This sequence of visual images are a mix of onsite drawings, text images and problem solving innovations. They show the nature of things as the are in the present public urban spaces in City Hall Plaza, Government Center and the surrounding neighborhoods. Specifically, the Blackstone Block, the pathways from Court Street, the State Service Center, and Pemberton Square.
In addition, there are some images of the worlds greatest public urban spaces in the east and the west which provide the precedents and the principles needed to solve the present problems of Boston City Hall Plaza and Government Center . . . particularly the creation of a sense PLACE within the vast wind swept expanse of Boston City Hall Plaza.
The primary problem of this particular government building complex is its fragmentation, both within Government Center itself and from its surrounding neighborhoods (including the important historic waterfront connection). The solution includes traffic calming mechanisms at street level (located at the red arrows as shown on the Linkage Drawings)and pedestrian bridges over Congress Street and New Sudbury Street and over (and under)Cambridge Street. Hence, the reestablishment of:?1. the original uninterrupted lines of pedestrian movement from Beacon Hill to the North End?2. the experience of great views to the expanse of the North End district and of the Waterfront expanse to the Bay and Ocean horizon.?3. uninterrupted lines of pedestrian movement forming a user friendly social network that would tie together the presently fragmented parts of City Hall Plaza and Government Center into a unified and dynamic whole.
The main spatial problem in the present City Hall Plaza and Government Center is in its outdoor public urban spaces which leak out onto Cambridge Street and Congress Street. Hence, they are amorphous spaces a "nothing" that need to be clearly defined so that there is a sense of enclosure in all the outdoor spaces. That sense of enclosure what made the great urban plazas in Europe so successful a beloved worldwide. In addition, needed is the discrete addition and subtraction of the present buildings and outdoor spaces to create a fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces throughout the experience City Hall Plaza and the totality of Government Center.
The principles suggested in this proposal are a major step forward in the design process of creating a genuine solution to the present problems of Boston City Hall Plaza. Many of the proposed innovations have been proven to solve specific the plaza problems by detailed on site experimentation. With this design procedure, of direct on site observations and verifications, being repeated for each new innovation, then substantive issues of project funding and implementation would be provided automatically.
SUMMARY: Government Center and City Hall Plaza would be just as delightful as one would experience in the worlds best public urban spaces. The disrespect for the daily users of American public urban spaces has become problematic in our society. However, as long as the commitment is made to respect for the great western tradition of vision and dignity, there will be no problem. We have the talent, at highest level of skill and energy, that is needed right here in the city of Boston, to transform all of the present negatives of Boston City Hall Plaza into a positive public urban space for its daily users.
It now remains to be done!