THE CITY AT EYE LEVEL

A plinth constitutes the ground floor of a building, holding paramount importance as the building’s interface with the city at eye level. As a pedestrian, what you experience when you gaze around is pivotal to your perception of the urban environment. Are the buildings, their utilization, and their design conducive to creating an appealing urban space where you feel a sense of belonging? Do the plinths seamlessly integrate with pedestrian flows within the urban area?

The functionality of plinths plays a crucial role in shaping the pedestrian experience. Effective plinths should engage pedestrians, offering amenities and attractions that enhance their urban experience. Good functions for plinths may include retail spaces, cafes, restaurants, cultural venues, or public amenities like benches and green spaces. These elements contribute to a vibrant and inviting streetscape that encourages pedestrian activity and social interaction.

Transforming dysfunctional plinths requires a concerted effort involving various stakeholders and partnerships. Over the past few years, Stipo has been actively involved in devising plinth strategies aimed at revitalizing urban areas. From the CityLounge program in Rotterdam’s inner city to the rejuvenation of Amsterdam’s less inviting streets, and from promoting fashion in Arnhem’s Klarendal district to enhancing plinths in regeneration and residential areas, Stipo has been instrumental in implementing diverse strategies to breathe new life into urban plinths. Such initiatives involve collaboration between local governments, property owners, businesses, urban planners, and community organizations to identify challenges, devise solutions, and implement transformative actions that rejuvenate plinths and create vibrant urban spaces conducive to pedestrian activity and social interaction.

Source:
https://thinkcityinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/the-city-at-eye-level.pdf