City Hearts: Squares, streets and Urban Spaces
|
The best cities are serendipitous, formed from layers upon layers of chaos, not all of them visible. No matter how meticulous the urban planning, there must be a rebel element to bring it to life - and that is the people. They are a city’s greatest variable, and its best asset. A city’s architecture must always be conscious of this fact, whether it is designed to embrace or exploit citizens. As people are social creatures, squares, streets and other urban spaces form vital meeting places. Out there, each of their individual stories collide and electrify the city. This is not always apparent to the visitor. The city is often boiled down to a list of sightseeing spots to be checked off, while unfamiliar streets are a hazard to be braved. There is nothing wrong with this, but a little exploration off the beaten path can take you a very long way (Shomben Yokocho). In many cities, especially the most densely populated, life has no choice but to spill out onto the streets when the alternative is being cooped up in a broom cupboard flat. Famous city spaces tend to become landmarks. Personally, I have little love for these spots. Sure, the buildings may be spectacular (Piazza San Marco), but swarmed with tourists (all taking the same snapshots as you), they lack proper context. Fortunately, some spaces have been able to hang onto their identity (Harajuku) allowing visitors to mix with locals, and because cities are always in flux, new and exciting areas are always popping up. As the great Italian writer Italo Calvino once wrote of cities: “Your footsteps follow not what is outside the eyes, but what is within, buried, erased.”. As you walk through a city, you are following in the steps of countless others before you, who have shaped what you see (Kabukicho). A city’s architecture is just its face: its heart and soul lie in its people, and there’s no better place to find them than out and about in the squares, streets and urban spaces. |
|
More Great Urban Spaces » Great Urban Spaces
|
Tiananmen SquareSquares, Streets & Urban Spaces in Beijing, China Meaning ‘Gate of Heavenly Peace‘, Tiananmen Square is now, conversely, best known internationally for the protests that took place there in 1989 leading to the massacre of students and intellectuals. The most famous image of the square is probably the photo of ‘The Unknown Rebel’, the lone protestor facing down four tanks. Prior to 1989 Tiananmen Square hosted numerous other major events in China’s history including the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by Chairman Mao and subsequent anniversary celebrations and several other key labour protests. The open, flat expanse of Tiananmen Square stretches between two massive sets of gates at either end, san trees or benches, only the 40m high carved pale stone plinth, the Monument to the People’s Heros and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong break the central concrete flatness. Floodlights with cameras and police patrol the edges. The walls enclosing the Forbidden City run along one edge and a museum now runs along another. For fact fiends, Tiananmen Square is also the world’s largest square: 800m x 500m.
Review by Photo by flickr user d'n'c |
|
New Orleans' Bourbon StreetSquares, Streets & Urban Spaces in New Orleans, United States Bourbon Street ambles through New Orleans’ French Quarter, the city’s old centre, parallel to the Mississippi River. Famous though out it’s history for it’s lively nightlife and risqué charms, Bourbon Street was always the place to come for the best time in a city known for it’s penchant for a party. The original red light district dating from the end of the 19thCentury which is also credited as being the birthplace of jazz was closed in 1917 and less smutty vaudeville style entertainments moved in but the street gradually reverted to it’s carnal instincts first though exotic dancers then to erotic dancers. The graceful old buildings are still the same but while some of the cafes and bars have retained their charms and the old residential style brothels have become strip clubs, souvenir shops have moved into the Upper Bourbon end of the street. Some of Bourbon Street’s most famous bars, The Old Absinthe House (200 years old), The Cat’s Meow (for karaoke), The Famous Door (for live music), Pat O’Brien’s (home of the Hurricane cocktail) and Johnny White’s are along the central section while the strip clubs are near the Canal Street end. One of America’s oldest gay bars, Café-Lafitte-In-Exile is near the St. Anne Street turn off. The street calms down as it gets closer to it’s end at Pauger, small shops and residences taking over from the cafes, bars and hotels. Bourbon Street comes alive at night, especially around Mardi Gras. To top off your tour of Bourbon Street stop off at the street’s most famous restaurant, Galatoire’s (you’ll be able to see which one it is by the snake like queue of people waiting for a table.).
Review by Photo by flickr user David Paul Ohmer |
|
Piazza San MarcoSquares, Streets & Urban Spaces in Venice, Italy At the heart of Venice lies the Piazza San Marco. At times over its history, dating back to the 9th century, Venice’s only piazza has been the political, religious and artistic centre of the city. Three landmarks dominate the square: St Mark’s Basilica, its campanile (bell tower) and the Doge’s Palace. The latter two are worth their entrance fees, the Basilica its often long line. The piazza is a truly stunning space and is a great way to kick off your time in Venice with a bang. However, those who with an aversion to tourist crowds will probably find much to grumble about.
Review by Photo by flickr user Kent Mercurio |
|
HarajukuSquares, Streets & Urban Spaces in Tokyo, Japan This is not just shopping... This is shopping for clothes. In Tokyo. In a place where literally anything goes and some shoppers look like they're going to a fancy dress party. Why? You may ask - it's a acceptable question - well because they can, really. It's actually ok to be young and want to have fun and wear fun, crazy outfits and express yourself though your own personal sense of style - why not. And this is the place to be a peacock and let everyone look. It has to be some kind of reaction against a culture which makes school girls dress in sailor suits until they are 16 or 17. Or else it's BECAUSE their school uniform is part fancy dress part male fantasy that they want to dress up - but what ever the reason this is the place to come to get your gothic punk romantic lolita outfits and accessories. Takashita Dori is the market hub - the big brands have now leached into the mix of totally unique boutiques. The sleek, perfected style of Chanel and Ralph Lauren are like knights at the outer limits while Dior hums quietly in its perfect glass tower - true, their store just down from Harajuku is actually a glass tower - waiting for the young kids to outgrow their outrageous tastes and settle up towards them. But the Gap and Zara are already in there. For the kinds of experience you're looking for from the guide book reviews and photography exhibitions head behind the main streets to the alleyways where all the tiny stores have wacky names and are hyper-designed - think giant moving bats and themed decor. Parallel to the train line run the smallest lanes which are part commercial part residential and like shopping no where else. If your cache of cool can be raised by having the latest pair of trainers that no one else will even have seen before, you need to come to Harajuku - it's trainer mecca - likewise if you like to express yourself through what you clad yourself in. If your appreciation of aesthetics in design goes beyond fashion into decor and architecture as well as admiring perfect Dior and the eclectic smaller stores you need to take a load off your newly adorned feet at Wired cafe - the wood stylings are homey yet carefully chic and there's free internet access - and it's one of THE places to be seen with your shopping bags, all the cool kids come here.
...And bring me back some of those fabulous long socks all the girls are wearing, I only had enough space in my bags for a few extra pairs.
Review by Photo by flickr user Matt Watts |
|
Red SquareHistoric in Moscow, Russia Could this be the world’s as well as Russia’s most famous square? Possibly. It is known the world over because of the buildings on its edges: the Kremlin, the iconic onion domes of St. Basils and Lenin’s Mausoleum then Kazan Cathedral and the State Historical Museum. The square itself is empty save the statue of Dimitry Pozharsky who was a hero of the war with Poland in the 17th Century. Always a main meeting place for the people of Moscow the square gained extra significance during the Soviet era when prolific political addresses and marches were held here. For Western visitors, the square is not called red because of communism or because of the colour of the bricks but because the Russian word can also be used in the ancient translation for the word beautiful, which was the original local name for St. Basil’s Cathedral.
Review by Photo by flickr user Argenberg |
