The Woonerf Way
Woonerf is about quality of life rather than speed of life. A woonerf-designed street has no division between cars and people, forcing cars to drive at a slower pace. Street furniture might be placed in the street and areas for community play are encouraged. It is as if a neighborhood suddenly gets a gigantic front yard, increasing social opportunities while creating an efficient use of space. Although this is a Dutch concept, it is also open to interpretation. It is meant to reflect a culture’s own needs and designs. It must have a clear entrance so that cars entering are aware that they must slow down. Parking should also be provided – just not everywhere. The street itself should not have more than 100 cars going through at peak times. Cars are the exception, rather than the rule.
Growing in Popularity
As Canadian cities increasingly adopt this concept, street signs can be seen with a child playing soccer next to a house to alert passersby. It may be a difficult concept to implement in overpopulated cities like Toronto, but it's interesting to see the experimentation behind new street designs. The first woonerf in Toronto has a rolled curb as a subtle cue for pedestrians, who, let’s be honest, just aren’t used to the concept.
Vancouver has made its lane ways more livable every year, as the areas that were previously for car and garbage storage are becoming increasingly human-friendly. Winnipeg recently revamped its downtown John Hirsch Place, putting pedestrians first while also inviting bikes and cars to peacefully coexist.
Many of us needed to get smartphones before we recognized the value of meditation. Perhaps we also needed to have overloaded roadways before we craved an unfettered environment that welcomes a child playing with a ball. Hygge and woonerfs are signals that it is time to get back to what we were – and who we were – as people and as a community.
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