Quote:
Originally Posted by America 117
Are you joking?
I like those massive plaza's because you can have special events there like a concert!
Thats what they did at the world trade center.
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Most plaza's aren't all that affective in generating "activity." They are good passing through, but people tend to stay away from open windswept areas. Although there are a few exceptions. Daley Plaza in Chicago is very popular in the summertime during certain hours.
Actually.... many plaza in front of government buildings are better than those in front of a typical corporate office building. You only see these plazas busy during coming/going and lunchtimes. Government buildings tend to have activity throughout the day and are better at converging the public since they carry fewer restrictions on what the public can do. Not to mention, cities like to organize events in these spaces.
But in general, I'd probably still disagree with you that they are a good component of design (at least nowadays.)
If you want effective gathering spaces, I'd shoot for smaller scale like the new General Motors Promenade in Detroit, which is one of my top 20 favorite public spaces in the US, not to mention.... it's always busy.