Squares Urban Spaces in Europe

• Main Author: Wolfrum, Sophie
• Format: eBook
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Birkhäuser 2014; Walter de Gruyter GmbH; Birkhauser
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Architecture. Public structures; Europe; Plazas; Public spaces
• ISBN: 3038215236; 9783038215233; 3038216496; 9783038216490
• DOI: 10.1515/9783038215233

The question of composition and spatial qualities arises in every urban design concept or intervention in the spatial structure of urban public squares. How are the essential elements involved: dimension, proportion, alignment, cohesion, accesses, shaping of focus point and of edges like surfaces and materials? How do they contribute to a character of urban space with which residents can identify? Comparing historical examples with current designs aids one in visualizing spatial effect. Similar to a floor planmanualfor buildings,Squares allows the user to evaluate spatial conditions for movement and rest based on comparable existing urban squares. The book offers the planner a comparative example for most conditions (shape, size, location, topography, and so on). Seventy European urban squares are presented and explained with the most important characteristics in a consistent manner in as-built plan, ground plan, section, and axonometric projection.