PLANNING & DESIGN | PUBLIC SPACES, PUBLIC LIFE

Activating Alleys for a Lively City
This Seattle Integrated Alley Handbook was produced by our Fall 2010 interns Mary Falko and Jennifer Hampton who collected data for 300 alleys in Seattle. This guidebook provides inspiration and tools for reclaiming this extensive netowork for the public realm.

Public Spaces | Public Life for Neighborhoods Alive!
In the spring of 2009, interns Katherine Wimble and Eric Scharnhorst adapted Gehl methodology to conduct a study of the pedestrian environment around three light rail stations (Othello, Mt. Baker, and Beacon Hill) in order to capture baseline data on existing conditions of the areas before Sound Transit operations began. Within a 1/4 mile radius of each of the three stations, they mapped existing infrastructure in the right of way (sidewalks, places to sit, awnings, etc.) as well as spatialized, qualitative data (issues of scale, invitation, eyes on the street, evidence of illicit behavior, etc.). All of the data has been digitized with Arc-GIS and was presented to the City of Seattle and Neighborhood Planning groups.
While working for at Gehl Architects during Autumn 2009, Katherine and Eric produced a guidance document for creating people-friendly neighborhoods, Neighborhoods for People, which can be downloaded below.

Downtown Seattle 2009: Public Spaces & Public Life for Seattle's Downtown
The Green Futures Lab worked with the Copenhagen firm of Gehl Architects to develop pedestrian plans and recommendations for Seattle's downtown. Over 50 students from the Lab were trained by Gehl Architects to collect data on environmental quality and existing pedestrian use of public open space, and worked with the firm to develop design solutions for a more vibrant, pedestrian-friendly urban environment. The International Sustainability Institute of Seattle helped coordinate the efforts of the studio team, Gehl Architects, and the City of Seattle.
VIEW PUBLICATION ON SEATTLE.GOV


Public Spaces | Public Life for North Rainier Town Center
In coordination with Gehl Architects and with the support of the Scan|Design Foundation and the UW College of Built Environments, the 2010 Scan|Design Master Studio recently published a compilation of graduate student research and design.This interdisciplinary studio included students from the departments of landscape architecture, architecture, and urban planning, and was led by Professors Nancy Rottle and Kathryn Merlino with the assistance of teaching assistant Heide Martin. Bianca Hermansen of Gehl Architects acted as a visiting instructor, and Professor Peter Cohan assisted in leading a study tour to Copenhagen.

Public Spaces | Public Life for Seattle's South Downtown
In coordination with Gehl Architects and with the support of the Scan|Design Foundation and the UW College of Built Environments, the 2008 Scan|Design Master Studio published a compilation of graduate student research and design. This interdisciplinary studio included students from the departments of landscape architecture, architecture, and urban planning, and was led by Professors Nancy Rottle and Kathryn Merlino with the assistance of teaching assistant Liz Stenning.

 

visit the websites of participants and sponsors:
Gehl Architects
Scan|Design Foundation
UW College of Built Environments
Seattle Department of Transportation
Seattle Department of Planning and Development
International Sustainability Institute