It funny how both cities are actually well known for their waterfront skyline setting and yet the design of their waterfronts are very poor in terms of accessibility for their own residents. Both cities are making improvements to correct this situation, but the efforts are controversial and are criticize as mediocrity effort that might not help much. Only time can tell. As for the worst waterfront destination, I have been to the Cultural Centre Piazza in Hong Kong and Tate Modern in London among the ones PPS selected. I have to agree both places are pretty much lifeless, and uninviting. You have to wonder why both places are usually deserted.

I was in an urban studies mood because I am currently reading a urban planning classic – The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs. I have only finished two chapters, but already I look at things differently with the new knowledge I gained. This is one of those eye-opener books! I always wonder why I never like walking near the big residential projects and how the nice space around them are always deserted. No matter where they are located (Flushing between Main and Prince St, East 14 St or Houston and Bleecker) or what social class (middle class, lower income class, student dorm, elderly residence, etc.) is living there, they just give me a creepy feeling. I never understood why, cos they all have nice public space surrounding them, be it a park, plaza, pathway, or garden. They are designed to have people to use these space, but yet there never seems to have any? From what I understood so far for a merely two chapters, you need to have real reason for people to stick around, make it all pretty with parks just doesn’t cut it. (it’s not like your park is as good as Central Park or Prospect Park where the name in itself is already a destination for people). Shops are a good start, and once you have a steady flow of people, people would feel safe to stick around, and as more people gathers, people-watching or other human curiosity settles in and more people would be there. I love that she actually pointed out some very simple and yet less thought of idea such as people love people-watching and how small shops owners are more attentive to the neighborhood than big box store employees because they have more to lose.

It’s a fascinating read and it will be fun to go see the exhibit on Robert Moses in Museum of City of New York after reading Jacobs – people always put Moses and Jacobs together and labeled them archnemesis in urban planning.

Related posts:

1. Williamsburg Waterfront Sculpture Exhibition
2. High Line Stories
3. North 5th Street Pier
4. North end of Gantry Plaza State Park
5. Albany – enemy of New York City

Tagged: Hong Kong · London · New York · Urban planning