POPOS
read in Turkish
Transformation of modern cities
Having made both Istanbul and San Francisco my home and working as a guide in these cities, welcoming guests from all corners of the world, I can observe that the ruthless transformation experienced in urban renewal and gentrification is simultaneous in many major cities worldwide. The car-centered lifestyle imposed by the modern era, especially after the end of World War II, transformed major cities rapidly and profoundly. Amidst the uncritical internalization of "progress" and the unrelenting desire for economic growth, even the reflexive worship of technology within the realm of modernity, our yearning for more humane cities resonates more powerfully, offering consolation.
Whose streets?
How did we envision more livable cities? Well, it wasn't an easy journey, of course. The crowded and destitute living conditions of industrialized cities like London, recreated by the Industrial Revolution, might rival today's Third World sweatshops. The 20th century witnessed the adolescence and adulthood of world cities. As individual freedoms increased, the public spaces open to urban experience expanded, transformed, and enriched.
As we changed, our cities changed; as the concept of the city changed, we urban dwellers changed. To take ownership of our cities and make them our own has been a challenging journey from the "Reclaim the Streets!" protests in London against car-oriented planning in the 1990s to the "Occupy!" protests held in front of Wall Street in the 2010s.
This movement and awareness were not limited to Western cities; it was witnessed simultaneously in many cities worldwide. The streets belong to us!
The dream of a livable city
Some Western cities have outlined a rough blueprint for the dream of a "livable city," incorporating parks, bike trails, plazas for protest gatherings, recreational and entertainment areas, public events, and neighborhood collectives. The increasing demand for walkable cities, eco-friendly arrangements, architectural designs that foster a sense of belonging, and physical spaces that allow people from all walks of life to coexist in harmony has transformed the landscape of world cities.
American cities and POPOS
My first encounter with POPOS (Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces) was in New York... These reclaimed spaces tucked between skyscrapers offered a haven of shade, greenery, and water, providing a refreshing escape for New Yorkers, particularly those working in plazas, during lunch or coffee breaks. Some corners were adorned with sculptures by famous artists. What were these for? Who designed and financed these spaces? San Francisco gave me the clues.
San Francisco stands as one of the unique cities in the American landscape. I'm not referring to its Victorian-style single-family houses, its iconic orange bridge, or its charming cable cars. Despite its 48 hills in a landscape that adores cars and highways, the city embraces bicycle-friendly arrangements, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, a libertarian spirit that fosters boundless possibilities, an imaginative mind capable of shaping today's high-tech world, and an extraordinary city with its unwavering protest stance. If you happen to imply any of these to San Francisco residents, they will immediately begin to voice their grievances about local policies that attract IT companies to the city center, soaring housing prices due to an influx of new-generation expert technicians, the displacement of bohemian environments that define San Francisco, or housing issues that drive ordinary people out of their homes.
Nonetheless, one can still dream of a more livable city here! You will encounter urban spaces that are often absent in large metropolises: expansive parks, public art adorning public spaces, free events, wall murals preserving the Mexican art tradition, lively mass protests, vibrant festivals, farmer's markets, street parties, and pedestrian-friendly streets regularly free from traffic... Doesn't this feel like a slice of paradise?
POPOS
POPOS stands for "Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces." It is a project that aims to create a sufficient number and variety of quality shared spaces to meet the needs of workers, visitors, and residents in the city center. Private companies situated in the city center can benefit from certain privileges by designing public spaces accessible to the public, such as tax exemptions and additional building rights. These spaces, maintained by private ownership, appear in various scales and functions, such as shaded plazas, green terraces with views, sunny courtyards, winter gardens, or parks. Equipped with infrastructure like free Wi-Fi, food, coffee, and restrooms, these recreational areas are pedestrian-friendly, catering not only to plaza employees but also to city dwellers and families with children, offering a range of activities like walking, yoga, reading, playing chess, or participating in mass protests. Displayed artworks soften the angles of towering skyscrapers and soothe the strained relationship between city dwellers and the glass, metal, and concrete structures. These inviting spaces are filled with delightful surprises.
Why and how?
