Cities are catalysts for encounters and opportunities, drawing in people in search of greater scale and diversity. Now, with social gatherings restricted, what becomes glaringly obvious is our interdependence and the importance of the spaces that sustain exchange and coexistence. Let me explain this through something simple, yet no less significant for this moment: most public spaces in Brazil—squares, parks, sidewalks—when they exist at all, are barren. In other words, they lack the infrastructure to support people lingering.
It is no coincidence that most of the country's public spaces lack street furniture. Street furniture is a catalyst for urban life. And spaces that discourage lingering—where people only pass through during a relentless, unstoppable day—require less effort and less funding from public administrations. Managing a city designed to welcome people is far more demanding than managing a city that people consume merely as a necessary transit corridor to address economic urgencies.
Upgrading public spaces involves several challenges, such as preparing them for safe, active mobility—making them accessible with wide sidewalks, proper paving, and dedicated spaces for pedestrians and bicycles; keeping them tree-lined to also serve as urban drainage infrastructure; and equipping them with spaces and support structures for rest, sports, and cultural or leisure activities. This last category includes street furniture: benches, tables, kiosks, drinking fountains, and bike racks, among others.
