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Evolution of Plaza

The document discusses the history and characteristics of urban plazas. It describes how plazas have evolved throughout history from the Greek agora, to the Roman forum, medieval market squares, Renaissance plazas, and modern shopping malls. The key characteristics of urban plazas are that they serve as public gathering spaces in city centers and allow for social interaction. Plazas take on different forms depending on their intended functions, such as for passing through, traffic flow, or large events. Overall, plazas are important public open spaces in cities.

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Shafaq Sulmaz
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511 views10 pages

Evolution of Plaza

The document discusses the history and characteristics of urban plazas. It describes how plazas have evolved throughout history from the Greek agora, to the Roman forum, medieval market squares, Renaissance plazas, and modern shopping malls. The key characteristics of urban plazas are that they serve as public gathering spaces in city centers and allow for social interaction. Plazas take on different forms depending on their intended functions, such as for passing through, traffic flow, or large events. Overall, plazas are important public open spaces in cities.

Uploaded by

Shafaq Sulmaz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

CONCEPTS AND PARADIGMS

(MAR-143)
URBAN PLAZA
One of the most important elements of city design is the square or plaza.
It is the most important way of designing a good setting for public and
commercial buildings in cities.

The Plaza: An open space available for civic purposes and commercial
activities and usually attached to an important building. Is an open area
commonly found in the heart of a town used for community gatherings.
Other names for town square are civic center , city square, urban square,
market square , public square, plaza, piazza, and “Maydan“ or “Saha”.

SHAFAQ SULMAZ
DEFINITION OF URBAN PLAZA
The meaning of urban plaza is defined as a vacant place for public in city. In the case
of western culture, there are a number of cities, which have been developed based on
this sort of urban plaza and the plazas of these cities are important elements of
European urban structure. The origin of the word ‘plaza’ is “plattea” from Spain and
“platea” from France. The former means wide road and the latter means street or
county yard. A plaza is a place, which is surrounded by buildings and roads, and these
days it is widely seen as a basic place within open space in an overpopulated city. In
addition, this has the role of a patch or a connection, which is related to green space in
an ecological aspect. Furthermore, there is the role of the media plaza as a
communication place or plaza for readers with several kinds of screens. In brief, a
plaza is a place where people can interact and share their thoughts and needs within
such an open space as was done in the forum in ancient Rome.

Characteristics of urban plaza

EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC SPACES THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY OF


ARCHITECTURE:

1. The Greek Agora

The Greek Agora was the beginning of the public space which was located in the
center of the polis and was also the focal point of the town which functioned as a
market as well as gathering space for the political assembly. Thus, it had social,
political as well as economic importance. It also acted as a formal and informal
meeting space for the citizens. In the beginning, the Agora was surrounded by private
houses but temples and sanctuaries were later built bordering it along with the stoas,
porticoes, and covered walkways. Open-air gymnasia and theatres were also
developed later in the Greek civilization.
2. The Roman Forum

The functions of the Greek acropolis and agora were brought together in “forum”
during the Roman Empire. It was a contained, semi-enclosed, and open space where
commerce, religious and political activities, athletics, and informal meetings were
carried out. The forum was a public space dominated by the citizens in the same way
as Agora. Forums were rectangular in shape, in the proportion of 2 to 3, which was
surrounded by Porticoes. The forums contained temples, basilicas, shops, and markets
which resulted in the blend of civic as well as religious fabric. It also housed other
significant recreational areas like the theatre, public baths. Also, it was home to curia
as well as comitium, meaning the city council meetings and political meetings
respectively.
3. The Medieval Market Square

The marketplace was first evolved around the 11th century and became a crucial
public space during medieval times. It was mainly located in the center of the town, in
front of the castle or cathedral, and also at the intersection of the two main roads. The
work activities like workshop and storage facilities as well as business places like inns,
taverns were situated. Inhabitants of the city often came together along with the
visitors which were attracted to the place.

