Patterns of our footsteps: topophilia, rhythm, and diversity in urban landscapes

Abstract

Topophilia, or love of place, has been described as a desirable outcome of urban planning. The rhythms of movement within a city at different times and in diverse ways help to generate this sense of topophilia within urban spaces. Multi-rhythmic spaces are partly a product of deliberative design; spaces of overlapping rhythms create room for spontaneous connections that can build a sense of community and social capital. In contrast, spaces dominated by single rhythms are "dead spaces" a good deal of the time, such as monochronous hollowed out downtown cores or commuter corridors. Granville Island, Canada is given as an example of a designed space that facilitates both the movement of people in diverse ways at different times, and incorporates non-human rhythms as well.