Ebb and Flow
Flexibility was an important ambition of The Plaza design, but it had to be delivered without any sacrifice of character, experience, or durability of construction. This was not an easy task for a space that sits over a traffic tunnel and functions as the crossroads for thousands of people every day. The landscape architect kept most of the plaza open for easy passage but modulated the density of seating areas to establish zones of calm and occupancy.
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Thoughtful Placement
With virtually no depth between the plaza and the roof deck of the Cambridge Street tunnel, planting wasn’t possible. Instead the benches make their own “grove” for activity. Oriented with the main flow of traffic, the long bench faces continuously invite people to stop for a moment, but also create clearly defined edges between motion and repose.
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Seating as Sculpture
As the main landscape element in the space, the custom benches are engaging whether empty or occupied. The slabs of fine-grained Alaskan yellow cedar, surprisingly oriented vertically, are sculptural and enigmatic. At certain times, the shadows between the bench slabs deepen their texture. Sleek movable chairs and tables complement the stationary benches.
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Get Comfortable
The landscape architect imagined the benches as pieces of furniture, each one different to accommodate an endless array of bodily positions and moods. Within the same space and moment, some visitors sit upright while others drape themselves over the bench and, remarkably, these varied users comfortably coexist.
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Diverse Programming
At two acres, The Plaza is large enough for multi-scaled events such as art exhibits, performances, seasonal skating, movies, rallies, and the farmer’s market pictured above. The University is committed to frequent and diverse programming in The Plaza so both the academic and public communities come to identify it as a place of activity and interest.
Image: STOSS Landscape Urbanism
Borrowed View
The ancient Asian design technique of “borrowing” the landscape beyond is effectively employed here. The openness needed at the core of the Plaza is balanced with shady edges that come from mature trees in the adjacent Harvard Yard. Benches and chairs are positioned there for shade but also to offer places to be out of the public eye.
Image: STOSS Landscape Urbanism
Design Contrast
In an intentional contrast to the dappled, brick-dressed shade of nearby Harvard Yard, The Plaza’s custom-shaped pavers lend brightness to the plaza and reduce the urban heat island effect. From afar, the pavement appears to be a contiguous field but up close it has a distinct pattern. Sustainable design practices extend to the paving aggregate, which is porcelain aggregate derived from a waste product of toilet manufacturing.
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Mood Lighting
The plaza’s mood changes as night falls and a different pace takes over. The Plaza is an ideal place to catch an urban sunset because its open east-west views create the sense of floating over Cambridge Street.
Image: Charles Mayer.jpg)
Lit from Below
Tall pole lights were difficult technically to put over the shallow tunnel deck. Instead, the benches are lit from below, creating a soft glow that at once beckons from afar while creating an intimate pool of light for anyone on or near them.
Image: STOSS Landscape Urbanism