Merchants provide different types of outdoor seating ranging from tables to counters.
This is another form of activating the street. As noted in other areas, this includes multiple areas of seating options based on formal or informal dining conditions. Weather conditions also play a role in the design of these spaces.
Another opportunity is to introduce infrastructure for delivery. Often times this has a separate entrance or window.
With the growth of last mile delivery technology, including, but not limited to, robot-delivery and online food order and delivery, the built environment may shift to accommodate these interactions at both the street level and the building level. Typically automated delivery shares areas with pedestrians.
At intersections, merchant space entrances are located on the corner.
Corner-based entrances that open into intersections provide activation for all areas of the building. There range of entrance types include those that are fully open to the area, those with windows into the space, to those who showcase products along the street.
For mixed use buildings, a gradient between residential and commercial spaces created through door types and entryways provides context for pedestrians.
The range of door types includes visually transparency for high volume commercial spaces and gradually transition into more solid, private entryways for residential areas. For elevators, key-based operation provides safety measures.
For merchant spaces that are below grade, or in basement, street level windows provide lighting.
Basement merchant spaces provide another opportunity for business growth. It is important to consider the role of accessibility to the basement level. This is commonly achieved via elevator. There is another opportunity to use stramps, a mixture of stairs and ramps, to provide accessible entry points. If a stramp is under consideration, it is important to consider space requirements.