Whyte analyzes the success and failures of urban spaces. The social life of small urban spaces 1979 short version. Conservation foundation, 1980 architecture 125 pages. The social life of small urban spaces public space. Study and analysis of the public plazas of new york city. Oct 03, 2011 the social life of small urban spaces, a 1979 documentary by william h.
Whytes video is charming and exhaustive document on use of public space in new york of 80ths. The social life of small urban spaces m o h d d a n i s h m. Some kind soul has put the whole thing up on vimeo. They have since become standard texts, and appear on syllabi and.
The social life of small urban spaces free download as pdf file. Whyte and his colleagues involved in the street life project whyte, 1980. The social life of small urban spaces william hollingsworth. If its a busy corner, it has a brisk social life of its own. Beginning at new yorks seagram plaza, one of the most used open areas in the city, the film proceeds to analyze why this space is so popular and how other urban oases, both in new york and elsewhere, measure up. Every week we give presentations about why some public spaces work and why others dont, using the techniques, ideas, and memorable phrases from william h. A tantalizing 10minute clip of an hourlong video called the social life of small urban spaces the clip shows an analysis of the plaza of the seagram building in nyc and what makes it so effective as a small urban space a busy place for some reason seems to be the most congenial kind of place if you want to be alone. The aim of the research project was to study how people use plaza. Many of the findings from this project have parallels in visitor settings such as museums, botanic gardens, etc. The clothing and hairstyles of the people featured in the film may seem dated, but the ideas put forth by william h. Whyte, a pioneer in the study of human behavior in urban settings, are far from passe.
This book powerfully shows that citymaking is a social process and examines the close relationship between the social and physical shaping of urban environments. The social life of small urban spaces pdf free download. The social life of small urban spaces by william h. A tantalizing 10minute clip of an hourlong video called the social life of small urban spaces. Sep 22, 2014 in 1980, renowned urbanist, william whyte made the social life of small urban spaces based on observations made in new york city. Pdf the social life of the small urban space bruna. The social life of small urban spaces is a documentary about a study performed and narrated by william h.
This witty and original film is about the open spaces of cities and why some of them work for people while others dont. Choreographing architectural gestures in urban spaces duration. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books, media, journals, databases, government documents and more. Project for public spaces 700 broadway, 4th froor new. The social life of small urban spaces brain pickings. The rise of mobile phones and women, and the decline of aloneness over thirty years may 2014 urban studies 528. Whyte suggested that the effective market radius for a plaza is about three blocksp. With cities taking a growing share of the global population, urban forms and urban experience are crucial for understanding. In fact, new york city derived from whytes conclusions useful principles for the creation of those spaces. The street life project, and began studying new york citys urban spaces including parks, playgrounds.
The social life of small urban spaces paperback march 1, 2001. In 1980, renowned urbanist, william whyte made the social life of small urban spaces based on observations made in new york city. Whyte s video is charming and exhaustive document on use of public space in new york of 80ths. Often such hideaways were called sanctuaries from the city, but whyte disagreed, rightly illustrating how such places are intrinsically linked to. The social life of small urban spaces william whyte 1980. A busy place for some reason seems to be the most congenial kind of place if you want to be alone.
The social life of small urban spaces informal science. Holly whyte, explores the successes and failures of public spaces in new york city. T h a t is why we are in new york, farragut square or dupont interested in the social life of small urban circle i n washington. The role of icts in creating the new social public place. When finally released in 1988, the social life of small urban spaces connected the way we use large public squares vs. Looking at the everyday life of city streets and neighbourhoods provides a perspective on cities, social change and the radical variety.
In 1970 william whyte formed a small research group. Books similar to the social life of small urban spaces. Both the book and the accompanying film were instantly labeled classics, and launched a minirevolution in the planning and study of public spaces. Beginning at new yorks seagram plaza, one of the most used open areas in the. Here, whyte focuses on behavior in urban plazas of the sort generally found at the foot of corporate skyscrapers in new york, san francisco, and other major cities. People will not just be waiting there for the light to change. Arch 1st sem urban regeneration j a m i a m i l l i a i s l a m i a by william h. This video is about the social life of small urban spaces. The social life of small urban spaces linkedin slideshare. The social life of small urban spaces 1979 short version planum magazine, movies column no.
