scholarly journals Public Space and COVID-19: Contraction, Expansion, and Adaptation

2020 ◽  
pp. 15-22
Author(s):  
Vikas Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Third Places ◽  
Interesting Phenomenon ◽  
Parking Lots ◽  
The Everyday

COVID-19 has hit cities hard. With the closure of places of work and learning, third places, places of leisure and consumption, and more, the pandemic has diminished our territories and contracted public space and public life. But a keen observation reveals a more nuanced picture. In many neighborhoods, an interesting phenomenon of reclaiming much neighborhood space for public use is evident. The repurposing of residential streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and other modest public spaces in neighborhoods shows an expansion of public space and sociability. This expansion is also that of agency. The elimination of events and programming and the cordoning off of standardized equipment has left public space in an unembellished state of bareness. Space is available for citizens to make public. This pandemic has revealed our desire for publicness of the everyday, our ingenuity to use spaces for public life, and what is possible in our cities and in our public spaces.

The Culture Zone in Katowice and its qualities as a public space

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-41
Author(s):  
Paweł Pistelok
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Social Functions ◽  
Upper Silesia ◽  
Industrial Heritage ◽  
Basic Rights ◽  
Post Industrial ◽  
Right Of Access

Abstract A city’s public spaces ought to meet a number of requirements to serve their main purpose, that is to foster public life. They need, for instance, to answer people’s needs, fulfil certain social functions, and let people use their basic rights, among them the most important right of access. In Katowice, one of the most prominent examples of the regeneration of public spaces is now the Culture Zone. The aim of this paper is to discuss the development of social functions in the area mentioned, a fine example of the post-industrial heritage of Upper Silesia. Applying some of the qualities of public space identified in the theories adopted, the paper discusses how the Culture Zone [in Polish: Strefa Kultury] fulfils the above-mentioned demands and requirements. Is it accessible? Does it meet the need for comfort? Does it function as a leisure space? By referring to analyses and opinions presented in the literature and comparing them with the results of the author’s own empirical research, this article discusses the importance, opportunities, and shortcomings of the Culture Zone as a public space.

scholarly journals Public Space as a Venue for Peacebuilding in Lebanon? The Role of Civic Movements in Reclaiming Public Space in Beirut and Tripoli

2021 ◽  
pp. 25-46
Author(s):  
Aseel Naamani ◽  
Ruth Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Building Relationships ◽  
The Core ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of ◽  
Post War

The issue of public spaces is increasingly at the core of civic movements and discourse of reform in Lebanon, coming to the fore most recently in the mass protests of October 2019. Yet, these most recent movements build on years of activism and contestation, seeking to reclaim rights to access and engage with public spaces in the face of encroachments, mainly by the private sector. Urban spaces, including the country’s two biggest cities – Beirut and Tripoli – have been largely privatised and the preserve of an elite few, and post-war development has been marred with criticism of corruption and exclusivity. This article explores the history of public spaces in Beirut and Tripoli and the successive civic movements, which have sought to realise rights to public space. The article argues that reclaiming public space is central to reform and re-building relationships across divides after years of conflict. First, the article describes the evolution of Lebanon’s two main urban centres. Second, it moves to discuss the role of the consociational system in the partition and regulation of public space. Then it describes the various civic movements related to public space and examines the opportunities created by the October 2019 movement. Penultimately it interrogates the limits imposed by COVID-19 and recent crises. Lastly, it explores how placemaking and public space can contribute to peacebuilding and concludes that public spaces are essential to citizen relationships and inclusive participation in public life and affairs.

scholarly journals Lessons For Toronto From Melbourne’s City Centre Revitalization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Gilliard
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Physical Quality ◽  
Social Quality

