1 dog, 18 people, 26 trees, 1 water fountain, 7 trash cans


1 gos, 18 persones, 26 arbres, 1 font d’aigua, 7 papereres

Currently, in the city of Barcelona, there are a total of 180,000 dogs registered with microchips, which is less than the population of children under 12 years old. This translates to 25% of the city’s population living with a dog. Incredible, isn’t it?

Studies show that young adults under 40 years old, Millennials, have recently surpassed Boomers in dog adoption. In the United States, it is estimated that more than half of Millennials live with a dog. The rate of cohabitation with companion animals is even higher among people with university education and stable incomes, the same people who are more likely to delay marriage, having children, and home ownership beyond the established timelines of previous generations. But it’s not just that. Dogs can be much more: a way to root oneself in a new place, a roommate for people living alone, and they can play a more important role in helping people’s mental health.

Taking care of a dog is one of those life-changing experiences. Or at least, it makes you see and live situations that you would have never experienced otherwise. Personally, it has increased my awareness of the micro-landscape of my neighborhood and how dogs interact with public spaces, and how I – as a dog companion – interact with public spaces.

A typical day with my dog would be:

  • 8:25 Getting Rock ready for a walk.
  • 8:28 Having a conversation with neighbors in the elevator about how excited Rock is to go out.
  • 8:30 We’re already out walking with Rock, sniffing all the trees along our route (26 trees, 1 water fountain, 7 trash cans).
  • 8:50 Buying bread from the bakery. Chatting with other dog owners in the neighborhood.
  • 8:55 On our way back home, stopping so that the kids waiting to enter school can greet Rock.
  • 9:00 Entering the house.
  • 18:55 Getting Rock ready for another walk.
  • 19:00 Walking with Rock in Montjuïc and chatting with other dog owners (93 trees, 4 water fountains, 41 trash cans, 1 shared-use area, 1 water space).
  • 20:00 Returning home. Talking to neighbors returning from work who greet Rock.

The interaction and connection with my neighbors and the environment where I live are understood in a different way. It’s no longer just about having a beautiful and pleasant landscape with seating areas, but also about having waste bins, trash cans, and water fountains. And since I walk in the evening, it’s important for the space to be well-lit and for me to feel safe. It’s another way of perceiving the urban space and the role of a dog in this ecosystem.

Let me quickly explain the four significant things my dog has taught me about my neighborhood and its people:

 

The dog as a triangulator

Although the topic of dogs can be quite contentious among people who feel comfortable with them and those who don’t, I increasingly see dogs as great triangulators in public spaces.

But first, what does triangulation mean? 

Triangulation can be defined as “the characteristic of a public space that can bring together strangers. Usually, it is an external stimulus of some kind.”

A bus stop can be an element of triangulation. A person playing music on the street can be too. It’s any element that makes two unknown people pause for a second and talk. That being said, a dog is a great triangulator.

While walking my dog, I have met and interacted with more neighbors in my neighborhood than in the past five years I have lived there. The dog makes people lower their guard, slows down their pace, and encourages greetings, conversations, and smiles. The last time I experienced this kind of “unforced” interaction, naturally, was when I bought a bouquet of flowers. Just as the bouquet of flowers made my neighbors talk to me about the flowers, smile, or greet me, the same thing is happening now with my dog.

 

Dog recreation areas as spaces for socialization

When you walk a dog, you automatically become part of an informal club of “people who care for a dog.” If you don’t have a dog, it’s not as easy to enter this group since the conversation typically revolves around your dog, other dogs, and the weather.

Dog recreation areas, then, are the spaces where these strangers meet and talk. Dog caregivers need these spaces—a safe environment where their dogs can exercise regularly and safely because dogs enjoy walking, running, and socializing with other dogs. It is a vital part of a dog’s life when living in an apartment in Barcelona.

What many associations working to improve the quality of life for dogs, their caregivers, and other citizens, especially in urban environments, are requesting is a reconsideration of the model for dog recreation areas. They aim to move towards a less segregated model, taking into account that dog-owning families may also have children who want to play at the same time. That’s why it is necessary to move towards a model that accommodates different groups in shared-use spaces that adapt to the daily needs of each family.

Moreover, not all dogs feel comfortable in these areas. Speaking with a dog trainer, she mentioned that dog recreation areas are suitable for dogs up to 4-5 years old and typically attract a large number of dogs. Older dogs can feel anxious in these environments, much like how we would feel if we were sent to relax inside a ball pit in a children’s playground. So where do these dogs that don’t enjoy dog recreation areas go?

