Empty alley between red brick and gray buildings with fire escapes and a bridge connecting buildings overhead.

field notes

Observations, ideas, and lessons from the worlds of workplace, urbanism, hospitality, and the built environment.

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Outdoor courtyard with a garden in a rectangular wooden planter box surrounded by exposed brick and concrete buildings. There are several large, weathered concrete columns with flat, thick tops, and the background features modern glass windows.
Dimly lit lounge with round tables, chairs, and large windows with curtains, decorated with plants and modern lights.
Modern outdoor water feature with concrete, high-standing planters holding trees and shrubs, along a river or waterfront, with city buildings and a partly cloudy sky in the background.
Interior view of a modern building with large glass windows, a spiral staircase, hanging yellow lamps, and a small seating area with chairs and tables.
Interior of a restaurant with wooden tables and woven chairs, a large window with plants outside, a staircase nearby, and fire safety equipment on the wall.
From Space to Place: Lessons from Urban Design
Brendan Gregory Brendan Gregory

From Space to Place: Lessons from Urban Design

Great places rarely happen by accident.

From lantern parades and public art to urban beaches and illuminated underpasses, placemaking can take countless forms. But what do these seemingly unrelated projects have in common? And what might they teach us about creating great places at every scale?

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micro.cosm
Brendan Gregory Brendan Gregory

micro.cosm

If you can stream the World Cup from your couch, why would you pay to watch it on a giant screen with a few hundred strangers?

This article isn't really about soccer. It's about why the best places—from sports venues to workplaces—are all starting to solve the same problem.

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