4. The Renaissance Plaza


The Renaissance Plaza contained important buildings like the cathedral, the town hall,
etc. It was a place where people gathered and public celebrations took place. Also,
plays and stage proceedings were carried out in Plazas. The local social order where
ethnic, religious, and political identities were revealed in the renaissance plaza. It was
mostly planned in a symmetrical geometry. The buildings surrounding the Plaza and
squares had a uniform facade that showcased the importance of proportion and
harmony in the design. Further, this design feature evolved into residential quarters,
generally of the upper class, around the squares, making a way for an innovative
semi-public character. Also, this new way of designing and restricting public access to
the square became more popular among developers of new residential areas.
5. Public Space in Modern Era
The modern era witnessed a drastic evolution since the renaissance Plazas. The
priority being the fast movement in the urban space guided the planning of the city
and developed a close relationship between open space and the surrounding build area.
But, there was also an increase in the new public spaces for leisure and public
entertainment. Also, during the 19th century, new consumption places emerged which
were considered important social as well as public spaces, like shopping arcade,
shopping street, bazaar, and department store. Generally, the shopping arcades had
linear planning with multiple floors, and the exclusively pedestrian spaces were
weather protected with glazed roofs.

6. Contemporary Public Spaces


Due to globalization, a lot of changes happened around the world resulting in a
different characteristic and definition of public space. Also, due to privatization and
the pressure of capital along with technological advancements have a greater impact
on the form, use, and control of the public spaces. Thus, a new form of public space
emerged, i.e., the shopping malls which we see today. These shopping malls are
privately owned and managed. Furthermore, they are fully enclosed as well as totally
pedestrian in a controlled environment with adequate parking facilities and multi-
functions. It helps in providing a secure shopping and leisure environment separated
from the rest of the busy world. So we can say that the arcades and department stores
of the 19th century evolved in a more user-friendly way to become the shopping malls
of today.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PLAZAS AS AN OPEN SPACE IN A CITY:

Plazas are a significant element of open space in cities and its shape is formed based
on nodes of pedestrian passages or roads. In this space, social interaction for personal
purposes has been occurred based on people gathering and this formation has a
similarity to the living room in a house. This is a place in which people are able to
talk or share what they are thinking just as they do in their living room, and its
significance is emphasized by the high density of the city in contemporary society.
Urban plaza is a public yard and milestone with symbolic meaning of the center.

i) Urban yard
An urban plaza is similar to the back yard of a house, therefore, social networking and
interactions such as meetings and events are performed. In addition, it is formed by
the shape of surrounding buildings and roads so that the urban yard has an important
role of open space, which people can feel openness.

ii) Urban milestone


Plazas are milestones for people who are passing through the centers of cities. When
people passes along path formed by building footprints, then open space is realized
without difficulty and it becomes a lingering impression. Thus plazas become obvious
milestones within the city and this is a crucial role for public life to function within
the urban infrastructure.

iii) The center of cities:


It is also the center of activities for citizens owing to gathering them and permitting a
variety of events. Furthermore, the most plazas are in the spatial center of the cities
because the is in the vicinity of government offices or cultural facilities in the vicinity
of it. Thus urban plazas have carried the symbolic meaning of the center in the city
socially and spatially.

PLAZA RELATED WITH ARCHITECTURAL SPACE

Types of Urban Plazas

Patterns of Urban Plazas according to function Urban plaza has a thing in common
that a large crowd is gathered, however, there are varied activities in it and it can be
defined traffic, event, passing, or playing of plaza or so on as type of activities.

i) Passing Plaza
This is a sort of an inner court being surrounded by buildings. Passing plaza is
restrained to go through for cars and allowed to the pedestrian for meeting, relaxing,
or some other kind of activities in order to protect people. Basically, in Europe, plaza
or piazza is a place for passing through, however, in contemporary society, diverse
shape of plaza such as sunken, meeting, traffic, event, and so on has been come by
creating various functioned infrastructures in urban space. Although there are a
number of types of plaza, meaning of plaza in common is passing plaza.

