{"id":353,"date":"2025-03-12T11:01:16","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T12:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/?p=353"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:13:20","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T21:13:20","slug":"void-or-venue-6-public-square-designs-that-think-outside-the-box","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/12\/void-or-venue-6-public-square-designs-that-think-outside-the-box\/","title":{"rendered":"Void or Venue? 6 Public Square Designs That Think Outside the Box"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The latest edition of \u201cArchitizer: The World\u2019s Best Architecture<\/a>\u201d \u2014 a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe \u2014 is now available. Order your copy today<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Frankly, people are asking way too much of squares. These open, public spaces need to act as points of transition, oases amongst dense urban fabrics, places for entertainment, and spaces that leave room for spontaneity and interaction. Consequently, this begs the question, how much \u201cdesign\u201d should a square actually have? One approach is to populate the space with different, playful architectural elements \u2014 an intricate staircase, benches, walls, fountains and vegetation. Other proposals that are not fearful of voids and empty space suggest simpler, more subtle delimitation practices within the public urban fabric.<\/p>\n

The following six projects tackle square design in distinct ways, ranging from highly structured interventions that encourage specific uses to more open-ended approaches that embrace flexibility and organic occupation.<\/p>\n


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Karen Blixens Plads<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Cobe<\/a>, Copenhagen, Denmark<\/h4>\n

\"Karen \"KarenThe square is located between the newly built University of Copenhagen buildings and the nature reserve Amager Common, offering a gradual transition from the landscape to the city. The new design acts as an urban carpet floating over three bicycle parking hills, making room for more than 2,000 parking spaces both over and under the hills. The urban structure comprises several circular openings that allow natural light to penetrate the lower level, while others act as plant pots for vegetation.<\/p>\n


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V- Plaza Urban Development<\/a><\/h3>\n

By 3deluxe<\/a>, Kaunas, Lithuania<\/h4>\n

\"V- \"V-Situated amongst a series of cultural buildings, V-Plaza is redesigned to cater to the needs of a more contemporary city. Developed in two levels, the square\u2019s surface comprises a grid that follows the axis of the surrounding historical buildings. In parallel, the second level breaks up the rigid lines by reflecting the natural and organic flows of movement. The result is an urban void filled with \u201cnatural islands\u201d that include a skate park, a fountain complex, an event venue as well as open green spaces.<\/p>\n


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West End Square<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Field Operations<\/a>, Dallas, Texas<\/h4>\n
Popular Winner, Public Parks & Green Spaces, 11th Annual A+Awards<\/h5>\n

\"West \"WestWest End Square replaces a former parking lot with a next-generation park, one concentrated around innovation companies and start-ups. The space becomes a community anchor, hosting frequent events that include salsa dancing classes, interactive art installations, and local vendor markets. The design aimed to contrast the neighborhood\u2019s heavy brick-paved sidewalks, suggesting an array of organically shaped planting beds, water features, and a smart irrigation system. Additionally, a trellis structure supports smart sensor lighting, fans, swings, and power for various types of programming, also serving as a flexible armature that holds the park\u2019s electrical and fiber infrastructure.<\/p>\n


\n

taksim for all<\/a><\/h3>\n

By superspace<\/a>, Beyo\u011flu, \u0130stanbul, Turkey<\/h4>\n

\"taksim \"taksimThe square is located in the Taksim district. Its name derives from the distribution of water when the space was still in use. Its contemporary redesign focuses on how people are reclaiming the space and how design can regenerate this urban void. A new courtyard and skywalk regulate pedestrian movement, leading them to various functions along the space, such as fairs, art installations, concerts, and markets. In parallel, urban axes follow the historic grid, connecting the new intervention with the existing historic fabric.<\/p>\n


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Mendel Square<\/a><\/h3>\n

By CHYBIK + KRISTOF<\/a>, Brno, Czechia<\/h4>\n

\"Mendel \"MendelMendel Square is the first phase of a larger revival plan for this specific part of the city, which transforms the existing, decaying transportation hub into a vibrant public space. The proposal draws inspiration from the area\u2019s key periods of its past, reflected in the surrounding monuments, and transforms the space into an active, social transportation hub for the city. The square is centered around a circular area with no definitive barriers, making it accessible from all sides. Additionally, new bus stops made from reusable materials ensure a smooth transition from tram and trolleybuses to municipal and regional bus lines, while mobile, urban furniture is also installed in a playful arrangement, acting as points of observation towards the rest of the city. An abundance of tree species and water elements bring an organic tone to the overall design, fusing nature with transportation and culture.<\/p>\n


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Sky Forest Scape<\/a><\/h3>\n

By Shma Company Limited<\/a>, Bangkok, Thailand<\/h4>\n
Finalist 2024, A+Awards, Landscape & Planning \u2013 Private Garden<\/h5>\n

\"Sky \"SkyThe project reveals a new type of public space in Bangkok \u2014 greenspaces on the rooftops. It is part of the new mixed-use development located within a vibrant commercial district and aims to revamp \u2018Siam Square\u2019 with more people-centric urban spaces, including a \u201cgreen\u201d street, places for gathering, and greenery. The design unfolds in two levels: on the ground, \u2018BIO STREET\u2019 \u201cdraws\u201d people from\u2014 the main street towards a lush green circulation space and guides them to a series of lifts and escalators that lead to the 10th floor, where a variety of tutoring schools and art academies are situated. A new type of square unfolds on the roof, following strong linear lines forming plant bends filled with tropical trees. The space acts as a new multi-functional gathering stage for students, a performance rehearsal and concert stage, and even a TikTok dance backdrop.<\/p>\n

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The latest edition of \u201cArchitizer: The World\u2019s Best Architecture<\/a>\u201d \u2014 a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe \u2014 is now available. Order your copy today<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Featured Image: V- Plaza Urban Development<\/a> by 3deluxe<\/a>, Kaunas, Lithuania<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Void or Venue? 6 Public Square Designs That Think Outside the Box<\/a> appeared first on Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The latest edition of \u201cArchitizer: The World\u2019s Best Architecture\u201d \u2014 a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe \u2014 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":355,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":368,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353\/revisions\/368"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/brandxdomains.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}