Squares are open spaces within the urban fabric, defined by buildings or streets, that facilitate a variety of gatherings and social and cultural activities. Whether intentionally planned or remnants of the urban layout, squares are fundamental to the life and culture of the community, and they proved even more vital following the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we present nine small-scale squares that demonstrate the diverse uses and functions these spaces can assume in contemporary cities.
Connecting streets, architecture, and people, squares are simultaneously built form and void. Beyond their historical roots, contemporary squares blend public and private domains, conceal urban infrastructure, and integrate with buildings, thereby responding to modern urban challenges without losing their essence as vital hubs of activity within the urbanized landscape.