ii) Traffic Plaza


Traffic Plaza is placed on a node of crossing roads so that it is formed for cars rather
than pedestrians. This is not allowed pedestrian to pass through or restrict, therefore,
usually it could be inhuman space so that it would be uncomfortable space for people
go though. Planning a humane city, vouching for accessing people there is needed and
also making a place for having a rest, meeting is advisable. In a big city with great
population, traffic plazas of the downtown area should be reconstituted focused on
pedestrian. For instance, traffic plazas could be placed to semi-basement and above of
it could be covered as a deck in order to access people so that they could stay for
relaxing and meeting or passing cross roads. Thus three dimensional uses could be
considered.

iii) Event Plaza


This is designed for any sort of assemblies or parade with grand scale crowd and the
size of it is as big as the population is in the city because of its function. However, the
events is not frequent in a year, therefore, it remains a simple open space without
definite activities so to plan for rest parts of the events should be considered.

iv) Meeting Plaza


Meeting plaza is placed in which people can easily approach as an appointed place
such as in front of underground station, train station, public park, or bus station. In
here, some benches, fountains which people can enjoy during waiting for someone or
time, or sculptures can be placed.

v) Playing Plaza
This is a sort of Oriental expression because, in some Asian countries, there was no
conscious about plaza and plaza or street was only for passing to other place not to
stay for any other activities and there was no meaning of plaza like in European
countries. However, during traditional holiday such as thanks giving, there were a
number of event on the street in front of house or backyard. This plaza was not named
as a playing plaza clearly, however, when the events came in town then this place had
been accepted it. Also, in ordinary time, multiple works such as drying some corns or
grains and farm working was performed. Thus public multi-uses of town is playing
plaza.

PLAN TYPES OF URBAN PLAZAS


Plan types of urban plaza are defined to three parts which are a plaza faced with roads,
connected with roads, and isolated from road.

i) A Plaza faced with four direction roads

A plaza faced with four main road has physically and visually high accessibility. This
means that people approach easily and, at the same time, passerby can realize this so
that they are clearly advantageous to comprehend urban system. Nevertheless,
because of four direction roads, this place has more noisy compare with other plazas.
This type is shown grid patterned cities such as Trafalgar Square in London, UK,
Tomkins Square in New York, and Washington Square in the U.S. These plazas are
located to the center of city and those have a character of the centre plaza in common.

ii) A Plaza faced with 1 or 2 direction road


Basically, a plaza in front of buildings or gardens are in this type. It has good
accessibility with roads and also there is possibility to make silent place toward
building side. The characteristic of this plaza is entry place or attached place with
building, thus this is used for passing or relaxing by users of building. A place in front
of Saint Pierre Basilica in Vatican city and a square of Seoul station in Seoul are
examples of this plaza.

iii) Connected Plaza by a street Isolated Plaza

In this case, the main square is isolated from roads, however, this is connected by
street for pedestrian or sub-square. Due to depart from main road, the place is quiet
compare with others which mentioned above, in addition, it has high accessibility
with streets connected roads. There is no opportunity to see whole plaza so that subtle
expectation is occurred.

Patterns of plaza in city


EXAMPLE:

SQUARE OF HERBS (PIAZZA DELLE ERBE)


The Place de Grasses (piazza Erbe) is considered the oldest in Verona, it was laid out on the site of
the Roman forum.
In the dungeons around the square, numerous ruins of ancient Roman buildings have been
preserved, including houses, basilicas and baths.
The picturesque Trav Square is always full of life. From the counters, they sell fruits and souvenirs,
in the bars they lazily drink syringe or eat ice cream.

