101

Building Thoroughfare

Opening context:
Pedestrian Street, Circulation Realms, Building Complex

Conflict

When a public building complex cannot be completely served by outdoor pedestrian streets, a new form of indoor street, quite different from the conventional corridor is needed.

Resolution

Wherever density or climate force the main lines of circulation indoors, build them as building thoroughfares. Place each thoroughfare in a position where it functions as a shortcut, as continuous as possible with the public street outside, with wide open entrances. And line its edges with windows, place to side, counters, and entrances which project out into the hall and expose the buildings’ main functions to the public. Make it wider than a normal corridor — at least 11 feet wide and more usually, 15 to 20 feet wide; give it a high ceiling, at least 15 feet, with a glazed roof if possible and low places along the edge. If the street is several stories high, then that walkways along the edges, one the different stories, can be used to form the low places.