scholarly journals Creating Successful Elder-Friendly Spaces: A Conceptual Framework for Urban Public Spaces

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azadeh Lak ◽  
Reihaneh Aghamolaei ◽  
Hamid R Baradaran ◽  
Phyo K Myint
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Active Life ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Elder People

Abstract Background: Although issues of elderly people’s active life in public spaces are increasingly being reevaluated, the amount of research dedicated to enhancing urban public space qualities based on the concept of elders’ preferences is still limited. Methods: This study aims to identify the elders’ preferences specially their use of public open spaces in residential neighborhoods. The research applied in two steps; first, Grounded Theory (GT) is conducted through semi-structured interviews. 52 in-depth interviews are conducted with the elderly. Results: The analyzed data will then be examined to extract the main categories. Second, the survey is conducted through a questionnaire developed by authors, inquiring 350 elder people and analyzed by SmartPLS technique to validate the results of the developed model Conclusion: The model of the elders’ preferences consists of Places Functional (PF), Places Preferences (PP), and Process in Environments (PE). The findings will highlight both their theoretical and practical implications for urban planners and designers.

«Get in Your Theatres; the Street is Not Yours»: The Struggle for the Character of Public Space in Tunisia

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-69
Author(s):  
Heather Harrington
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Hip Hop ◽  
Freedom Of Expression ◽  
Social Scientist ◽  
Phenomenological Approach ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
And Gender

Abstract How people move and appear in public spaces is a reflection of the cultural, religious and socio-political forces in a society. This article, built on an earlier work titled ’Site-Specific Dance: Women in the Middle East’ (2016), addresses the ways in which dance in a public space can support the principles of freedom of expression and gender equality in Tunisia. I explore the character of public space before, during, and after the Arab Spring uprisings. Adopting an ethnographic and phenomenological approach, I focus on the efforts of two Tunisian dancers – Bahri Ben Yahmed (a dancer, choreographer and filmmaker based in Tunis, who has trained in ballet, modern dance and hip hop) and Ahmed Guerfel (a dancer based in Gabès, who has trained in hip hop) – to examine movement in a public space to address political issues facing the society. An analysis of data obtained from Yahmed and Guerfel, including structured interviews, videos, photos, articles and e-mail correspondence, supports the argument that dance performed in public spaces is more effective in shaping the politics of the society than dance performed on the proscenium stage. Definitions and properties of everyday choreography, site and the proscenium stage are analysed, along with examples of site-specific political protest choreography in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia. I engage with the theories of social scientist Erving Goffman, which propose that a public space can serve as a stage, where people both embody politics and can embody a protest against those politics.

scholarly journals Children-friendly design of urban public space based on the study of Shanghai, China

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuai Li ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Outdoor Activities ◽  
Point Space ◽  
Sports Venues ◽  
Line Space ◽  
Safe Path

At present, more than 50% of children live in big cities. But with the increasing number of motor vehicles and shrinking public spaces , children have less and less opportunities for outdoor activities, resulting in obesity and sub-health problems. Therefore, it is very important to build children-friendly public spaces in metropolis. This study takes the Shanghai,china as an example.Firstly,through questionnaires,it is found that ensuring the safe movement of children and inspiring their spontaneous activities are key points to build children-friendly public spaces. Meanwhile, The public spaces near the home are the most used environment by children. Therefore, open spaces in metropolis areas need to be planned carefully for children near their homes. Then it is way much better to make sure children's places of daily life, such as homes, schools, green spaces, sports venues and so on, can be connected in a safe path. Secondly, for building the safe path for children ,the safety of each spot along the path is analyzed by SP method, which is a mathematical algorithm , in order to find the risk factors and to avoid them in the future. Then we establish the action plan of "line space + point space" to build the children-friendly urban public space system. Line space refers to meeting the basic safety space needs of children through the improvement of the routes to school, including reducing the impact of motor vehicles, safe road facilities, and enhancing road lighting system. "Point space" refers to the promotion of children's outdoor activities through the arrangement of multi-level outdoor children's playgrounds and green spaces, including safe green parks, security platforms and so on. Finally, it is hoped that the "Safety Line Space + Interesting Point Space" plan will establish a safe and inspiring path for children to travel, linking home, school, green space and sports venues, which they use mostly in their daily life. Then we can ensure the safe movement of children and inspire children's spontaneous games in big cities for a children-friendly goal

Analysis on Building Readable Image of Urban Public Spaces

2013 ◽  
Vol 409-410 ◽  
pp. 883-886
Author(s):  
Bo Xuan Zhao ◽  
Cong Ling Meng
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Urban Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Space Images ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Good Image ◽  
The Public ◽  
The City

