Here, whyte focuses on behavior in urban plazas of the sort generally found at the foot of corporate skyscrapers in new york, san francisco, and other major cities. The social life of small urban spaces 1979 short version. People will not just be waiting there for the light to change. Oct 03, 2011 the social life of small urban spaces, a 1979 documentary by william h. Pdf the social life of the small urban space bruna silveira. Spaces designed to keep out o u r small urban spaces, i f we design new s. Whyte is a documentary made in 1979 to discuss open spaces in urbanized areas. The social life of small urban spaces informal science. The social life of small urban spaces brain pickings. It typically includes urban public spaces, such as a citys streets, parks, and plazas, and is part of a much larger public sphere.
This witty and original film is about the open spaces of cities and why some of them work for people while others dont. The study was done to try and get new zoning resolutions in place that would promote the building of better public spaces in manhattan. A tantalizing 10minute clip of an hourlong video called the social life of small urban spaces. The clip shows an analysis of the plaza of the seagram building in nyc and what makes it so effective as a small urban space. The social life of wireless urban spaces internet use, social. The social life of small urban spaces is a brief book on urban plaza design from william whyte, author of the organization man.
T h e street life project began its study by looking at new york city parks and. Why do people claim that they go to public places to get away from it all. Whytes witty and original film about the open spaces of cities and why some of them work for people while others. The street life project, and began studying new york citys urban spaces including parks, playgrounds. The social life of wireless urban spaces by keith n. Hampton, oren livio, craig trachtenberg, and rhonda mcewen. Feb 27, 2014 nevertheless, the successful spaces is one in which an unrelated public is present. Having lived for the past several years in atlanta, i find whytes depiction of urban spaces to be somewhat shocking, a phenomenon that is easily supported by the fact that the book was published in 1980. Arch 1st sem urban regeneration j a m i a m i l l i a i s l a m i a by william h. Whytes the social life of small urban spaces in the early 1970s, when the technologies involved were quite simple, was one of the first documentaries studying in detail the way public spaces were used using surveillance cameras. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. William hollingsworth holly whyte 1917 12 january 1999 was an american urbanist, organizational analyst, journalist and peoplewatcher.
Whyte suggested that the effective market radius for a plaza is about three blocksp. The social life of small urban spaces is a documentary about a study performed and narrated by william h. The social life of small urban spaces whyte, william h. He identified the elements that create vibrant public spaces within the city and filmed a variety of urban plazas in new york city in 1970s. In 1970 william whyte formed a small research group. Throughout his essay, whyte engages in a more extensive observation of the space, broken down into diagrams, timeschedules, and studies of how the public actually. The organization man, the social life of small urban spaces. The film the social life of small urban spaces by william whyte, which. As we have discovered, the architectural feats of modernisms glory days provided cities. Beginning at new yorks seagram plaza, one of the most used open areas in the city, the film proceeds to analyze why this space is so popular and how other urban oases, both in new york and elsewhere, measure up. The aim of the research project was to study how people use plaza.
Oren livio is a student at university of pennsylvania. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Observing the natural order of spaces and the way people move through them, whyte provides an intuitive critique of urban spaces and ways these spaces can be improved. Stay connected to your students with prezi video, now in microsoft teams. The rise of mobile phones and women, and the decline of aloneness over thirty years article pdf available in urban studies 528. Revisiting the social life of small urban spaces the kinder institute. The social life of small urban places june 2, 2015 andrea gibbons 8 comments truly one of the greats of urban planning, i loved this pivotal look at how you study public space and what you learn from the practice. Whyte analyzes the success and failures of urban spaces.
He studies the relationship between information and communication technologies, social networks, and the urban environment. William hollingsworth holly whyte october 1, 1917 january 12, 1999 was an american urbanist, organizational analyst, journalist and peoplewatcher. Slim but fantastically insightful, the social life of small urban spaces is a foundational piece of todays thinking on what makes a great city and a fine addition to these essential reads. This documentary mainly focuses on plazas, parks, and sidewalks. This content was uploaded by our users and we assume good faith they have the permission to share this book. The public realm plays host to planned encounters with existing acquaintances, as well as to serendipitous encounters with strangers.
