Garden scene #2
Originally uploaded by sheffieldhammer

Making a dense, noisy city welcoming and liveable isn't as difficult as it sounds. One of the easiest ways is to create an enclosed open space: somewhere that feels quiet and separate.

Think of some of the more intimate London squares (one of my favourites is Gordon Square in Bloomsbury) or university courtyards and quadrangles. Cloisters have the same effect. Add water and plants and you can create somewhere to relax and think or meditate.

This one draws on a different set of cultural references. It's at the Grande Mosquée in Paris, built after the first world war as a way of thanking the north Africans who fought for the French. If you want head space, it's a great place to be.

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