City, is consisting of a series continuous or intermittent public space images, and every image for each of our people living in the city is varied: may be as awesome as forbidden city Meridian Gate, like Piazza San Marco as a cordial and pleasant space and might also be like Manhattan district of New York, which makes people excited and enthusiastic. To see why, people have different feelings because the public urban space ultimately belongs to democratic public space, people live and have emotions in it. In such domain, people can not only be liberated, free to enjoy the pleasures of urban public space, but also enjoy urban life which is brought by the city's charm through highlighting the vitality of the city with humanism atmosphere. To a conclusion, no matter how ordinary the city is, a good image of urban space can also bring people pleasure.

scholarly journals A Multi-Level Path Analysis of the Relationships between the Momentary Experience Characteristics, Satisfaction with Urban Public Spaces, and Momentary- and Long-Term Subjective Wellbeing

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijs-Perrée ◽  
Dane ◽  
van den Berg ◽  
van Dorst
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Contextual Characteristics ◽  
Multi Level

Previous research has shown that the urban environment could influence people's behavior and wellbeing. However, little is still known about how the objective and subjective measures of the momentary experience of urban public spaces could contribute to the satisfaction with the urban environment of cities, which eventually could influence the momentary and long-term subjective wellbeing (SWB) of citizens. Therefore, the aim of this research is to gain insight into how momentary experience and satisfaction with the urban public space could contribute to the SWB of citizens, and thereby control for personal, contextual characteristics. Relationships were simultaneously analyzed using a multi-level path analysis approach based on a sample of 1056 momentary experiences of urban public spaces reported by 161 citizens of the urban area Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The results showed that personality and personal characteristics are highly important for explaining long-term SWB and subsequently long-term SWB positively influences momentary SWB (the degree of feeling secure, comfortable, happy and annoyed) together with the momentary satisfaction of urban public space characteristics. In addition, contextual characteristics, such as time/day and distance to facilities are important for explaining people’s momentary SWB. Policy makers and urban planners can use these results when developing policy and designing a healthy, attractive, livable and safe living environment for citizens.

Behavioral Indicators of Drug Carrying in Open Spaces

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 448-470 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Meehan ◽  
Michael McClary ◽  
Alexander Garinther
Keyword(s):  
Visual Search ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Civil Rights ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Behavioral Indicators ◽  
Group Data ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Proper Training

This article identifies and describes a set of behavioral indicators associated with illegal drug carrying in public spaces. Through the use of focus group data, our research documents and translates the visual search techniques that veteran law enforcement and drugs experts report using in their work. Here, we catalogue these findings into 10 overarching categories, and discuss how each indicator may be incorporated into an officer’s visual search. Knowledge of these indicators, when combined with proper training and an understanding of a public space, can help law enforcement identify persons who may be carrying drugs. The ability to identify drug-carrying individuals facilitates the interdiction and apprehension of offenders, and also protects the civil rights and liberties of the law-abiding public.

scholarly journals A place to call our own: perspectives on the geographical and social marginalisation of homeless people

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 105-116
Author(s):  
Caroline Hughes ◽  
Iolo Madoc-Jones ◽  
Odette Parry ◽  
Sarah Dubberley
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Private Sphere ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Spatial Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mainstream Society ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Notwithstanding heightened awareness of the issues faced by homeless people, the notion that homelessness is the result of individual failings and weaknesses persists. The purpose of this paper is to challenge that perception by giving voice to this marginalised group and exploring the mechanisms through which they made and remade as homeless and may be protected. Design/methodology/approach Semi-structured interviews (n=23) were carried out with a sample of homeless people who had accessed a range of homelessness services in the study area. Findings It is argued that largely deprived of the private sphere, which arguably renders them in most need of public space, homeless people find themselves most subject to scrutiny, surveillance, social disapprobation and exclusion. Research limitations/implications The authors reiterate that rather than simply being associated with rooflessness, homelessness is as a function of ongoing geographical marginalisation and social alienation. Practical implications The authors suggest that dedicated spaces for homeless people to occupy during the day continue to be in need of development because, whilst not unproblematic, they can disrupt processes associated with homelessness. Social implications Further resources should be directed towards homelessness and the issues that arise during daytime for homeless people. Originality/value The paper supports the literature which highlights the spatial practices by which stigmatised groups come to be separated from mainstream society.

scholarly journals Features of urban public spaces in the context of globalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-246
Author(s):  
K. L. Khomyakova
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Modern Cities ◽  
The Social ◽  
Essential Properties ◽  
Methodological Problems ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

The article deals with characteristics of urban public spaces, their role in the global transformation of the social relations system is determined. The ambiguity of assessing the impact of globalization on modern cities is due to the theoretical and methodological problems of modern sociological urbanism. There is no single approach among scientists to defining the concept of urban public space, which determines the relevance of the study of its interpretation and definition of essential properties. Public spaces are considered as a connecting element between the system and social levels of urban research, which correspond to the levels of integration identified by the modern sociologist E. Giddens. The article analyzes classical and modern approaches to the study of public space, there is reveals the course of evolution of sociological thought in relation to the formation of differentiation of types of spaces within cities. Based on the analysis of the works of modern sociologists and urbanists, such key features of public spaces as openness, socio-political neutrality, and symbolism were identified. Global processes and contradictions lead to an aggravation of the problem of the presence of the category of “Others” within public urban spaces, which are representatives of various segments of the population, with a variety of claims and interests. One of the consequences of the intensive development of digital technologies is a possible situation of “competition for the citizen” between traditional public spaces and online services. Assumptions are made about future transformations of social relations within public spaces as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

scholarly journals Conviviality as a Spatial Planning Goal for Public Open Spaces

