Have you ever wondered as you walked around the city why
some public spaces attract crowds of happy people, and other spaces you want to
run from? The difference between the two is whether or not that architect was
successful in creating a design that embraces its community and inhabitants. A
city must include buildings and public areas that benefit society, not hinder
it. Urban design is the process on how we achieve this goal. It is an important
tool architects and planners use to enliven and enrich the experience of urban
life in cities, like New York and Jersey City.
Urban design gives character to buildings and neighborhoods as a whole.
It’s fascinating when architects and urban planners use their talents and
knowledge to construct buildings and create public spaces that uplift the
entire energy of city. Urban design is special because it can promote community
involvement and enhance people’s quality of life.
What
is considered a good urban design?
Good urban design affects your mood, makes you feel happy, and you don’t
mind staying in that space for a long time. For instance, in the city the High
Line is a great example of this type of location. On any day during the week or
weekend the High Line is filled with hundreds of people who happily meander
through the area. Urban design should be functional and attractive for its
inhabitants. All public spaces should serve a specific purpose from the
placement of a bench, to the placement of flowers and greenery.
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| The High Line located in NYC |
JMA’s
Urban Design Projects
Jorge Mastropietro creates spaces that bring people
together whether they are inside or outside the home. For all of his projects
he always keeps in mind how that building should perform and how to make people
feel comfortable around that space.
The perfect example of
this type of building is Jorge’s Newark Affordable Housing Projects. It is a
group of homes that provide the residents and visitors with a welcoming and
positive energy. The houses are located in a low-income residential urban
density within a suburban neighborhood in Jersey. The project called for a
design of a family residence that could be placed on a single lot as a
free-standing unit, while being versatile enough to be repeated in a group
setting that looks deliberate and appropriate.
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| Newark Affordable Housing Projects, designed by JMA |
The resulting module engages the street traffic, both
pedestrian and vehicular, with planes of various volumes on several different
scales. Jorge designed the facade of the homes to be very appealing, a plus for
pedestrians as they walk by. He did this by using a variety of sustainable
materials like red cedar board; aluminum clad wood, and corrugated metal. All
these various materials help stir interest in the viewer and provide a unique
appearance on the street-scape.
In addition to the pleasant appearance of the front of
the houses, the backyard spaces are just as functional and beautiful. All the
homes have a backyard space that helps residents connect back with nature. The
backyard area is a very warm space, giving the residents a place to interact,
relax, and have a good time.
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| Newark Affordable Housing Projects (Backyard) |
Jorge designed each apartment with function and resource
efficiency in mind. The residents who live on the first floor still have a
sense of privacy with their doors not so close to the sidewalk. It also doesn’t
make pedestrians feel like they are intruding in someone’s personal space.
Urban design helps people live, work, and relax in
happier and functional spaces. It is a important process architects and
planners use to adapt to the psychological desires of people. It is amazing how one wrong design decision
can make a space feel dreary and unreceptive. Architects should create
buildings that motivate people to be drawn to it and makes them never want to
leave.
Citations
- EUKN Research. “Urban Design, how important is it for cities?” Web.
- Ellard, Colin “Cities and their psychology: how neuroscience affects urban planning”. The Guardian. Web Feb. 4 2014.
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