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In Praise of Sidewalks — and Outdoor Seating Generally
I am currently writing my next book called Welcome to Analogville — how low-tech solutions will save us. A book about urbanism in times of crisis, disaster, war and climate change. How we need to prepare our cities everything that’s coming for us. It will published in 2027 by Island Press/Princeton University Press. But in my research I fell down numerous rabbit holes about topics that fascinated me.
The Urban Theater
I was interviewed for a placemaking podcast recently and was asked a brutal question: “What’s your favourite place?” No. Stop. C’mon. That’s an impossible question to answer, in the same category as favourite film or song. How can you narrow that down to one?
A flurry of places flickered past in a cinematic montage in my head. I refused stubbornly to select one of them but I suddenly realised a pattern in my life. My favourite place is a mashup of different elements. I need a sidewalk with a table and chair at an outdoor cafe in a city. I need an urban vista before me. A city and its citizens flowing past. A menu that offers coffee and wine. Basically front row seats in the urban theater.
This place exists for me in so many cities around the world. In cities that I know well, I have my go-to cafe/bistro/wine bar. In Copenhagen, I have Falernum…
