The Year of the Small

Critic Inga Saffron says that the interesting architecture and urban design is happening on the small scale: small parks, small houses and small plans.

1 minute read

January 8, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


Saffron says small is hot:

"While the lousy economy has forced cities to lower their sights, it has provided clarity about what really matters. The smart places are investing their limited disposable income in low-cost, high-impact projects that improve the quality of life for people who actually live in them."

Saffron singles out a number of small projects happening around Philadelpia, from bike lanes to modest infill projects.

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