Swanson School of Engineering

After walking a block around my neighborhood in Florence, I was initially awestruck. The walk is just very pleasant, and the architecture is outstanding. I have to say, I am conflicted about the streets, and whether they are conducive to pedestrians. The streets are very narrow, windy, and bumpy, which makes it challenging for cars to speed or drive dangerously. This makes it safer for pedestrians. However, the sidewalks are very narrow, and cannot fit two people side by side. On top of that, there are cardboard boxes, parked bikes, and other objects sprawled across the sidewalks that make it hard for even one person to fit. Overall, I would say the streets are designed for people, however this is due to the building designs. All the buildings in my neighborhood have an extended roof that covers the sidewalk, so when it rains pedestrians are sheltered. I love this design in Florence, and I think this was the most well-planned detail. Another amazing aspect of Florence is the mixed-use buildings. Almost every apartment complex has storefronts on the ground floor. In addition to mixed-use, Florence utilizes adaptive re-use. All of the buildings are the same ones from hundreds of years ago, but their purposes have shifted or been renovated. My apartment has a very modern inside, but the outside and the actual complex are the same from hundreds of years ago. Overall, I love the Florence city plan!