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Fair and Square

By: Helena Kardová

Photo: Archive, John Galanti

One might think of public space as the space in between – the territory that hasn’t been taken over by housing, offices or infrastructure. The truth is, however, that individual buildings can play a big role in creating the agoras of the modern age. Intrepid architects have been taking the opportunity to integrate spots to rest, chat and linger into their singular designs for centuries. Join us on a whistle-stop tour around the globe, where we highlight projects that have made impact beyond their immediate footprint and have helped create thriving public spaces.

Better Together

With our cities growing bigger and denser, it’s key that we take every opportunity to prioritise connection over concrete. At its best, public space can help us create a healthier and happier society. It’s the stage for everyday politics where we can gauge how our communities are doing. As families are getting smaller and people live longer in many parts of the globe, we need to learn how to live better together. And so we can only expect that public space will play a more significant role in years to come. We should treasure it.

Tirana, Albania | Piramida

Once a monument to Albanian communist leader Enver Hoxha, this unique structure has recently been transformed by the Dutch architecture studio MVRDV into an educational institution with outdoor hangout spots.

São Paulo, Brazil | Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)

Italian-born architect Lina Bo Bardi was a master of injecting playfulness into uniform urban spaces. Finalised in 1968, her landmark MASP building housed sprawling galleries where art could be displayed in a novel way, using bespoke glass easels.

Florence | Italy Palazzo Rucellai

At Palazzo Rucellai, architect Leon Battista Alberti adorned the seats with a latticed pattern that is at once robust and delicate. Ranging from utilitarian to monumental, such benches still serve weary walkers today.

Dandaji, Niger | Dandaji Market

Quite poetically, sellers in this Niger village used to spread their produce under an ancestral tree. When their offering outgrew this spontaneous set-up, architect Mariam Issoufou Kamara designed a permanent marketplace, imitating the tree canopy by using recycled metal in this arid climate.

Iztapalapa, Mexico | Utopía Atzintli

The work of Taller Capital studio in Mexico City proves that we can remodel even the most overlooked infrastructure into vibrant hubs for the local communities. It all started with a fenced regulatory basin that collected rainwater overflow from the surrounding area. Today it fulfils the same function while also offering a running track, swimming pool, library, basketball court and other amenities to locals.