In the center of the square there is a fountain with ancient articles of the Verona
Madonna, which dates back to 380.
The Lamberti Tower soared up 84 meters, it was erected in 1172 under the Palazzo
Rajone, in which the Verona court sat for several centuries.
You can climb the tower by elevator or on foot (the ticket price is the same for the lift
and on foot) and admire the beautiful panorama.
Opposite Palazzo Maffei, decorated with statues of Jupiter, Hercules, Minerva, Venus,
Mercury and Apollo, is a white marble column with a lion, which is the symbol of the
Venetian Republic. Lviv with an open book was installed in peacetime, while a closed
one indicates martial law.

The Signori Square (piazza dei Signori) is connected to the Place des Graves by a
narrow street lying under the Lamberti Tower.
The square was formed in the Middle Ages, when luxurious palazzo that belonged to
the political elite of that time began to be erected around it. In the center, in 1865, a
monument to Dante was erected, which, after being expelled from Florence, found
refuge in Verona.

Common questions

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The evolution of urban plazas has been marked by changes in function and design, reflecting societal shifts. In ancient Greek and Roman times, the agora and forum served multipurpose roles as centers of commerce, politics, religion, and social interaction. The Greek Agora was a focal point for markets and assemblies, embodying social, political, and economic significance. Roman forums inherited these functions, adding a more structured architectural style bordered by porticoes, temples, and basilicas . During the Medieval era, market squares emerged prominently as centers for trade and congregation, often located in front of cathedrals or castles . The Renaissance saw plazas evolve into places for public gatherings and celebrations, characterized by symmetrical design and uniform facades around important civic buildings . With modernization, plazas facilitated fast movement and began incorporating recreational and commercial spaces, seen in the emergence of shopping streets and arcades in the 19th century . Contemporary plazas often integrate more privatized and controlled environments, such as shopping malls, which provide pedestrian-friendly, leisure spaces in response to urban pressures and technological advancements .

Contemporary public spaces, such as shopping malls, differ significantly from traditional plazas in terms of management, accessibility, and environmental control. Traditional plazas were open, accessible spaces often associated with civic, religious, and social functions in urban centers. They encouraged public gathering and interaction in an open environment, serving as key locations for markets, fairs, and social exchange . In contrast, contemporary public spaces are frequently privatized and enclosed, designed for consumerism and leisure activities within controlled environments that separate them from urban liveliness, providing security and convenience . These spaces remain pivotal in urban life by facilitating social interactions and economic activities, but they also reflect a shift toward privatized and commercially oriented urban planning .

Urban plazas represent the symbolic heart of cities, functioning as civic landmarks and centers of social life. They manifest these roles through their strategic locations and community-centric designs. Plazas often occupy central urban areas, typically near government buildings or cultural institutions, underscoring their importance as civic and cultural hubs . Their design often prioritizes openness and accessibility, with features that promote social gatherings, events, and symbolic interactions. This symbolism is further reflected in architectural elements, such as surrounding iconic buildings or monuments, which serve as focal points for civic pride and identity . The integration of plazas with pedestrian pathways and communal facilities like fountains or sculptures enhances their role as spaces where urban life converges, emphasizing their enduring place in urban landscapes .

Incorporating urban plazas in high-density residential areas offers significant environmental and social benefits. Environmentally, plazas provide crucial green spaces that mitigate urban heat and improve air quality. They serve as ecological patches that connect urban flora and fauna, enhancing biodiversity and promoting ecological sustainability within the concrete landscape . Socially, plazas act as communal spaces that facilitate interactions among residents, promoting a sense of community and belonging. They provide venues for recreational and cultural activities, fostering social cohesion and improving quality of life . Plazas also enhance urban aesthetics and provide sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of city life, offering spaces for relaxation and public gatherings that are essential for healthy urban living . The integration of plazas thus supports both ecological health and social vitality, essential components in designing livable urban environments.

