How to Build an Intercultural City
Considering how public-space design can make room for connection across cultures.
How to Build an Intercultural City
Miles Silverman
April 27, 2026
High school senior
Can the design of a place help people connect?
This school research essay examines greenery, seating arrangements, lighting, water features, and other public-space elements as possible supports for intercultural interaction. It brings together published research and discussion of park access in Los Angeles to argue for more intentional and equitable public-space design.
I wrote this literature-based essay as a senior in high school, drawing on published research.
Read the full essay · PDF (opens in a new tab)Why this interests me.
I’m interested in the way design creates opportunities for everyday interaction. A bench, a shaded gathering place, or a welcoming public space can change how people use a neighborhood. This essay explores the relationship between those design decisions and the kind of community a city hopes to become.
Good things start
with a connection.
Interested in infrastructure, a project, or an idea worth building? I’d love to hear from you.
milessil@usc.edu