Shaping a quality public realm

Matthew J. Bell, FAIAProfessor- Univ. of MarylandPrincipal- Perkins Eastman Architects

• How to shape a quality public realmGood design principles

Role of density in achieving community goals

• Role of ANC Commissioners in PUDs How can they best represent the public interest in

this process?

How to shape a quality public realm

•Embrace history•Support housing diversity•Provide convenient and accessible retail

and transit•Design connected, multi-modal streets•Introduce green infrastructure•Deploy buildings to define the public realm

Embrace History

Embrace History

Housing diversity and choice

• Housing for all stages of life in one community (avoid monoculture)

• Physical integration means economic integration

• Social equity

• More housing, more choice

Housing diversity

Chevy Chase DC

Conn. And Nebraska

Van Ness

Woodley Park

Cleveland Park

Chevy Chase DC

Conn. and Nebraska

Van Ness

Woodley Park

Cleveland Park

Conn. Ave: Retail, housing and transit

commercial

Single Family

Duplex

Apartments

Coverage & density

Reversed fg

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure

Defining the street

Design multi-modal streets

Turning Radius Crossing Distance* Increased Crossing Distance**

5 m(16.4 ft = 196 in)

10.8 m(35.4 ft = 424 in)

0.8 m(2.6 ft = 30 in)

10 m(32.8 ft = 392 in)

15.7 m(51.5 ft = 617 in)

5.7 m(18.7 ft = 223 in)

15 m(49.2 ft = 591 in)

22 m(72.2 ft = 866 in)

12 m(39.4 ft = 472 in)

Walk-able towns and villages

Defining the street

Defining the street

Defining the street

Defining the street

How to shape a quality public realm

•Walk-able urbanism– Interconnected streets and neighborhoods– Buildings that define the public realm– Neighborhood retail within 10 minute walk– Access to transit choice– Safe and green streets

The ANC

• Role of ANC Commissioners

in PUDs?

• How can they best represent the public interest in this process?

The ANC

How can ANC’s best represent the public interest in this process?

• Ask a lot of questions

• Understand what public benefits are possible

• Discuss in the context of “interests,” not “positions”

How can ANC’s best represent the public interest in this process?

• What will this place be like? – Picture? Precedent?

• How is the public environment designed?

• How does the design relate to our neighborhood?