Still from the social life of small urban spaces in many daily situations we act without deliberation. Sage knowledge the ultimate social science library opens in new tab. Erik rietveld introduces the social life of small urban. Nov 30, 20 the social life of chinese small urban spaces duration. The social life of chinese small urban spaces youtube. Thirtyfour years later, this short film explores whether his. Pdf change in the social life of urban public spaces. The social life of small urban spaces name instructor course date in response to the synthesized film of the social life of small urban spaces, it is seen that william holly whyte formed a small group called the street life project to investigate the curious dynamics of urban spaces. This documentary mainly focuses on plazas, parks, and sidewalks. The clip shows an analysis of the plaza of the seagram building in nyc and what makes it so effective as a small urban space. Whytes the social life of small urban spaces in the early 1970s, when the technologies involved were quite simple, was one of the first documentaries studying in detail the way public spaces were used using surveillance cameras. Jul 23, 2014 a few years later i met fred and ethan kent at project for public spaces.
Apr 04, 2016 cities in usa have brought considerable changes in their building forms. Join us for a screening of the accompanying film, one of the most wellregarded documentaries about urban planning, and an incredible time capsule of new york city street life of the late 1970s. I got a copy of whytes 1980 classic, the social life of small urban spaces, which in its marvelouslywritten, straightforward style is the one book all burgeoning urbanists should start with. The social life of small urban spaces street urban planning. They have since become standard texts, and appear on syllabi and reading lists in urban planning. Observing the natural order of spaces and the way people move through them, whyte provides an intuitive critique of urban spaces and ways these spaces can be improved. This highly influential film in architecture and planning circles by william h. The social life of small urban spaces 1979 planum the. Aug 22, 20 it is far easier, simpler to create spaces that work for people than those that do not and a tremendous difference it can make to the life of a city. Social life of small urban spaces 1980 social life of.
The social life of small urban spaces in searchworks catalog. Out of print for six years, pps has acquired the rights and is thrilled to make this important book available again to the public. Whytes book is summarized in this issue of visitor behavior because of its relevance to the topic of outdoor public places. Classic documentary on public space now available online. Whyte and his team began by looking at new yorks city parks, recreational areas like. Whyte is a documentary made in 1979 to discuss open spaces in urbanized areas. Pdf the social life of the small urban space bruna silveira. The social life of small urban spaces street urban. The social life of chinese small urban spaces duration.
The social life of small urban spaces, a 1979 documentary by william h. Whyte published the findings from his revolutionary street life project in the social life of small urban spaces. Whyte that looks into how people interact in and with urban plazas in new york. In our effort to create and sustain public spaces that build communities, project for public spaces runs. It is far easier, simpler to create spaces that work for people than those that do not and a tremendous difference it can make to the life of a city. The social life of small urban spaces van alen institute. Apr 07, 2015 the social life of small urban spaces 1.
Project for public spaces 700 broadway, 4th froor new york, ny. Here, whyte focuses on behavior in urban plazas of the sort generally found at the foot of corporate skyscrapers in. Holly whytes the social life of small urban spaces. Social life of small urban spaces dvd direct cinema. Goodreads members who liked the social life of small. If theres a vendor at the corner, people will cluster around him, and there will be. I got a copy of whytes 1980 classic, the social life of small urban spaces, which in its marvelouslywritten, straightforward style is the one book all burgeoning. A few years later i met fred and ethan kent at project for public spaces. The methods of study included timelapse filming, interviews, and direct observation. For those who couldnt make it, heres an extended summary of his introduction, followed by the film.
The social life of small urban spaces is a brief book on urban plaza design from william whyte, author of the organization man. Slim but fantastically insightful, the social life of small urban spaces is a foundational piece of todays thinking on what makes a great city and a fine addition to these essential reads. Whytes classic 1980 study of new yorks plazas started a minirevolution in urban planning and design. Who makes our cities, and what part do everyday users have in the design of cities. A couple years ago, i pointed to a 10minute clip of a longer documentary called the social life of small urban spaces. By ron hine fbw march 19, 20 the social life of small. The study was done to try and get new zoning resolutions in place that would promote the building of better public spaces in manhattan.
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