Pattern 126
Something Roughly in the Middle
Context Small Public Squares61 · Common Land67 · Courtyards Which Live115 · Path Shape121 · Activity Pockets124 · Stair Seats125
Problem
A wide, open space with no point of reference feels empty and disorienting; people have nowhere to place themselves within it.
Solution
Set something roughly in the middle of an open space — a fountain, a tree, a small pavilion — to break up the emptiness and give people a point to orient themselves by.
Usage Paths and Goals120 · High Places62 · Dancing in the Street63 · Pools and Streams64 · Public Outdoor Room69 · Still Water71 · Tree Places171 · Sitting Wall243