As COVID-19 spread around the globe in 2020, something startling happened: cities quieted as human activity screeched to a halt. For many, a first venture from pandemic-induced seclusion involved public spaces in urban environments.
Another side effect of the pandemic was that designers were forced to re-imagine how we use public spaces. Could dining al fresco happen in the dead of winter? What about social distancing? As cities recovered, design thinking emerged as a transformative approach to rebuilding resilient, inclusive, and human-centric urban environments.
Below, we’ll discuss what design thinking is and how its application in public spaces is becoming the new norm. As you explore and gain experience in using these techniques, don’t forget to add them to your architectural or urban planning resume. An online resume builder like Resumecoach can make the process as quick and easy as calling up your favorite subcontractor.
Why Design Thinking Matters in Public Spaces
Design thinking is a problem-solving methodology that puts people as the main focus. It challenges urban planning designers to empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test innovative solutions while engaging residents, business owners, and commuters for input.
When indoor spaces like gyms and shopping malls were compromised, designers were reminded how outdoor spaces like parks, plazas, and sidewalks are vital to community well-being and mental health. Designers were prompted to ask: What is this space for? What could it be for as the community’s needs change? Is it accessible to all, regardless of age, ability, or background?
Case Study: Sidewalks as Social Infrastructure
Sidewalks are a highly visible example of how design thinking changed the outdoor landscape during the pandemic, and how it continues to endure. Sidewalks were always a place where people gathered and interacted—as pedestrians, standing in line, or visiting street vendors, for example.
During the pandemic, however, sidewalks—and at times, even parts of streets themselves—were transformed into places where people could linger and socialize. Restaurants extended their socially distanced seating capacity by creating al fresco dining areas on sidewalks. Some of these appeared rather ordinary, while others were quite unique, for example, clear, dome-shaped dining tents separated diners and even facilitated winter heating.
What about when the pandemic ended? Did outdoor seating for restaurants decline? Hardly! On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., my spouse and I took dinner at Via Sophia, an upscale Italian bistro within the Hamilton Hotel. Its indoor seating area was lovely, but its outdoor seating—a deck extending into former sidewalk space subdivided by overflowing planters—was absolutely stunning. Many diners preferred to wait for outdoor seating rather than be seated immediately indoors.
This trend is not unique to Via Sophia. A Toast survey revealed that 54 percent of diners preferred restaurants with outdoor seating, and 70 percent would be willing to wait for it. Tastewise also noted that in 2023, mentions of “outdoor dining” on social media increased by 35 percent. My photos from Via Sophia were certainly Instagram-worthy!
Of course, outdoor dining isn’t the only area where post-pandemic design thinking is taking hold. Consider a few more examples.
The New Norms in Design Thinking
Pandemic restrictions may have inspired better human-centered use of outdoor spaces, but their utility, aesthetics, and benefits have turned them into an enduring shift in urban design. You might enact some of the following in your next city planning project.
Modular Spaces
Cities including Barcelona, Spain, and Melbourne, Australia, have increased the usefulness of outdoor spaces by utilizing modular landscaping, foldable stages, and other flexible, mobile design elements. Beyond outdoor spaces, many office buildings and co-working spaces now include modular “walls” that can be rearranged to fit changing needs.
Nature-Integrated Urbanism and Biophilic Design
Green spaces are known to promote calmness and reduce stress. Post-pandemic design thinking is rich with biophilic design, that is, the integration of nature into urban environments (“biophilic” literally means “life-loving,” referring to plant and animal life).
Parks and green corridors are becoming more numerous. Cities like Los Angeles have initiatives to plant trees in disadvantaged communities, providing shady spaces to enjoy and sometimes fresh fruit to eat. The Huntsville Botanical Garden in Huntsville, Alabama, is experimenting with green spaces in parking lots to break up heat islands.
Using Technology to Enhance Traffic and Safety
Scrubbed of personal identifiers, the movements of cell phones along vehicular roads and pedestrian sidewalks offer vital insights to city planners. As an example, urban planners in Singapore used GPS data to analyze pedestrian movement during the lockdowns. This information helped inform decisions when redesigning public transportation hubs and walkways to reduce overcrowding.
Key Takeaways
The COVID-19 era gave design thinking in urban planning a boost, and the changes are here to stay. Not only are outdoor spaces becoming accessible, but residents are becoming ever more involved in the design process. Generations to come will enjoy enhanced outdoor areas and green spaces, with many innovations likely to come.
