In what method do we approach 21st century street design? Do we imagine visions of Utopia? Do we maintain more of the same with modest improvements? Or do we take an approach that strives for a balanced understanding of where we are and where we need to go?

Designing the 21st century street requires an interpolation between immediate and long-term change. As we progress forward in achieving reality out of our design visions, it is important to take note of the rhythmic pattern that comes through generations of change and movement. While it is tempting to re-draw the intersection of 4th Avenue and 9th Street as the ideal setting for all users, it negates the most important quality that makes our streets what they are; the circumstances in which an event occurs – a setting – the context.

The contextual understanding of an existing street is vital to understanding its beat and rhythm. The beat signifies the constancy of fundamental movement of the street, whereas the rhythm represents the dynamic quality of the street. The music that these two components make is what allows the designer to create a street design that compliments the life that walks, bikes, and drives through it.

Our approach is to maintain the cadence of the street and apply layers that speak to the dynamism of movement and stillness.

Our street design of the intersection at 4th Avenue and 9th Street in Brooklyn, NY:

Layer One – Vectors and Surfaces:
Elemental changes need to occur to provide delineation of the 3 zones within the street. The zones are defined as pedestrian, bicyclist, and passenger. Whether it is through pavement changes, color distinction or light, we chose to clearly define these zones for each user.

Layer Two – Nodes and Pauses:
Stir the synergistic nodes. Synergy, or the heightened activity of use, occurs at different nodes [places] within the intersection. Subway entrances, steps leading to residences or shops, benches underneath the canopy of trees; all of these are examples of nodes. In order to stir the synergy, we must account for these places of activity and rest. We envision subway entrances becoming screened with artist installations, more trees lining the street, and enhanced signage.

Layer Three – Transitions:
Allow for the flexibility of change within the delineated zones. In our enhanced vision of society, we would love to see greater numbers of people walking, bicyclists enjoying additional lanes and trails, and all “green designed” modes of transit. As we work toward making this become a reality, we acknowledge the creation of good street design is one where each of these zones [pedestrian, bicyclist, and passenger] may interact with one another.

In contextually approaching the streets of the 21st century, we aim to make the arteries of our cities beat rhythmically toward a common synergy.