Whyte s video is charming and exhaustive document on use of public space in new york of 80ths. These articles offer dramatically different perspectives on urban life and urban development from mainstream urban. The social life of small urban spaces, market square youtube. Social life of small urban spaces 1980 social life of. The purpose of designing spaces is to encourage the environment, urban life, and community. Duy anh vu edited english subtitles for the social life of small urban spaces. Out of print for six years, pps has acquired the rights and is thrilled to make this important book available again to the public. Hampton, oren livio, craig trachtenberg, and rhonda mcewen october 30, 2010 fall 2010 the increasing use of wireless internet access in public spaces has transformed the way that urban spaces are used and the types of interactions that take place there.
It is far easier, simpler to create spaces that work for people than those that do not and a tremendous difference it can make to the life of a city. Books similar to the social life of small urban spaces. The social life of small urban spaces by william h. Nov 30, 20 the social life of chinese small urban spaces duration. A few years later i met fred and ethan kent at project for public spaces. The social life of small urban spaces, focuses on the seagram plaza. The content is kind of late mad men era ok its the 1970s, but one expects don draper to mosey through the shot looking dapper, but with someone other than his wife on his arm but still fascinating. Project for public spaces, the social life of small urban spaces 1979 short version planum magazine, movies column no. A busy place for some reason seems to be the most congenial kind of place if you want to be alone. Apr 07, 2015 the social life of small urban spaces 1. Whyte, a pioneer in the study of human behavior in urban settings, are far from passe. The social life of small urban spaces m o h d d a n i s h m. If its a busy corner, it has a brisk social life of its own.
Whyte published the findings from his revolutionary street life project in the social life of small urban spaces. The clothing and hairstyles of the people featured in the film may seem dated, but the ideas put forth by william h. For those who couldnt make it, heres an extended summary of his introduction, followed by the film. The book, the social life of small urban spaces, wants to be a manual for the creation and management of urban spaces, referring in particular to the city of new york. Goodreads members who liked the social life of small. By ron hine fbw march 19, 20 the social life of small. Looking at the everyday life of city streets and neighbourhoods provides a perspective on cities, social change and the radical variety of urban life. The social life of chinese small urban spaces duration. Whyte and his colleagues involved in the street life project whyte, 1980. Find books like the social life of small urban spaces from the worlds largest community of readers. I got a copy of whytes 1980 classic, the social life of small urban spaces, which in its marvelouslywritten, straightforward style is the one book all burgeoning urbanists should start with. This highly influential film in architecture and planning circles by william h.
Apr 04, 2016 new york were very consistent,in the use of plazas. How would public places be different if informal power wasnt enforced. Open access content is available to view online or you can download to your. The methods of study included timelapse filming, interviews, and direct observation. A great video series on youtube featuring the social life of small urban spaces videos a companion to the book, or is that viceversa by william holly whyte. The social life of small urban spaces the strength of. The social life of small urban spaces public space. Still from the social life of small urban spaces in many daily situations we act without deliberation. The social life of small urban spaces by kimberly dallmann. The social life of wireless urban spaces internet use. The social life of small urban spaces in searchworks catalog. Every week we give presentations about why some public spaces work and why others dont, using the techniques, ideas, and memorable phrases from william h. Holly whytes the social life of small urban spaces. Those are the questions that drove william whyte to study public spaces, as captured in the film the social life of small urban places 1980.
Whytes study of public urban spaces demonstrates the complex positioning of privately ownedpublic spaces. The social life of small urban spaces linkedin slideshare. Whytes classic 1980 study of new yorks plazas started a minirevolution in urban planning and design. Choreographing architectural gestures in urban spaces duration. The social life of small urban spaces the strength of architecture. Holly whyte, explores the successes and failures of public spaces in new york city. Erik rietveld introduces the social life of small urban. The social life of small urban spaces, a 1979 documentary by william h. The role of icts in creating the new social public place. Via an article by kio stark over at the the atlantic. This investigation is about the edge, hybrid space, and public engagement in the.