The transformative effect of removing cars from a dedicated street or urban center and creating a pedestrian-friendly area isn't a new idea, but it's a popular one. Sydney, Australia has decided to repurpose its relatively trafficky George Street into an elegant shopping and walking area bisected by light rail, with design input from French architect Thomas Richez. According to The Sydney Morning Herald Richez, who has overseen the development of numerous public spaces in Africa and Europe, is now working with the city to create a zone that would foster a more relaxed vibe among pedestrians. As he explains, "The idea is, a good tramway line is like a reserve, a pleasant place, whether people use the transportation system or not."
The tramway in Reims, with the cathedral in the background. (Photo: Richez Associes)
Even in car-centric Los Angeles, institutions as varied as The Getty Center and commercial shopping cluster The Grove have employed similar non-pedestrian design strategies to create more of a village or campus atmosphere (to different effects).
The car-free campus of the Getty Center in Los Angeles.
1 Comment
"have employed similar non-pedestrian design strategies to create more of a village or campus atmosphere (to different effects)" is non-pedestrian being used here to mean an non-typical design strategy?
Also what does this quote from the Herald, regarding the tramway design in Tours, even mean?
"they are not black and white, but white and black" is it literally just referring to the order of the colors making up the strips? Maybe I am just being thick, but what is the difference...
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