Why Alleys Deserve Our Attention
Alleyways may be one of the most important and overlooked aspects to future city design. Seattle architect Daniel Toole was recently awarded a travel fellowship to study this arguably under-appreciated urban form found in Japan and Australia. Upon his return, Toole produced a self-published book, Tight Urbanism and his blogAlleys of Seattle, features entries from his travels as well as observances on efforts to preserve and revitalize alleys here in the U.S. and abroad.
The alleyway may become the new form of guerrilla urbanism that can revolutionize cities. Kansas City is home to many underutilized alleys that with just a little effort could radically change the city has a whole.