"We have the ability to create a platform for public life to unfold.”

Welcome to the Parkly Place Ideas Newsletter! Each month, we curate ideas, inspiration, and insights for those passionate about urban development, fostering more welcoming, social, and greener cities. We believe that inspiration propels individuals to reconsider the places, cities, or neighborhoods they engage with or reside in, while sharing knowledge empowers action.

"Landscape architecture has been a journey of continuous learning and progression. Now, we’re looking at city and regional scales, exploring how landscapes, public realms, and urban nature fit into the bigger picture."

Matt Grunbaum is an Associate Partner at Field Operations , the landscape architecture office which designed the High Line in New York, and has been practicing Urban Design and Landscape Architecture for over 20 years. Matt leads transformative work in London, Birmingham, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Formative projects include Camden Highline and Smithfield Birmingham.

Matt believes in the power of a quality public realm to transform the health of our cities. His work is inspired by the fusion of place, ecology and the human experience - as well as tapping into the unique features of each site and city: “I think the critical thing, and the beautiful thing, about our work and the industry is that everywhere is very different, the approach and the design should be too.” 

Matt emphasizes the transition toward climate-resilient cities through the principles of landscape architecture: “As cities face challenges from climate change, we look to natural systems to act as infrastructure, handling water surges and other climate-related issues. Increasingly, we’re finding that nature-based solutions can often address problems that were once solved purely by engineering. Furthermore, they can become great public spaces, it’s a three for one for cities.”

Read the interview here - and share with others!

Matt Grunbaum was one of the keynote speakers in Utopian Hours / Stratosferica city making festival 2024 in Torino where this interview was conducted.

Take Your Work Outdoors: A Handbook for Social and Green Spaces to Build More Connected Cities is Out Now!

Outdoor work and appealing workspaces can foster creativity, social interactions, and well-being, enriching a city’s network of public spaces and contribute to its liveliness.

Together with Ioana Biris , founder of Nature Desks and Outdoor Office Day and Päivi Raivio & Daniel Bumann , co-founders of Parkly, created a co-creation session around this topic for the latest edition of Placemaking Week Europe in Rotterdam by Placemaking Europe and Rotterdam. Make It Happen. The session focused on collaboratively designing green and sociable outdoor work areas and raising awareness about their importance.

Following the workshop, we compiled an inspiring handbook filled with practical tips, design strategies, and compelling arguments for creating inviting spaces that encourage outdoor work. Read, share and tell us what you think!

Damiano Cerrone joins Parkly

We are happy to announce that Damiano Cerrone , an urbanist known for his work in urban studies and governance innovation, has joined Parkly as Service and Strategy Developer. His expertise in urban regeneration practices and participatory planning will be instrumental in advancing our mission to turn empty space into vibrant public space.

“The future of our streets isn’t in their lanes but in their edges. Humble curbs and marginal spaces have long been underestimated—it’s time to flip the narrative and transform these underperforming patches into vibrant, people- and nature-centered places. These interventions are needed today to fulfill the promises of healthier living environments, redefining how we value space and who we design it for.”

At Parkly, we’re dedicated to creating new processes and design solutions that systematically transform underused and underperforming urban spaces into areas that generate shared value for residents, businesses, and the environment. Damiano’s expertise will accelerate our efforts to help cities and urban stakeholders reshape urban landscapes sustainably.

Green and Colourful Wayfinding Through Lambeth

We’re thrilled that our very first project in one of our favorite cities has come to life! The wayfinding route, comprising modular installations at seven locations in Lambeth, in London, is designed to capture pedestrian attention and provide clear markers along the path. The greenery enhances the streetscape, while We Are Waterloo’s brand colors are prominently displayed. Together, the modules create a welcoming sense of arrival and guide visitors seamlessly along the route to the local museum.

“Parkly’s modular street furniture, including planters and wayfinding elements, has transformed Lambeth North in Waterloo, delivering an innovative blend of aesthetics and functionality. The intuitive wayfinding signage enhances navigation which is tailored to the urban area, and creates a more pedestrian-friendly environment for both residents and visitors.“ says WeAreWaterloo Business Improvement District (BID) Head of Public Realm, Alex Butt

P.S. We’re receiving an increasing number of inquiries from clients in the UK. While we enjoy working directly with clients and collaborators, we’re now seeking a distributor in the UK. If you know of suitable partners in the field of urban furniture for creating more livable cities, we’d love to hear from you!

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With warm thanks,

Team Parkly