Urban Design Vocabulary

noun a bowling alley or skittle alley

• The narrow alley was lined with old brick buildings.
• Let's take a shortcut through the alley.
• I heard there's a cool speakeasy hidden in that alley.
• He felt like he was stuck in a dark alley with no way out.

noun a small, overhanging turret or balcony supported by corbels, typically at a corner of a building

• The castle had a bartizan on each corner, providing a lookout point for guards.
• I had never heard of a bartizan before visiting the old fortress.
• Check out the cool bartizan at the top of that tower!
• Her sharp wit was like a bartizan, always ready to defend against any verbal attack.

noun a naturally rounded stone used for paving streets or paths

• The historic town square was paved with smooth cobblestones.
• I tripped over a loose cobblestone on the sidewalk.
• Let's meet at the corner by the cobblestone street.
• Navigating the complexities of the legal system felt like walking on a cobblestone path.

noun the place where something emerges or flows out

verb to emerge or flow out from a narrow or confined space

• The river debouches into the ocean, creating a beautiful estuary.
• The trail debouches right into the park, so we don't have to walk far.
• The party debouched into chaos once the music got louder.
• His emotions debouched uncontrollably after hearing the news.

noun a large shopping center with various stores and businesses

• The mall is a popular destination for shoppers looking for a variety of stores in one location.
• Let's meet at the mall to hang out and do some shopping.
• I'm going to hit up the mall to see if there are any good deals.
• The mall of life is full of different experiences and opportunities for growth.

noun a person walking on a road or in a developed area

adjective relating to or designed for walking; lacking inspiration or excitement; dull

• The pedestrian crossed the street at the designated crosswalk.
• Watch out for pedestrians when driving through town.
• That driver almost hit a pedestrian, they need to pay more attention.
• In the world of business, he was just a pedestrian trying to keep up with the big players.

noun a piece of land used for recreational play, especially by children

• The school board approved funding for a new playground on the school grounds.
• Let's meet at the playground after school for a game of basketball.
• The playground is the perfect spot to hang out and chill with friends.
• For the children, the playground represents a place of joy and freedom.

noun a public square or similar open area in a town or city, often surrounded by buildings or shops

• The new shopping plaza is set to open next month.
• Let's meet at the plaza for lunch.
• I heard there's a cool hangout spot at the plaza.
• The plaza of knowledge is where we gather to exchange ideas.

noun a leisurely walk or stroll, especially one taken in a public place for pleasure or display

verb to take a leisurely walk or stroll, especially in a public place

• The elegant promenade along the waterfront is a popular spot for evening strolls.
• Let's take a leisurely walk along the promenade and enjoy the view.
• I heard there's a cool new promenade opening up downtown, wanna check it out?
• As she walked down the promenade of memories, she couldn't help but smile at all the happy moments.

noun a temporary withdrawal or cessation from the usual work or activity

verb to take a recess or break

• The students were instructed to go outside for recess after finishing their lunch.
• Let's go play on the swings during recess!
• I heard there's a cool spot behind the gym where we can hang out during recess.
• Taking a short recess from work can help clear your mind and improve productivity.

adjective pleasing or attractive to the eye; visually appealing

• The architecture of the building was quite sightly, with intricate details and elegant design.
• That new park is sightly, perfect for a picnic or a leisurely stroll.
• Her outfit was totally sightly, she really knows how to put together a stylish look.
• The sightly sunset painted the sky with a beautiful array of colors, creating a breathtaking scene.

noun the state of being adjacent or next to something else

adjective relating to or being adjacent

• The adjacency of the two buildings allows for easy access between them.
• I love the adjacency of my house to the park, it's so convenient.
• The adjacency of the two clubs makes bar hopping a breeze.
• The adjacency of their ideas led to a fruitful collaboration.

noun a type of urban design that aims to prevent people from lingering or resting in public spaces

adjective referring to the design or implementation of hostile architecture

• The city council implemented hostile architecture to prevent homeless individuals from sleeping on public benches.
• They put in those weird benches with armrests to keep people from lying down, it's like they're using hostile architecture.
• The new park design is so anti-homeless, they're really going all out with the hostile architecture.
• The spikes on the windowsills were like a form of hostile architecture, keeping any unwanted visitors away.

noun the quality or characteristic of being easily walkable or conducive to walking

• The city planners are focusing on improving the walkability of the downtown area.
• I love living in a neighborhood with great walkability - I can walk to all my favorite spots!
• This neighborhood has such good walkability, you can easily stroll to all the cool places.
• In terms of career advancement, having strong connections in the industry can greatly increase your walkability in the job market.

noun A structure, typically a horizontal bar, that is used to support or brace something, such as a window or a cornice.

• The abat-sons were installed in the conference room to reduce the echo.
• We put up some abat-sons in the living room to make it less noisy.
• Let's hang up those abat-sons to muffle the sound.
• She used her wit as an abat-sons to silence her critics.