The Mid-Block Pedestrian Passages of Carmel, CA

The City of Carmel, CA was incorporated in 1902.  From its start, the beautiful climate and stunning oceanfront topography attracted fine artists, writers and craftspeople from nearby San Francisco and beyond.  Over the ensuing decades, these early artistically-minded residents built a City of beauty.  

One of the whimsical features they included was an extensive network of intimate pedestrian passageways and courtyards winding through the middle of many of the downtown blocks:

Some of the most beautiful mid-block pedestrian passages in Carmel can be found in the area south of Ocean Ave. along Dolores St:  

Here, sidewalks around the block perimeter lead pedestrians to a striking number of mid-block passageways:

Architecturally, this particular area of downtown Carmel features wonderful examples of 1920s California Spanish Mission Revival style, which was intended to to evoke a connection to the City's historic 1770 Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo.  (The original Mission buildings are some of the best restored in California, and are still visible today on the southern edge of Carmel).

The following is a photographic walk down the mid-block pedestrian passage that connects from Dolores St. to Ocean Ave. (visible in the upper left of the plan diagram above).

1. The journey begins as an innocuous gap between buildings on Dolores St:

2. The pedestrian passages of Carmel often feature dramatic spatial contrasts, such as the transition from the broad space of Dolores St. to the high degree of enclosure felt at the entrance to the mid-block pedestrian passage:

3. As one moves further down the passageway, occasional doors and windows overlook and enliven the intimate space:

  
4. An archway frames a window at the end of the view, beckoning one onward:

5. While Carmel's mid-block pedestrian passages are typically high quality pedestrian experiences, occasionally mundane service items such as electrical boxes can be seen encroaching into view, when they are not concealed:

6. Arriving at the window, the passage turns 90 degrees to the left and opens up into a larger courtyard space:

7. A framed opening leading out to Ocean Ave is visible in the distance, again drawing one forward:

8. A second courtyard space with cafe seating then opens into view, just prior to entering the spatial compression of the framed opening leading out to Ocean Ave:

9.  The enclosed passageway out to Ocean Ave. is enlivened by shopfront windows on both sides:

10. Turning and looking back, the entrance archway to the pedestrian passage from Ocean Ave. also cleverly accommodates a staircase to the second floor:

11. Another beautiful Spanish Mission Revival building facade fronts Ocean Ave:

The winding, fairytale mid-block pedestrian passages of Carmel, CA form a whimsical network of spaces evoking the intimate charm of European villages.  The City is richer for the forethought of its early builders to include such magical places.