In recent years, there have been structural demands and radical changes for urban living spaces, especially a walkable and livable city center. No wonder why POPOS undoubtedly has become an attraction. As expected, there are both benefits and dark sides to the public-private sector collaboration. The underlying reason for the design of POPOS is, in fact, to promote economic growth through urban planning and design. Of course, the priority should be public interest, and then economic growth.
However, due to limited budgets, public institutions are demanding that the design, maintenance, and operation of public spaces be carried out by the private sector. Especially in the early days, unusable, careless, and dull areas were intentionally created to prevent the public from mingling with white-collar workers. While profit margins increase, the public interest sometimes takes a back seat; it gets overshadowed. Nevertheless, day by day, this project is worthy of admiration as it enriches and beautifies our cities and daily lives!
The rise of POPOS
By granting San Francisco its first POPOS, the Crown Zellerbach building constructed in 1959 became the pride of the city. The bonus system, implemented by the San Francisco Planning Organization in 1968, issued a construction permit for an additional area of ten square feet for each one square foot of public space designed. Although the conditions of the voluntary arrangement were vague, the incentive plans were put into effect. By the late 70s, the punitive power of the incentive plans significantly increased. Private initiatives realized that they must undertake projects that consider public interest to make their projects more attractive, increase their competitive advantages in the market, and obtain easier approval from the Municipality. Although the concept of public interest was a significant awareness during that period, we had to wait until 1985 for the real change. In 1985, the City Center Planning made POPOS a legal requirement through systematic regulations. An additional construction area permit of fifty square feet for every one square foot of public space becomes possible.
The one percent art for art law
Don't mistake POPOS for mere chair-filled plaza terraces! This is where the One Percent Art for Art Law comes into play. In 1932, the Art Commission was established to create a public collection. In 1969, the Art Promotion Decree was issued, aiming to establish a funding mechanism for the public art collection. Another critical year came in 1985: The One Percent Art for Art Law mandated that an amount equal to 1% of the cost of large-scale new constructions in the city center be invested in art projects. Like a dream come true!
San Francisco’s hidden colorful corners
How can you discover the exhibited art pieces in POPOS? You can download a POPOS map from the Internet and explore them on your own or make visits with SF tour guides. Keep in mind that some of the spaces may have limited access on weekends or after working hours on weekdays due to being located in private properties of financial companies. Visiting the rooftop-level POPOS often requires passing through the premises of tech companies, giving you a chance to glimpse into their innovatively designed offices. Embrace the imaginative spirit of San Francisco, made possible by tech giants like Instagram, LinkedIn, Apple, and more! An exciting journey awaits, and may other great cities follow suit!
A few recommendations…
Foundary Square
Howard Street 400 Richard Deutsch's "Time Signature" and Joel Shapiro's "Untitled" sculptures have left their mark on the square.
Salesforce Park
Fremont Street 181 With a botanical garden, children's playground, stage, and amphitheater spread across a 22,000 square meter area, Salesforce Park is the city's largest rooftop park, located on top of the Transit Center. Works by conceptual artist Jenny Holzer and many other artists are exhibited both inside the Transit Center and in the park.
Refik Anadol
Mission Street 350 Media artist Refik Anadol's "Virtual Descriptions: SF" project poetically displays data related to the city on the screen.
Transamerica Redwood Park
Situated in the shadow of the Transamerica Pyramid, a symbol of San Francisco's financial center and once the city's tallest skyscraper, adds a touch of green to the district. The park is adorned with "Running Children" by Glenn Goodacre and "Jumping Frog" by Richard Clapton.
My favorite one
Sansome Street 1 The Citigroup Center has opened up a classic white marble plaza adorned with palm trees. The "Star Maiden" sculpture by the renowned kinetic artist Alexander Calder's father, sculptor Stirling Calder, captivates viewers. The Star Maiden sculpture is inspired by the beautiful face of America's first supermodel, Audrey Munson, who graced numerous public buildings with her sculpted beauty, epitomizing America's Gilded Age.
Workspace
2nd Street 222: Frank Stella's artworks furnish this area, offering comfort and a soft texture with the use of wood material. A warm workspace gifted by Linkedin to the public.
Apple Union Square
Opened a few years ago, this Apple store with Laura Kimpton's "LOVE" sculpture in the POPOS area is like a glass temple.
*Hillsider Magazine # 94, Winter 2019