Where in the world is…

a bi-weekly compilation of public space around the world by Brittany Morris

PLACEMAKING

• Finding a seat in Ireland’s public spaces­­—a photo story.
• Reflections on how Jan Gehl’s people-oriented approach to urban connectivity and design transformed Melbourne’s city centre – which historically lacked the vibrant public life evident today.

ART

• Lest we forget. The Tower of London Remembers the First World War with 888,246 ceramic poppies filling the Tower’s moat.
• Échale Coloris a community engagement program promoting community development and integration, using art in the public sphere as the medium. A project of Venezuelan NGO’s Somos Posible, Échale Color’s public art installations transform public spaces in the barrios of Caracas.

NATURE

• A glimpse into an almost century-long process of incorporating green space and green infrastructure into Los Angeles’ urban fabric.
• What is the interconnected role of art and the green (and blue) spaces that create the nature of cities? This roundtable forum discusses the nexus of art and urban nature.

DESIGN

• 900 vendors gather under the solar-panelled roof of Haiti’s Port-au-Prince Iron Market after its regeneration from the devastating destruction caused by the 2010 earthquake. The collective process of rebuilding the 123 year old market not only restores the marketplace as a centre of community, but is also an example of how markets can be a tool for disaster recovery.
• The world’s first solar-powered bike lane. If you haven’t heard, yes it’s true, it’s called SolaRoad, is in the Netherlands, and you can read about it right here.
• From swimming pools in the Thames, to urban swings in Mexico City, and support for informal waste pickers in Bogota, the 2014 Guardian World Cities Day Challenge gave cities their chance to tell the world their city’s best idea, and why other cities should adopt it.