Sue Illman thinks so. And in this editorial for The Guardian, she argues that the success of the High Line signifies a new era in which the quality of our parks and public spaces, rather than our skylines, makes our towns and cities stand out.
Illman, president of the Landscape Institute, whose recent High Line for London competition sought ideas for the city that "transcended the traditional idea of an urban park," revels in the attention that competition entries have received from the media, who not long ago were obsessed with the most recent addition to London's skyline. Says Illman: "it so refreshing to see mainstream media, not long ago in
thrall to Renzo Piano's Shard, filling pages with ideas for green
cycleways in the sky, a new "Lido Line" offering a swimmable commuter
route along Regent's Canal and an urban garden in the old Mail Rail
tunnels (The Post Office Railway) beneath Oxford Street."
Although London's new Olympic Park has been deemed a rousing success, Illman notes the city is "unlikely to see investment in public space on this scale again
for a generation." She continues, "as with community-led projects such as the High Line,
if green infrastructure is designed and managed to a high quality, it
can give credibility to wider regeneration issues. In straitened times,
the creative reuse of our existing landscapes and their architecture,
might be our only option."
FULL STORY: Re-imagining our cities for the 21st century
Landscape Architecture Unites Impact and Design
In a field that seems divided between aesthetes and the activists, landscape architects may be closest to reconciling the two trends.
Only Six Months After the Games, London's Olympic Legacy in Doubt
The failure to secure a full-time tenant for the Olympic Stadium, the centerpiece of London's Olympic Park, has cast doubt on one of the selling points of the city's Olympic bid - its post-games impact.
Why London's Public Spaces Don't Measure Up
The Economist looks at the improvements made to London's public spaces over the last decade, as the city's first elected mayors strove to improve the capital city's environs. So why has the city failed to keep up with its global competitors?
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
