In the continuing more community less architect series, we take a look at Veterans Field in Silver Spring, Maryland, aka ‘The Turf’, pictured above. The nearly acre-sized lot was covered with a temporary turf field in the three-year interim period before construction began on a new civic building, but since then it has become the most popular gathering spot in the city.

Alas, July 2008 was its last month of existence, but it’s another example of the kind of urban space that people are longing for, the same kinds of places that have served as the hearts of communities for centuries - an empty stage surrounded by vibrant restaurants, cafes, markets and shops. What people aren’t looking for are places over-designed by architects, hired by developers that don’t understand what creatives desire, assigning permanent places for people to sit, eat and walk rather than letting them choose for themselves, and not only that, but be allowed to do things that may not appeal to architects and developres, such as throw a frisbee, watch a live band or revel in a flash mob.

Read more in the Washington Post and the American Society of Landscape Architecture, sharing the remorse for losing the unassuming, under-designed, yet overwhelmingly celebrated Turf.

I think one of the reasons this has been so successful is because there isn’t a lot of green space in downtown Silver Spring, the square is right in the middle of the enertainment center of Silver Spring and is well enclosed by buildings with lively retail, and it’s large enough to do a lot of different activities while not being too large that in the middle you think you’re not near retail activity.  And it constantly gets visitors with all the people coming to shop there especially for carry out food like ice cream or hang out before or after going to the movies or dinner.  If the space was well designed but still left a large lawn area in the middle for the same activities I think it would have the same draw as the artificial turf.  Unfortunately most of these new plazas are built with lawns only large enough for a couple of groups or people to occupy it and too small to do activities that require some space.  For instance Rockville Town Center has a nice green with a similar location, but there’s only so much you can do in a lawn space as large as it is.