I miss there being a greater sense of place in cities.

Too often, I walk from one neighborhood to another only being able to distinguish the first from the second by the name of the streets. The streets themselves efficiently laid out in a grid pattern ensuring easy navigation and transport, but at the cost of any and all personality, character, and indeed individual characteristics. Trapped in a maze of nothing, or worse, the streets being bulldozed to make way for a highway through downtown.

But sometimes, you find an area different from the rest. An area that stands out from the rest.

There are of course the big landmarks that people travel to see easily identified by the swarms of tourists that surround them, and the curious lack of locals, but that is not what I am talking about.

Rather, I mean the small things. A network of streets that curve and curl in on each other. A detail that makes an area stand out from the rows of concrete. A square with people, locals, not just passing through but taking the time to stay for a while.

What characterizes these details is that they stand out from the background and defines an area, and often tells something about the city and its history making it distinct from other cities. The curved streets found in many old-towns tell the story of how the city developed before efficient city grid planning. The square tells the story about the city has evolved over time to facilitate connection, and the public library tells the story about what the community values.

These small details also serve as a good proxy for if the city is designed for people as opposed to cars. You need slow down to notice and appreciate the details. This is only possible if you're operating at a human scale - if there are walkable safe streets without the stress of having to dodge cars. Some details also invite you to spend some time in the area taking it all in which is significantly more appealing when the area is inviting and comfortable to be in for humans.

They contribute so much to the charm and character of the place, and makes my day a little brighter.

There are a lot of things that city administrators can do to make areas and the city as a whole stand out more some of which are very expensive, but many of which are cheap. I'm trying to collect these details and areas that stand out and give a sense of place and share them.