What does it take to create great streets?

A new book tries to give answers

PPS –Project for Public Space recently discussed that question with the architects and urban designers John Massengale and Victor Dover. The two of them will soon release their new book Street Design, The Art & Practice of Making Complete Streets (Wiley, 2012), which details the art and practice of creating great streets for people.

To find out what the secret of great streets is John Massengale and Victor Dover traveled the world evaluating and experiencing different kinds of streets. They asked themselves: “Why are we drawn to some places, and not to others”. The output is a design manual for urban designers, planners, architects and engineers. It examines both exemplary streets as well as examples of what not to do, and offers techniques for fixing streets with urban context, geography, culture, and budget in mind. One key message is: “Keep it simple.”

John Massengale is Board Member at the Congress for New Urbanism and Victor Dover a Fellow of the

American Institute of Certified Planners

and a Board Member and National Chair of the Congress for New Urbanism.

To read the interview visit PPS.