A must for societal well-being
I read your article on public space ("Plans for public space need public's input," Hotline to Nagatacho, Oct. 26), and I couldn't agree more.
I just got back from Europe, and have returned to my city of birth, Vancouver. I must say, the hardest part for me is to go back to the ways of no public space. The streets of Vancouver are all linear and have no piazzas or even park benches.
In my opinion, the greatest feature of European urban design is the piazza. I mean, something simply that allows people to gather, and not to have to worry about purchasing something. Getting outside and simply being is very difficult when all the streets lead to other streets with no piazzas or common areas of resting. It seems like a person cannot even pause to simply rest and enjoy the people around him/her when there is no public space.