University of Virginia Library

The Amenities Of A Plaza

(59) A plaza need not and probably should not be a formal
geometric affair—a square, a rectangle, a circle, a perfect
kidney. Going by our principle of difference from the main
Grounds, it cannot be. If the shore of the lake gives it one of
its sides, we are still left with the matter of defining the rest of
it. A "center" or "plaza" needs some defining boundary, even
if vague, lest it leak space and turn into nothing distinct after
all. There will be certain facilities for a campus of 3000 people
that inherently are destinations: cafeteria or restaurant, the
little library, some kind of indoor physical activity space, some
room large enough for films-plays-dances-concerts-lectures,
perhaps a print shop and/or radio studio. It would seem
sensible to space these facilities rather informally about the
periphery of our plaza as inducements for the mix of people
we wish to encourage.

(60) Going by our principle of openness, it is easy to
conceive of ways to make these structures more than usually
enticing, so that our passer-by is seduced into stopping and
perhaps becoming for the time being a part of a little crowd
gathered here and there. Perhaps our food building could have
a glassed-in cafe fronting on the plaza (projecting onto it,
even), with tables and umbrellas outside in decent weather.
Our theater could have a small free-standing platform out
front or else a small thrust stage projecting from the building
proper, for noontime plays (Canterbury Cathedral uses its
steps for this). Our library could have a carpeted and
brightly-furnished "new book" and periodicals room with
window walls fronting on the plaza. The student affairs rooms
might be spaced along a covered connecting walk between
these buildings and be equipped with large windows so that
passers-by could see a disk jockey on the air (as at WELK on
Main Street), a jazz combo in rehearsal, a meeting of the
College Council in progress, an edition of the campus
newsletter being assembled.