It’s important to explore alternative options that cater to the diverse needs of dogs, including quieter spaces or alternative socialization opportunities, to ensure the well-being of all dogs in urban settings.

 

Dog Routes

Each neighborhood has an invisible and informal network of dog routes designed for walking dogs, which helps people get out of the house and engage in daily exercise, promoting their mental and physical health. These routes are typically circular, within a 20-minute distance from home, and are chosen for their specific characteristics. A good dog route is pleasant and includes a water fountain, many trash bins, permeable spaces and/or green areas, good lighting at night, wide sidewalks, good visibility, and “dog-friendly” local businesses. Dog routes may vary between winter and summer, as people seek the sun during summer and shade during winter. Canine routes are fully integrated into the 15-minute city model, adding the layer of carrying out daily tasks accompanied by a dog.

The 15-minute city model aims to create more livable, sustainable, and resilient cities, ensuring that people have access to essential services and amenities within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their homes. Dogs can play a vital role in supporting this model as they encourage people to walk more and spend more time outdoors, promoting a healthier and more active lifestyle.

People who walk their dogs often take their animals out multiple times a day, providing them with the opportunity to explore their local neighborhoods, interact with other people and dogs, and discover new parks and green spaces. As a result, dogs can help people discover and connect with their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and improving social cohesion.

Furthermore, dogs can help increase the visibility and use of public spaces within the 15-minute city model, such as dog-friendly parks and cafes. This, in turn, can promote economic development and contribute to the vitality and public life of the city.

Dogs can also be a tool to promote sustainable transportation, such as walking and cycling, which can help reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and carbon emissions. This can contribute to a more sustainable and resilient city that is better equipped to address the challenges of climate change.

Overall, dogs can play a crucial role in supporting the 15-minute city model by fostering active lifestyles, reinforcing social connections, increasing the use of public spaces, and promoting sustainable transportation through dog routes.

But what should these spaces be like to ensure quality and improve coexistence?

 

Design, Maintenance, and Community Involvement

Dog routes, dog parks, and shared-use areas (SUA) must meet certain basic criteria.

Regarding the daily dog routes, they should be safe, accessible, with plenty of trees and permeable surfaces, and equipped with public amenities to ensure the well-being of dogs, the people who walk them, and the community as a whole. In terms of design criteria for daily routes, they should include:

  • Benches and/or permeable surfaces (not rubberized)
  • Accessible water sources for dogs of all heights
  • Trash bins and bag dispensers
  • Good nighttime lighting
  • Wide sidewalks for walking the dog and stopping to socialize
  • Minimal car traffic speed
  • Good visibility
  • Ground-floor facades with activity and “dog-friendly” businesses such as bakeries, fruit shops, etc.

Words of:

Konstantina Chrysostomou

Publication date:

19/05/2023

Originally written in:

catalan

Tags:

Everyday life / Public space

As for dog parks and shared-use areas (SUA), location is crucial, taking into account accessibility and the natural landscape. The space doesn’t have to be a perfect rectangle. The park design can be a great opportunity to involve users and the local community from the beginning, reflecting on the transformation of a previously underutilized or abandoned area into a wonderful space for socialization and play.

A design process like this can anticipate future coexistence issues by inviting the local community and the administration to reflect on the management and maintenance of the space and the routes leading to this area.

Regarding the dog area, it should have:

  • Good drainage to avoid muddy situations
  • Water source to keep the dogs refreshed
  • Shade to create a pleasant space for people and prevent overheating during summer
  • Access for people with reduced mobility
  • High fencing around to prevent dogs from jumping over
  • Benches around trees for people to stay longer and relax. The benches should be far from the entrances and exits so that dogs do not concentrate in that area, intimidating other dogs trying to enter.
  • Signage indicating the rules for using the space at the entrance and exit
  • Double-gated entrance to have space to unleash the dog before entering the area. The gates should follow accessibility criteria for people with reduced mobility.
  • Waste stations and trash bins placed in different areas of the space to keep it clean.
  • Lighting to increase the perception of safety and visibility in the space, extending its use, especially during autumn and winter.
  • Safe plants for dogs. For example, trees are an essential part of dog space design. They provide shade, which dogs and people need to avoid overheating. It is also essential to choose plants that are safe for animals. Sago palms are the most common plant that is harmful to dogs. The symptoms that dogs can experience from consuming sago palms can cause liver damage and even death. Tulips, aloe, and daisies are also among the most harmful plants for dogs.
  • Surfacing materials other than natural grass, as it is not a sustainable option in a Mediterranean city and can become a damp and muddy space when it rains.
  • Buffer zone between dog areas and nearby buildings to reduce noise impact.

