Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Urban Design

Video of the Day: Revisit Urbanist Classic ‘The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces’

William "Holly" Whyte helped launch the modern movement to build people-centered cities. Check out one of his most classic films while it's still online.

Three stills from the film illustrating the power of improvisation in the public realm. Photo: Project for Public Spaces

A classic documentary that helped launch the urbanist movement in America is finally back on YouTube — and it's a must-watch for anyone passionate about people-centered design.

William "Holly" Whyte's deeply influential 1979 mid-length "The Social Life of Urban Spaces" recently popped back up on the web TV site, giving sustainable transportation advocates a rare opportunity to check out the fascinating, and often surprisingly hilarious sociological examination of the impact of design on public life in cities across America.

A companion to the indispensable book of the same name, the film compiles thousands of hours of footage to help explain everything from the intricate "sidewalk ballet" of downtown Manhattan (to borrow a term from Whyte mentee Jane Jacobs), the desolation of pedestrian "skyways" in Houston, and the profound effect of sunken plazas, seating regulations, street performers and so much more. Yes, it has a few cringy late-'70s moments, but it's mostly an engaging and surprisingly relevant time capsule into an important era that helped launch much of the modern movement to build places for people rather than cars — and it contains more than a few lessons that today's policymakers could stand to be reminded of.

Chances are, this link won't be functional forever, so be sure to check it out. And to learn more, read the excellent biography of Whyte's life released last year.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: Why We Need ‘Universal Basic Mobility’

In a very special podcast, we’re joined by the great Madeline Brozen of UCLA to talk about how guaranteed transit lowers people's stress.

June 26, 2025

Berlin Moves Closer to Banning Cars From A Zone Bigger Than Manhattan

Berlin could soon set the bar for human-centered cities around the world, now that a long-sought ballot measure is finally being released from political limbo.

June 26, 2025

Study: America’s Blind Spots Are Expanding

The drivers of America's most popular cars can see less and less of the road every year — and regulators aren't stepping in.

June 26, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines Adjust Our Screens

The misinformation regarding climate change is shifting. Don't believe the hype.

June 25, 2025

MIT Research Finds Increasing Heat Makes Cities Measurably Less Walkable

An analysis of thousands of summertime walking trips through Boston finds that, on average, a 1 degree increase in perceived temperature makes a walking trip feel 81 meters longer.

June 25, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Are on Thin ICE

In more than 700 cities and states with 287g agreements, merely getting pulled over can land someone in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

June 25, 2025
See all posts