The Placemaking Round-Up
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
The Biweekly Bazaar
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
A biweekly newsletter with public space news, resources, and opportunities.
A curated dispatch on all things public markets plus the latest announcements from the Market Cities Program.
Please note that these Hall of Shame nominations were written in a moment in time (most over a decade ago) and likely have since changed or even been transformed. If the above entry is now great, or still not so great, go ahead and comment below on how it has evolved or nominate it as a great place.
Our transportation choices have profound impacts on the public realm. Seeds for Change marks a step in a safer, more sustainable direction with its conversion of four car parking spots to an attractive place with parking for 40 bicycles.
Seeds for Change symbolically and substantively counters car dominance in Gurgaon by transforming four parking spots in a vast lot into a colorful public space with parking for 40 bicycles. Inspired by another Indian Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper project called Raaghiri Day, Seeds for Change is a collaborative effort of WRI, Nagarro Software, Udaan NGO, and NASSCOM Foundation. In addition to bringing these institutions together, the project brings cyclists together, creating a sense of public belonging in a privatized, car-heavy city. Its seating areas and sculptures allow for rest and contemplation while encouraging active transportation - with its benefits to air quality and safety - to anyone passing by.
After cordoning off parking spots, secure bike racks can be purchased for several hundred dollars. The sculptural centerpiece of this project is a larger investment, but serves as a beacon to users of the parking lot and contributes mightily to the aesthetic. Ultimately, Seeds for Change, as the name implies, seeks to be more than a one-off project. In the words of philanthropist and CEO Manas Fuloria (as quoted in The Hindu), “it is a small seed that will definitely germinate into better and safer cities and public spaces.”
*Please note that these Hall of Shame nominations were written in a moment in time (most over a decade ago) and likely have since changed or even been transformed. If the above entry is now great, or still not so great, go ahead and comment below on how it has evolved or nominate it as a great place.
