Contract Magazine - July 2020 - 28

FEATURE

Urban Design
Ryan Losch, AIA, AICP
Senior Associate, Urban Designer
Page
Austin, Texas

"Throughout history, urban environments have been in a state of constant
transformation. The best ones improve as they change. COVID-19 may present a
particular point of inflection in that transformation. Regulations and restrictions
related to COVID-19 have emerged in the last several months, and I anticipate they
will evolve as we reengage public space and transition to a new normal. Amidst
uncertainty, flexibility is key. We don't know how similar conditions will be to
pre-COVID-19. Public plazas, parks, and other outdoor spaces will need to adapt
so that groups can use them effectively and safely for a variety of activities. Our
rights-of-way also warrant reconsideration. Urban designers were already working
on how to reduce the dominance of cars in the public realm before COVID-19.
Because of drastic reductions in traffic during stay-at-home orders, many cities
gave key streets over to pedestrians. As we consider opening them up to cars
again, there is a rare opportunity to decide whether some can be permanently
transformed into people-first spaces."

Classic
Landscape Forms: Bancal Bench
"We love the clean, strong horizontal lines and
durability of the Bancal bench. The standard
catalog elements include fun configurations
that allow for a variety of seating options. The
manufacturer is also happy to customize pieces
if your site requires a unique design."
landscapeforms.com

28

New need
Fermob: Luxembourg Collection
"In light of COVID-19, outdoor spaces need to
be flexible to align with changing requirements,
allow scaling and distancing as appropriate, and
adapt to multiple activities. Products must be
easy to clean and hold up under intensive cleaning. The Luxembourg collection by Fermob offers
flexibility, durability, unique design, and ease of
cleaning."
fermob.com

Claire Weisz, FAIA
Principal-in-Charge
WXY architecture + urban design
New York

"Our recent urban design collaborations extend to all aspects of life, from schools and
businesses to mobility and outdoor access. The pandemic and the renewed drive for
social justice are showing how urban design is fundamentally about planning for
change-and for making buildings better, too. For example, we're working with schools
and school districts to activate urban public spaces and adapt roadways and
pedestrian areas to ensure equal and safe access for students and teachers returning
to school. In other settings, the focus remains on making public spaces flexible and
appealing. Outdoor environments are relatively safe and can better accommodate
social distancing. Green roofs, courtyards and plazas in our buildings are poised for
a renaissance. Longer-term, the principles behind our bigger works, such as The
Peninsula and the plans for the Brooklyn Navy Yard, are finding a broader appeal in
the light of health and equity concerns today. The Peninsula, designed with Body
Lawson Associates, wraps a vibrant, 4.75-acre mixed-use campus with open spaces
around hundreds of new low-income apartments. Residents will access an artisanal
food hub, a health and wellness center, fresh grocer, and a new film production studio
in this live-work community in the South Bronx. For the Brooklyn Navy Yard, jobs
and access also enhance the city experience. We created layers of separating modes
of mobility (such as walking and driving) and increasing production and economic
capacity. For downtown Brooklyn, an entire district of shared streets with dramatically
more planting both supports improving public health and equitable access."

Classic

New need

Mutual Materials: TurfStone
"We are really excited about new permeable
paving products and soft urban surfaces such as
grass pavers, porous asphalt, pervious concrete,
and wheelchair-friendly mulches. These ideas
inform our expansion of Cooper Square and
Astor Place in New York's Greenwich Village, for
example, and help cool city neighborhoods."
mutualmaterials.com

Saris: Deluxe Public Work Stand
"We need better amenities in public spaces. I love
the DIY bicycle repair stands popping up along
routes such as our proposed East River Blueway."
sarisinfrastructure.com

contractdesign.com

JULY 2020
http://www.sarisinfrastructure.com http://www.landscapeforms.com http://www.mutualmaterials.com http://www.fermob.com http://www.contractdesign.com
Contract Magazine - July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract Magazine - July 2020
