SWITCH!: (Re-)activating Urban Space in an Autonomous Future

SWITCH! is a six-piece set of unique, interlocking elements flat-packed into a 10’ x 6’ x 3’ volume. The surfaces of the eccentric sculptural shapes are rendered in two shades of color, the lighter one of which is also visible at night. Components are configurable in a surprising variety of combinations, within an individual set and among multiple, so they are adaptable to different settings. Image © Gensler

Much is made of the promise of technology for the future of cities, but this has for the most part focused upon efficiency, convenience and public health. The latter is as much a social issue as a physiological one—related to how well a “smarter” city also spurs increased and unexpected forms of interaction. With this goal in mind, we developed SWITCH!, a revolutionary street furniture prototype designed to provoke new narratives and activities that will be unlocked by the advent of the autonomous vehicle.

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Revitalizing Downtown San José: Design’s Evolution and Impact

Downtown San José’s thriving Farmer’s Market is just one example of the City’s increasing efforts to adapt existing public streets and spaces to create a more vibrant downtown. Image © Gensler.

Downtown San José is well positioned to become the next urban destination. An expanding job market, investment in public transit and more affordable real estate than other parts of the Bay Area are drawing in new tech companies and a younger demographic eager to live and work in a city they love. We talked to Kevin Schaeffer, principal and managing director of Gensler's San José office, located in the heart of Downtown, about the role design has played in the evolution of this city and Silicon Valley. Read below for his reflections on where design has been, where it is now and how it’s shaping the future of Downtown San José.

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Regional Renaissance: Fuelling the Midlands Engine in England

Birmingham and the West Midlands are being transformed. Image Courtesy Luke Matthews, Unsplash

The UK, London and the South East have, for many years, been the focus of the nation’s conversations around economic development and prosperity. The Northern Power House and the Midlands Engine are emblematic of the enormous interest in the economic and human potential of the UK regions. The rise of global investment interest and the ever-faster transformation of manufacturing as digital technology permeates every level of the supply chain are transforming Birmingham and the West Midlands.

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What We Talk About When We Talk About Placemaking

London is creating and redeveloping spaces with strong cultural offerings. Image © Mike Stezycki.

As we wait to see the full effects of Brexit take hold, London keeps growing, and over recent decades, the capital’s population has reached uncharted levels. Birth rates continue to accelerate, citizens are living longer, and more and more people still look to move to the capital for work. If we continue to grow at this pace, we’ll hit 10 million people before 2030—a figure that brings many challenges.

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How Urban Design Can Save Lives

Image courtesy Matt Quinn

This post is part of a blog series related to Dialogue 30, "The Livability Issue.”

As Designers and Planners, we base our design concepts on a variety of inputs: site program, client preferences, industry practices, etc. But we still build parts of our cities the same way we have for nearly a century. This failure to consider our evolving needs and adapt to them may be killing us!

Urban Design can help. Here are three ideas – local, neighborhood and citywide.

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