The plaza

III. Parking/plaza techniques Category: public open space. Subcategory: plazas and squares. There is a strong reflex for a designer simply to attach the label “parking lot” to an area and then to get on with the design of the building. In fact the necessary function of parking can be a resource for the creation of public space. Overcoming the simplistic conception of “a place for cars” is the critical first step towards techniques that emphasize the creation of a pedestrian-oriented space. The necessary elements — lighting, pavement, sidewalks, plantings — and their placement should be directed towards that end. Secondary buildings, such as attendant booths, security kiosks, and shuttle shelters, can be placed to organize clear visual and pedestrian connections between plaza and surrounding buildings. Where the parking plaza cannot be fully defined by buildings, trees and street lights can provide the visual boundaries essential to the creation of a space. To achieve an effective height-to-width ratio, overly large or oddly proportioned paved areas should be subdivided into smaller ones by sidewalks and plantings, the layout of which is keyed to the grain of buildings at the boundary. Distinctive high elements, such as a fountain or sculpture, can mark the centers and

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