The Roman forum seamlessly blended civic and religious functions, serving as a hub for commerce, politics, and worship. This integration was supported by architectural elements such as temples and basilicas, which were common components of the forum's layout, juxtaposed with shops and markets . The rectangular design, bordered by porticoes, facilitated a range of activities from governmental meetings in the curia to religious ceremonies, highlighting the interconnectedness of areas within Roman society . The presence of religious temples alongside civic buildings underscored the dual role of the forum as a sacred and secular space, accommodating diverse public activities that reflected the intertwined nature of political authority and religious practice in Roman culture . This architectural arrangement not only allowed for multifunctional use but also symbolized the comprehensive role of the forum as a center for civic engagement and religious observance.

Urban plazas can be categorized by several functional types, each addressing specific urban needs. Passing plazas are designed for pedestrian movement and social interactions, often situated as inner courtyards among buildings, allowing for activities like meeting and relaxing . Traffic plazas accommodate vehicular flow at major intersections, although they typically lack pedestrian-friendly spaces . Event plazas are large open spaces intended for assemblies and parades, reflecting their capacity to handle large crowds during city events . Meeting plazas are conveniently located near transportation hubs or public parks, equipped with amenities like benches or sculptures to facilitate social gatherings while people await . Playing plazas, less formalized, provide community spaces for cultural or traditional events, typically evolving from areas not initially designed as plazas but recognized for their communal use . Each type of plaza fulfills different social, transportational, and cultural roles essential for urban function and community engagement.

A traffic plaza is primarily designed for vehicular rather than pedestrian use and is strategically located at road nodes for managing traffic flow. Such plazas are not conducive to pedestrian activities and can create uncomfortable, inhuman spaces due to prioritization of vehicles over people . In urban planning, traffic plazas necessitate considerations for accessibility and safety, often requiring redesigns to accommodate pedestrian spaces. Humanizing these spaces can involve integrating pedestrian access, rest areas, and three-dimensional designs, such as elevating pedestrian pathways above roadways, to enhance usability and livability in densely populated urban environments .

Plazas in densely populated cities are defined by their strategic location, accessibility, and facilitation of social interactions. Positioned at the heart of urban landscapes, they serve as accessible open spaces where streets and pedestrian pathways converge. Such plazas are often surrounded by essential civic and cultural buildings, emphasizing their role as social hubs . Their design promotes openness and interaction, often featuring elements like seating areas, fountains, and sculptures that encourage congregation and dialogue . The high density of surrounding infrastructure underlines the importance of plazas as "urban living rooms," where people engage and exchange ideas, making them crucial to maintaining social connectivity within the fast-paced urban lifestyle . These features foster a sense of community, support diverse activities, and serve as key locations for public life and civic engagement.

Renaissance plazas were microcosms of the social, ethnic, and political structures of their time, reflected in their design and use. These plazas were meticulously planned with symmetrical geometries and uniform facades that showcased the Renaissance ideals of proportion and harmony . They often housed significant buildings like cathedrals and town halls, which were central to public affairs, thus anchoring the plazas in civic life. The gatherings in these spaces were not just social but also political, as they served as venues for public discourse and celebrations that displayed the prevailing social hierarchies and cultural identities, such as religious festivals or civic ceremonies . Moreover, the location of plazas often delineated social stratifications, as the surrounding buildings were typically residential quarters of the upper class, reflecting social divides within urban settings . Through their architectural and functional design, Renaissance plazas conveyed the power dynamics and cultural values of the time.

Medieval market squares were strategically designed to cater to the social and economic needs of their communities by being centrally located, often in front of castles or cathedrals, facilitating easy access and visibility . This central position, frequently at road intersections, maximized exposure to both urban inhabitants and visiting traders, making them bustling centers of commerce and trade. The design incorporated surrounding workshops, inns, and taverns, creating a vibrant atmosphere conducive to both business and social interaction . The medieval market square served as a focal point for community gatherings, effectively blending economic transactions with social engagements such as festivals and public gatherings, thereby enhancing its role as a multifaceted public space .

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