When it comes to furniture, it’s important to observe the behavior of dogs outdoors and try to incorporate elements that help them socialize and exercise. For example:

  • Jumps of various sizes to help dogs with strength and coordination.
  • Platforms at different heights to encourage coordination and concentration.
  • Tunnels to familiarize them with navigation.
  • Bridges to help them develop control, patience, and concentration.

Regarding maintenance criteria, it’s important to consider that while dogs can be messy, they are not the sole factor that can degrade a space. Exposure to elements such as rain, sun, and vandalism throughout the year can damage the space and furniture. For this reason, it’s important to use durable materials and outdoor furniture so that the community can enjoy it for many years.

The municipality can take responsibility for the annual maintenance of the space. However, it’s a good opportunity for the local community to participate in cleaning activities throughout the year to promote civic education and foster a sense of ownership of the space. Group activities such as gatherings, workshops, courses, seminars, and group walks can be organized in this space to facilitate coexistence and raise public awareness.

Finally, it’s important for the local community, together with the municipality, to develop a participatory regulation for the use of the space, including rules that can be applied to both dog areas and nearby routes.

 

The feeling of responsibility: caring for your dog and your community.

Lastly, having a dog in a city can bring numerous benefits both to the dog’s family and to the community as a whole. Firstly, dogs can offer companionship, emotional support, and a sense of responsibility to their families, which can have a positive impact on their mental health and overall well-being.

Moreover, taking a dog for a walk in a public space can promote physical activity and help reduce stress and anxiety. Dogs have an incredible way of bringing people together, helping to foster a sense of community among those who share the same neighborhood.

In terms of safety, considering that dog walks are often done during times when most people are already at home, it can serve as a deterrent to crime and provide a sense of security, especially in areas that might otherwise be perceived as dangerous or unsafe.

Dogs can also serve as ambassadors for responsible pet ownership, as their behavior and actions can help promote positive attitudes towards dogs and their families. This can lead to increased awareness and respect for dogs in public spaces, ultimately fostering better relationships between dogs and the community. Overall, having dogs in public spaces can bring many benefits to the community and dog families, making it a positive addition to urban life.

 

* References

Com el coll infinit

Com el coll infinit

Avance arrossegant els peus, que carreguen el dia sencer, però es desenganxen de la vorera i em vaig elevant pel carrer mig buit. Per damunt de paperots i burilles, dels cotxes aparcats en filera. Per damunt de l’aparador de la botiga de marcs i motllures a punt de tancar, del dring dels gots al Sabadelle, acabat d’obrir, i del senyal lluminós de l’hostal Mar de Plata, que mai no s’apaga.

Tres, quatre, cinc metres. Seguisc surant amunt entre edificis. Ja estic a l’alçada de les finestres del segon pis. Passe tan a prop que podria parlar amb els habitants de l’immoble. Escoltar el telenotícies amb l’home de la samarreta de tirants estovat al sofà. Tastar la sopa que ja fa estona que bombolleja, al costat de la taula de cuina del pis d’estudiants. Acariciar les tovalloles esponjoses que Pepa despenja eixutes dels cordills de la galeria.

Set, vuit,  nou metres. Surar em fa sentir lliure. Desapareixen les línies dels adoquins, es desdibuixen les copes dels arbres i les tasques del calendari. Una munió de llumetes desenfocades sembren el paisatge urbà, com si Seurat estigués pintant la poqueta nit del segle XXI: les tireres de fanals groguencs que serpentegen els carrers, els ulls blancs dels cotxes que vénen, i els rojos dels que van, la coreografia en bucle dels cicles semafòrics.

Per mi, és el camí màgic a casa. No totes pensen que ho és de màgic, potser no són conscients del privilegi de travessar la ciutat en vol rasant. Però cap de les persones que suren al meu voltant té pressa. Això és. Això tenim en comú. N’hi ha que passegen de la mà, i d’altres que sostenen una corretja. N’hi ha que pausen el cap amb l’horitzó i n’hi ha que suen l’estrés de la feina a tota virolla. Gossos que s’empaiten. Autofotos temeràries. La xica de les vuit. Però cap tenim pressa.

