Fountain Square : an urban village in Indianapolis

Abstract

The subject of this creative project was the creation of an urban village in the Fountain Square neighborhood of downtown Indianapolis. The purpose of the urban village development was to draw people back into the neighborhood, an Historic District which had suffered from decades of neglect and unguided development. Fountain Square was suitable for development as an urban village due to its urban location, distinct character, historic identity, and status as a growing arts community.The project was divided into two components, the overall design of the urban village, and the site design of the plaza where the fountain was located. The urban village design addressed large scale issues such as infill development, historic preservation, gateway creation, streetscape enhancements, open space development, and automobile circulation. The site specific design of the plaza dealt with the creation of a central open space for the village.