ABSTRACT
Damp, dark, and dreary, with the deafening sounds of traffic overhead and often the stench of urine and body odour, spoiled food, and garbage, the leftover spaces under bridges and highway overpasses are often devoid of a planned use and are notoriously underutilised in cities. This chapter advocates for an alternative vision for underpasses, describing exemplar projects which have redesigned underpasses to be more remarkable. From DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) to the Bentway in Toronto, Canada, and the Underline in Miami, Florida, these large-scale projects demonstrate that underpasses – when redesigned with intention – have huge potential as valuable public spaces. Citizens can lead also this process, as we see in the DIY skatepark movement which triggered the Burnside Skatepark located under a freeway in Portland. This popular skate park is a good example of citizens redesigning underpasses to be salutogenic spaces, while underpasses, in need of colour and life, provide a prime canvas on which to showcase artistic talents in the form of colourful murals. With attention, underpasses can indeed be made much more remarkable.