És un camí flotant que envolta el barri a deu metres d’alçada. Com les anelles de fum de cigarreta que es fan exhalant. O els cinturons d’asteroides de Saturn. Comparable al High Line de Nova York, però sense gentrificar. Sense restriccions horàries ni pol·lució. Amb el pòsit de segles d’històries a sobre. No és cap jardí, però sobrevola el bosc sagrat, i s’hi pot passejar sense detindre’s, perquè al ser un rogle no té principi ni final. 

La xica de les vuit s’abriga sempre amb colls infinits teixits a crochet, i amb barrets de llana. Amb borla. Els hi fa sa mare. Avui els duu blancs, però de colls i barrets en té de molts colors. I sempre combinen, com si eixiren d’una mateixa paleta de tardor, de terra mullada i fulles caigudes. Sempre ens creuem a aquestes hores, però la foscor només ens deixa descobrir-nos quan som molt a prop, amb el temps just de mirar-se de reüll i esbossar un somriure. Perquè per saber si algú et mira als ulls tu l’has de mirar alhora també. O per saber si es gira a veure com t’allunyes. 

Jo no ho sé si es gira quan m’allunye, però continue endavant, pel camí màgic a casa, perquè sé que en pocs minuts ens tornarem a creuar sobrevolant el barri. Fins que de tants instants en fem una estona.

* Referències 

Text inspirat en la vida quotidiana de la muralla de Lugo com a espai públic singular i extraordinari.

Image: Dibuix de Juan Creus Andrade per a la publicació “Recinto. Lugo: historia y ciudad”, 2014.

Words of:

Arnau Boix i Pla

Publication date:

26/09/2021

Originally written in:

catalan

Tags:

Everyday life / Public space

Public space is not neutral

Public space is not neutral

Public space is not neutral. 

Public space is not neutral. 

Public space is not neutral. 

Beirut, Mostar, Nicosia, Jerusalem, Belfast

In each city of these, urban managers under-estimated growing interethnic tensions  until it was so late that violence spread and resulted in physical segregation. Though the walls, fences, and no man’s lands that resulted were generally designed to be temporary, they have considerable staying powers, forcing divided residents to grapple with life “under siege”, confronting their terrors at home without the means of retreat or escape. Even after politicians have secured a peace, the citizens struggle with losses and missed opportunities that are beyond compensation. Along the path to urban partition, a social contract between municipal government and residents is broken. The costs of renegotiations are high. 

Partitioned cities act as a warning beacon for all cities where intercommunal rivalry threatens normal urban functioning and security. Every city contains ethnic fault-lines or boundaries that give shape to “good” and “bad” neighbourhoods and lend local meaning to “the other side of the tracks”. 

These five cities are linked by similar episodes of development in similar sequences and patterns. The events that pushed Belfast, Beirut, Jerusalem, Mostar and Nicosia up to beyond the threshold of ethnic apartheid have much in common. Not all phases are found in each city, but they can be considerable reliable indicators of a propensity towards physical segregation for ethnically diverse societies under stress while undergoing a major social transition:

  1. Politicizing ethnicity – merging of political and ethnic identity on a mass scale
  2. Clustering – if pressures multiply, the members of a threatened urban community may seek out smaller, more ethnically homogenous clusters for protection. 
  3. Political up-scaling – Divided cities function in part as emblems of larger political struggles in which individual enclave residents are enlisted to fight battles not directly serving their personal interests. 
  4. Boundary etching – once threatened ethnic communities have retreated into homogenous clusters, and the urban terrain has been converted into political territory, it remains for the battle lines to be formally drawn. 
  5. Concretizing – The transformation of these inscribed boundaries, from permeable into impermeable thresholds separating neighbouring reside groups, is a process that relies on purposeful design and execution. Generally, they intended to be temporary in anticipation of diplomatic interventions, however they remained in place for decades. 
  6. Consolidating – Once ethnic boundaries have been etched and concretizing in the urban environment, the political climate determines whether municipal authorities will augment or counteract the process of division. 
  7. Unifying but not integrating – Due to burdensome inefficiencies of physical segregation in an environment engineered for cooperation, urban partitions are rarely sustainable. Though physical barriers are easily demolished, the social and physical scars that remain are slow to fade. The psychological residue from long periods of violence and intimidation generally prevents residents who live through the period of partition from occupying formerly forbidden areas. 

