Jongwan Kwan
Jongwan Kwan
The recent unmasking of curbsides’ banalities confronts urban dwellers’ routines, normative forms of practices, codes and classifications, and it discloses fundamental flaws of current city operation. The double entendre of the curbside — that is, a side of the road and a side of the sidewalk — yields to local businesses taking over curbsides, thus reshaping parts of the city more accessible and inclusive. This unexpected phenomenon motivates us to critically examine how the curbside was used, or not used, as inhabitable public space and an independent urban fabric over the past century. Although it would be easy to overlook the curbside reverting to a desolate place holding garbage collection points, fire hydrants, and inlets when the pandemic ends, it might be best to take the rare opportunity and allow the status quo to serve as potential paradigm shifts. As the phenomenon and our assimilation continue to unfold, I say, we need more curbside effects. O
on site review 38: borders, lines, breaks and breaches 47
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