This idea of creating places people truly want to spend time rather than simply designing spaces for one function is known as placemaking.
Now that we’ve a better understanding of what placemaking is and how it can be implemented, let’s take a look at a few examples.
Modeled after the countryside villages of post-war England, Serenbe is a holistic community whose philosophy is built on the notion that nature, wellness, and biophilia are key to successful placemaking.
The neighborhood is somewhat unique when it comes to placemaking, as most placemaking ventures are looking to improve upon existing public spaces, particularly those in urban or suburban areas. Serenbe, however, began in 2004 on unincorporated, largely undeveloped land on the outskirts of Atlanta.
Over the last 20 years Serenbe has expanded and now encompasses 2,000 acres (though it resides on 40,000 acres) and is mixed-use in every sense of the word, boasting everything from small organic farms and preserved woodland to homes, businesses, and social areas. The neighborhood prioritizes pedestrian infrastructure over vehicle-centric roadways and is incredibly walkable, boasting a highly connected sidewalk network as well as miles of walking trails.
Despite already being home to more than 1,000 residents and multiple businesses, Serenbe is less than 50% built out and far from complete. “We have created a place, and people are coming here,” Steve Nygren, CEO and founder of Serenbe, told gb&d in a previous interview. “That’s what placemaking means. We have people moving to Serenbe who never thought they’d live in the South. That’s because of the place we’ve created.”