The typical divided city remains divided as long as  the insecurities that led to intergroup violence remain. Though physical partitions generate new problems and intensify interethnic rivalries in their own right, their removal is necessary but not sufficient condition for the creation of more favourable and equitable conditions in the urban framework.

.

* References 

  • J. Calame, E. Charlesworth, (2009) Divided cities, University of Pennsylvania Press
  • A. Oz, (1994) Israel, Palestine and Peace: Essays on a Paradoxical Situation
  • CCCB (2005) Breaking the wall: the social responsability of Palestinian and Israeli Academics and Intellectuals at Times of Violent conflict: An introspective Search
  • K. Chrysostomou (2013) Διακοινοτικές σχέσεις σε διαιρεμένες πόλεις: Η περίπτωση της Λευκωσίας (Relacions intercomunitàries en ciutats dividides: el cas de Nicòsia)

  • K. Chrysostomou (2016), Negotiating Cultural Identities in Post Conflict Spaces: The memorial landscapes of Nicosia

  • Photos: Konstantina Chrysostomou, No man’s land in Cyprus

Words of:

Konstantina Chrysostomou

Publication date:

12/05/2021

Originally written in:

English

Tags:

Everyday life / Public space

Corona street

Corona street

El carrer Corona s’ha fet estret. Ara, des de l’entradeta de casa, al número 21, sentim els pardalets a qualsevol hora del dia, veiem les veïnes trastejar a les finestres, i dóna un sol espectacular. Que segur que abans també donava, però no sabiem el seu horari de visita.

Estos dies l’hem arreglada, l’entradeta. Hem posat els nostres noms cal·ligrafiats a la bústia. Hem instal·lat una lleixa de castanyer, pulida i envernissada. És xicoteta, no fa ni dos pams de llarg, i està feta amb la fusta d’una antiga artesa de salar de vés a saber on. A la lleixa es recolza un test amb una heura ressuscitada, i hi penja un fanalet de vidre bufat, sostingut amb una xarxa de corda teixida amb molt d’ofici.

Eixim a l’entradeta a fer el cafè. Alhora, la veïna d’unes portes més enllà, la número 15, agrana primer i arruixa després la vorera de davant de sa casa, com per fer net després que tothom hagués marxat al tall a guanyar-se les garrofes. En realitat ningú no ha marxat de casa.

Com que el carrer s’ha encollit i estem més a prop, la conversa es fila més ràpid, i en un moment Adela ens està contant a nosaltres i a Miquel (asomat a la finestra del primer pis del 14), que quan ella era fadrina, el carrer també era així, petitó. I els veïns i veïnes el tancaven als cotxes per sopar juntes o per eixir a la fresca els vespres de bon oratge.

Miquel somriu, i atropella el relat amb el seu propi, de tantes ganes d’explicar els records que la història d’Adela li ha despertat. Al seu poble també tancaven el carrer Corona cada diumenge. Disputaven partides de pilota a mà. Jugaven a llargues, lo menos, quatre o cinc joves per banda. Mig barri s’hi acostava a veure la partida que, quan era senyalada, omplia l’aforament: voreres, finestres i balcons atapeïts d’ulls que seguien els tantos d’extrem a extrem del carrer. Quin gust vore’l tan plenet de gent! Que aplaudia i cridava. Que reia o feia carasses, segons el joc.

Nosaltres els comentàvem que quina sort que el carrer Corona s’haja tornat a fer estret. Que no cal ni tallar-lo als cotxes per xerrar una estona qualsevol. Que la lleixa i el fanalet vénen del nord, i que quina acció de cura tan bonica i tan poc reconeguda és netejar una part de la vorera de totes. Que també tenim arrels al sud, i que ens encantaria organitzar aquí mateix una partida de llargues en quant les circumstàncies ho permeten.

 

* Referències

Text inspirat en els estudis de Donald Appleyard sobre l’impacte del trànsit de vehicles en la vida veïnal:

Imatge: Reproducció digital del diagrama de les connexions socials al carrer (Appleyard, 1969).  Les línies representen conexions socials, i els punts identifiquen els llocs de trobada de la gent.

Words of:

Arnau Boix i Pla

Publication date:

26/04/2020

Originally written in:

catalan

Tags:

Everyday life / Sustainable mobility / Public space