Comments by "Helmuth Schultes" (@helmuthschultes9243) on "American Reacts to Why Australian Cities Don’t Have Town Squares" video.

  1. Well he has at least mentioned several Melbourne squares. The old city square between St Paul's Catheral and Melbourne Town hall which came about in the latter 1960s, as a block of smaller shops and a large theatre converted to large cinema were demolished it was used by quite a few city workers at lunch times and during nice weather, but was not a massive open space. Also a number of changes made over time removed much of the utility of the square, limiting seating, and being right beside one of the busiest roads through town did not help. Presently it is absent while the underground rail station is in construction, but later is expected to kind of return with station entry/exit within the area so will carry significant foot traffic too. The Federation square resulted after several tall rectangular office blocks were demolishdd and that fancy artistic block of shops and the open square opposite Flinders St Station and St Pauls Cathedral and adjacent to the Yarra river and its park land along the river resulted and therecare proposals of increasingbits size in one of several further developments. Of course on the far side of the Yarra is the very large park land including botanic gardens, streching for kilometer distance and also having the war memorial. In wet winter weather few people will sit in wind and rain in squares if warm cafes and other indoor spaces are available, in fine moderate weather not too windy, the squares can be nice, BUT on hot days sun burning down the paved squares getting super hot from sun, the paving hot enough to melt some shoe soles, does one really want to sit in these squares at over 40°C , not really. The climate of the European plazas/piazas/squares is far more moderate, while they get hot weather sometimes, the sun is far less intense. Melbourne is latitude more like Naples Italy, but summer probably better compared to Egypt, Libya Isreal, Arabia. Winter tends in Melbourne chill moist wind and rain driven in off southern ocean from way down Antartica. No snow but feels cold and while not often major downpour, still many drizzly dull days in winter months. However in fine weather and especially the warmer to hot summer, a greater number of people rather spend their time in one of many parks and gardens that are around the city area. North side has several parks, and eastvend near parliament house and location of Victorian government is a large tract of park, acroos the Yarra a huge park land/botanic gardens. A bit west is the huge parklands around Albert park lake, where the F1 GP race runs on public roads. Do people want to sit on benches a on titled , hard paved open areas with flocks of seagulls trying to get your food, or gather among trees flowers and grass with some ponds birds, ducks etc on paths with park benches relaxing. I and many others go to the green areas and parks not the hard paved squares, having purchased some lunch at one of many cafes , take away shops or bringing own lunch. We tend to go via these "squares to the park lands beyond time permitting. If you have time to go to any of the squares most parks are nearer and more convenient to reach. As farcas squares elsewhere, many communities have town halls with some square nearby or in most cases a green park area as part of city hall/offices. Again parks are preffered to squares to relax during work breaks. As fior places like Sydney, well they have much activity at docklands with large plaza spaces and restaurants/cafes and the area around the Opera house. In city area arecalso some op en park areas. Brisbane has public gathering areas along the Brisbane River. Adelaide as noted does have a significant square in the middle, but like elsewhere the large parkland areas around the central business area tend to be more desirable than a largely paved area surrounded by traffic and roads. PerthbI can not detail much but they too have good water front areas on the Swan River and parkland drawing more of the people than squares ever would. Darwin has much parkland and street side cafe/ restaurant space where people get together for leisurely evening but again not t he drive of one big square core rather relaxed enjoyment of nice evenings except the WET season, who wants to gathervin bucket down pour thunderstorm or sticky humid heat anyway outdoor, swatting big thirsty mosquitos. Just not the same conditions enjoyed by European cities. Maybe on reflection the common existence if squares in old established cities of Europe and USA may be more due the age and long past established city plans. Australia of course most cities as now existing are barely 100 plus years old, and most growth under 100 years. Totally different movement and location of people coming into city mainly as a work location than a living thriving resident population. Yes therecare ever more residential complexes in city areas, especially as business / shops departs the central area. Come end of work most people are off home into suburbia not clustered in mid city and thus not gathering for evening after work community social activity eating and drinking interacting with fellow people, which is one of the old city functions of the town square. Just totally different life style that leaves the old square as less required.
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