landscapearchitecture

Commonwealth Avenue Mall, "Open House," and the History of Democratic Public Space

Commonwealth Avenue Mall, "Open House," and the History of Democratic Public Space

The Commonwealth Ave Mall was among Boston’s first planned public spaces. But when construction on the Mall began in 1856, it signaled the very beginning of an urban planning renaissance in the city that lasted through the Gilded Age (1870's - 1900). Now it’s the site of Liz Glynn: Open House, enriching it’s already potent message about access to public space.