Parklets are extensions of the sidewalk that function as a public space of leisure and coexistence. Thus, while two parking spaces on the street are used by 40 people per day, a parklet, or living parking space, serves approximately 300 people during this period, as well as promoting greater social interaction among citizens, and the democratic use of the soil, not only for automobiles.
The small interventions of the parklets have a great scope in transformations of the space. They bring the essence of the city into a small place, which can serve for a break, a rest, find a friend, read a book, and especially, serve none of these and so many other things, that is the beauty of democratic use of a public space.
We believe that there are cities and regions where parklets are not so necessary, these areas do not need this urban element, because already have humanized streets with wide sidewalk, urban furniture and landscaping, and are marked by use as a place of permanence, not only circulation, as the general standard of the São Paulo’s streets.
The Oscar Freire Street has a symbolism of being maybe one of the most luxurious street of the city, marked by your stores destined to the upper class, and however, it does not break the paradigm that a street can also be a place of permanence to the pedestrians, that can enjoy a nice moment seating in a bench (with backrest!) without necessarily being bound to an act of consume.
In this specific case, the parklet has, beyond all the standard functions, a function of democratize the symbolic access to the street. Allows the access of people that, for example, that are not necessarily in the same social class, enable to experience the atmosphere of the street a little, approximate the distant ones, facilitates the contact with the other one.
When we design parklets, we look for not only specify the wood, and measure benches, we seek collaborate, as far as possible in our position, to influence small changes, give contact opportunities, of approximation with other people. At least this is what we believe.
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