Elevating the ‘Small Stuff’ in Urban Design

Chuck Wolfe recaps arguments in favor of increased attention to incidentals — from benches to bollards — in urban development practices.

1 minute read

April 4, 2024, 11:00 AM PDT

By Charles R. Wolfe @crwolfelaw


Man sitting on wooden bench under tall streetlight at night.

A bench and streetlight are as important as ever. | phpetrunina14 / Adobe Stock

Each little thing may seem insignificant, but taken together, they can significantly impact the urban experience, Wolfe notes:

Hydrants, benches, bollards, bins, light standards, utility boxes, and standpipes may resemble cartoon characters or R2D2 knockoffs, but they are omnipresent, well within our daily views. What if they were a higher priority in city builders’ minds? Could more awareness enhance the forlorn?

He cites the work of UK architecture critic Edwin Heathcote, the placemaking movement, and landscape architects and offers eight themes for planners and developers to consider.

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