William Ti: ‘We need space to live’
In the days and months to come, we will be faced with the reality that our cities lack outdoor public spaces. We need more open parks and pedestrian spaces, which allow us to live life as freely as possible in a much healthier environment.
Pedestrian mobility and much wider paths must be given priority. Streets should undergo pedestrianization. Living a short walk away from work must be encouraged.
We need space to live. It’s not about putting up barriers but creating enough space to accommodate people. We should not subscribe to segregation and territoriality, but encourage openness and spread out utilization of public space.
We now appreciate the importance of a bigger and healthier home. Consumerism should be redirected to providing homes with more space and better facilities. Balconies and verandas, roof decks, and open amenities should be encouraged and mandated, as opposed to ever more parking spaces.
Metro Manila has one of the highest densities in the world. We must build up enough space to accommodate this density, instead of squeezing everyone together into ever tighter spaces. We can’t continue to build homes that are barely bigger than the parking spaces that come with it. As our families and children begin to spend more time at home together, we must have homes in which we can grow together.
One of the projects ideal for a post-Covid world is similar to The Riverlane, a project we proposed to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). It is a pedestrian link between the Lawton Ferry Terminal and Quinta Market. More than connecting the commercial area of Quiapo to the cultural area of Ermita, we created a bridge that will provide recreational opportunities, such as walking and biking for the community.
The Riverlane will also transform the pedestrian bridge into a lively urban park by attracting visitors to participate in programs and activities amid a green surrounding.