Urban Design – Alleys

Where are you? N. Garland Ct. and Randolph.

What is Urban Design? Urban design is the arrangement, appearance and function of cities, towns, streets, buildings and the spaces between them that create the physical form of community. It blends architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning.

Look north and south and you’ll see a smaller street in between the buildings. Chicago has more alleys than any other North American city. They go back to very early urban planning. In addition to separating different kinds of vehicle traffic, they make the city more pleasantly clean by putting the trash there rather than at the sidewalk where you are walking. 

Where can you learn more? 

– “Big Ideas Behind the Little Chicago Alleys” (Chicago Detours) 

– Map of Chicago alleys (WBEZ)