The Edge Effect: Creating Socially Distant Landscapes
Authors: Abby Fisher & Deborah Kim
No one thought this virus would turn into a pandemic, let alone one that would last so long. But here we are, day after day, trying to isolate ourselves as much as possible. Naturally, staying indoors all the time can get really old, really fast. So, when I start to feel stir crazy, I take a trip to the local park. Every time I do, I find myself in shock at how crowded it gets. People are still having picnics, walking their dogs, and soaking up the fresh air. But oddly enough, there’s always a pattern: they cluster themselves near the storefronts that line the edges of the park, and no one sets up in the middle of the lawn if they can help it. It’s clear everyone is desperate to get out of their home, but they must do so with a mutual sense of comfort and safety. – DK
As aspiring landscape architects, one of our main drives is bringing people together. How do we create socially dynamic and inclusive environments? Last year, the guidelines for what that could look like were more or less established; we could turn to books, plazas, parks and lectures for advice on what to include and how to shape the land. But now, everything is different. So how can we continue creating shared experiences while providing the protection people need? – AF
Perhaps a solution can be found by looking back at a key principle of design: the edge effect. In other words, people’s tendency to gravitate towards the edges of a space rather than occupying the middle. – AF
In my town center, like many others, the edges of the park are lined with retail footprints; people move in and out of shops and throughout the park. The connection between green space and the storefronts exists, but we could further enhance the edge conditions to make this transition more fluid. For example, as the pandemic creates a shift toward “off-premise” dining, providing common areas to comfortably dine outdoors would add to the layers of “usable” edge. Additionally, focusing designs so the public can reclaim these spaces would mean businesses could spend less on property acquisition. – DK
Another trend we’ve witnessed is people transforming parking lots and other unused chunks of land into their own temporary oasis, PARKing Day style. As designers, we call these spaces “pocket parks”: a small plot of land, typically overlooked, that’s transformed into a habitable, beneficial space. Pocket parks are few and far between, but their size is an inherent strength. Because they’re so small, they can become prolific, interconnected, and easy to access. Plus, their small size naturally limits the amount of people who can occupy them at one time––perfect for social distancing. – AF
If you look closely, people are demonstrating what they want, even if they don’t quite know what they’re asking for. And as designers, we can help create healthier cities by not only paying attention, but also responding promptly to these actions that speak louder than words. – DK