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 4382-4387
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Modern Democracy ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
The Social ◽  
Human Tendency ◽  
Public Open Spaces

Conviviality is a popular concept in urban design while referring to the good qualities of public spaces. This concept is the need for current times when social life in physical public spaces is declining away largely to forces like social media and the virtual world. The human tendency to feel satisfied and happy exists in existence with others. The social media has taken away the role that established Greek agora as the first centre of public interaction which initiated the concepts of modern democracy. Where popular public spaces have big roles to perform, the small public spaces in the neighbourhood and markets perform an important role to stage the everyday local nuisance in people's life. Even If public space is satisfactory enough to take away the loneliness and boredom of everyday course of modern living a lot can be achieved. Conviviality is one such factor which helps to elevate the satisfaction of spending time with others. This paper is an attempt to understand conviviality and relate it to public open spaces from the physical planning point of view.

scholarly journals A Space to Call Our Own, an investigation into designing for play in urban environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hayley Webber
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Network Growth ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Social Fragmentation ◽  
Meaningful Activity ◽  
Holistic Understanding

<p>Play is an act of discovery and stimulation. As children, we play to learn and grow. As adults, we play for freedom and to escape from reality. The action of play is a largely neglected aspect of peoples experience in urban public space. It is the un-functional and impractical use of the environment that fulfils a human instinct and curiosity that can spark conversation and spontaneity in public spaces. The development of the built environment has centred on improving the efficiency of daily life and little attention has been given to the informal synergies that urban public space can enable. Yet this space plays a central role in the formation of our culture and communities. With increasing trends of migration and urbanisation, New Zealand has become a multicultural society, but the quality of our public spaces and a distinct lack of meaningful interaction is causing increased levels of social fragmentation. The universal action of play can be used as a design tool to increase the level of meaningful activity and interaction in these spaces.   This thesis aims to understand how the inclusion of play and playful behaviour can create polycentric environments that can contribute to the reversal of social fragmentation between our ethnic communities and improve social cohesion and resilience within Newtown and Berhampore, socially deprived suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand.   The method of this research focuses on combining methods of spatial assessment and community engagement to develop a holistic understanding of play across social, cultural and physical dimensions. Observational studies, public surveying and community workshops combined with a comparative study across a series of case studies provided a foundation of knowledge that was then able to be applied to the design of physical playful spaces.  The design response across three test sites vary in scale between small tactical additions and overall redesign of space. These responses display how play can facilitate new forms of social interaction and spark spontaneity. The improved sense of community, familiarity and overall playfulness, increase overall resilience and overturn effects of social fragmentation. This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can engage with the concept of play to reignite passion within a community and support social network growth.</p>

scholarly journals A Space to Call Our Own, an investigation into designing for play in urban environments

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hayley Webber
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Design Tool ◽  
Network Growth ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Social Fragmentation ◽  
Meaningful Activity ◽  
Holistic Understanding

<p>Play is an act of discovery and stimulation. As children, we play to learn and grow. As adults, we play for freedom and to escape from reality. The action of play is a largely neglected aspect of peoples experience in urban public space. It is the un-functional and impractical use of the environment that fulfils a human instinct and curiosity that can spark conversation and spontaneity in public spaces. The development of the built environment has centred on improving the efficiency of daily life and little attention has been given to the informal synergies that urban public space can enable. Yet this space plays a central role in the formation of our culture and communities. With increasing trends of migration and urbanisation, New Zealand has become a multicultural society, but the quality of our public spaces and a distinct lack of meaningful interaction is causing increased levels of social fragmentation. The universal action of play can be used as a design tool to increase the level of meaningful activity and interaction in these spaces.   This thesis aims to understand how the inclusion of play and playful behaviour can create polycentric environments that can contribute to the reversal of social fragmentation between our ethnic communities and improve social cohesion and resilience within Newtown and Berhampore, socially deprived suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand.   The method of this research focuses on combining methods of spatial assessment and community engagement to develop a holistic understanding of play across social, cultural and physical dimensions. Observational studies, public surveying and community workshops combined with a comparative study across a series of case studies provided a foundation of knowledge that was then able to be applied to the design of physical playful spaces.  The design response across three test sites vary in scale between small tactical additions and overall redesign of space. These responses display how play can facilitate new forms of social interaction and spark spontaneity. The improved sense of community, familiarity and overall playfulness, increase overall resilience and overturn effects of social fragmentation. This thesis demonstrates how landscape architects can engage with the concept of play to reignite passion within a community and support social network growth.</p>

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