Have you ever wondered why some city spaces are working out well for people, and others are not? Why do some spaces, and even newly designed ones, remain empty most of the time? What makes a good public space for people? These are some of the questions that American urbanist, journalist and sociologist William H. …
William H. Whyte’s recipe for good public spaces Read More »
As we saw in this article, public participation is not for everyone, as it often attracts the same profiles again and again, and fails at involving people whose voice is heard the least. Is it possible to escape this recurring pattern? Should everyone really participate? Who is everyone, at the end of the day? In …
Making the city together: who should participate? Read More »
Those of you who are interested in personal development may have heard about the enneagram. The enneagram is a very old approach that finds its roots in antiquity. It is a powerful tool for understanding yourself and improving your relationships with others. When I discovered the enneagram, it really felt like if I had put …
What we can learn from the enneagram to make better cities Read More »
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were in the middle of talking to someone and you suddenly felt an urge to use the restrooms? Do you remember having troubles to follow the conversation perhaps? And you focus on your bladder instead? Well, this is kind of what happens at the start …
Quick wins: why you should start with the low hanging fruits Read More »
When I was 12 years old, my family and I visited my aunt and uncle in the United States during the summer holidays. We rented cars and visited lots of great places, thanks to my aunt who had nicely planned the whole itinerary. However, not everything went as planned. One night, as we were driving …
A small guide to finding your way in urban environments Read More »
There is a growing recognition that the making of the city should not be reserved to the experts only. After decades of exclusion, residents and users of the city finally start to be more and more involved. However, the involvement of different stakeholders in urban planning and design brings its very own share of questions. …