Public space is important to a city’s economic and social quality. Downtown Toronto is not known for its public spaces but Melbourne is widely recognized for recently revitalizing its city centre with improved public spaces. A case study of Melbourne investigates its comparability to Toronto as well as the details of its "renaissance." It is concluded that Melbourne is, in fact, highly comparable to Toronto. Interventions in Melbourne were characterized by the principles: long-term vision, emphasizing local strengths, investment in quality, making space for people on foot, and using effective arguments and evidence. To emulate Melbourne’s city-centre revitalization, Toronto first should facilitate a civic conversation about the long-term vision for its downtown; second, it should initiate a public life survey of the downtown; third, it should invest is the physical quality of downtown public spaces; and fourth, it should begin an incremental program to reclaim roadway space from cars in locations of high pedestrian use.

scholarly journals Better places for a liveable-and lively- city. A method of Post-Occupancy Evaluation of public spaces

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriela de Souza Tenorio ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Evaluation Method ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Post Occupancy Evaluation ◽  
Space Design ◽  
The World ◽  
The 1960S

Public spaces that attract and retain diverse people are crucial to foster urbanity and tolerance, and build stronger and livelier communities, especially in big cities. The simple coexistence of similarities and differences in public spaces can, to say the least, validate our own essence and offer us a possibility of growth. Sharing the same space with other people – even without interacting with them – favors social learning. Theory suggests that thought, feeling and behavior can be altered by observation. The search for public spaces that make urbanity viable is desirable in any society (especially in more unequal societies, as one can find in developing countries). However, inspired by ideas built on the critique of great urban agglomerations after the Industrial Revolution, cities around the world have undergone transformations that did exactly the opposite. As a series of lifeless places began to emerge, several researchers tried to figure out why this was happening. These researchers found that just wanting to create a lively place was not enough. It was necessary to scrutinize the behavior of people in public spaces in order to understand the relationship between their configuration and use. The knowledge they have built has been largely responsible for the increasing concern with public spaces and their relation to public life since the 1960s. Cities around the world are realizing that empty places could be full of people, and that not only a place full of people is something positive, but an empty place is not. They are learning to see underused public spaces as social, cultural, environmental, and financial waste. However, even with so much information available, it is still possible to find, in any contemporary city, public spaces that fail to support public life. Frequently, little or nothing is done to make them safer or more attractive, diverse and pleasant. It is even more worrying to realize that such places continue to be created. This is the focus of this paper. It brings together available knowledge and experiences in the area of public space design. It also complements, structures and translates such experiences and knowledge into a Public Space Post-Occupancy Evaluation Method, which stresses the importance of observing people and their activities. As a result, one can better understand, observe, assess and, thus, manipulate the main attributes of a public space that may influence its capacity to attract and retain diverse people on a daily basis. The method is offered as a tool to support those who deal with public spaces at different levels – from academic studies to municipal management. It has been used in Brasilia, Brazil, for the past 7 years, with positive results in governmental decision-making processes. A case study is briefly presented to illustrate its use.

scholarly journals Espaços públicos como lugares da política/Public spaces as spaces of politics

2018 ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Paulo Cesar Da Costa Gomes ◽  
Letícia Parente Ribeiro
Keyword(s):  
Social Movements ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
New Approach ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
The City

RESUMOA ativação política dos espaços públicos é comumente associada à sua mobilização extraordinária por grandes movimentos sociais. Ao seu uso cotidiano e ordinário, ao contrário, raramente é atribuído um significado político forte. A partir de uma discussão sobre a estratégia de manifestação política conhecida como “ocupação”, e de exemplos oriundos de pesquisas realizadas em espaços públicos da cidade do Rio de Janeiro, este artigo propõe uma nova perspectiva sobre esta oposição, ainda dominante na bibliografia.Palavras-chave: espaço público; ocupação; sociabilidade. ABSTRACTThe political activation of public spaces is commonly associated with their extraordinary mobilization by large social movements. On the contrary, a strong political significance is rarely attributed to the everyday and ordinary use of these spaces. Based on a discussion about the strategy of political manifestation known as “occupation” and presenting examples from research carried out in public spaces in the city of Rio de Janeiro, this article proposes a new approach to this opposition, still dominant in academic literature.Keywords: public space; occupy; sociability.

scholarly journals The role of ethnic malls in placemaking: a case study of First Markham Place

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Ethnic Community ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Cultural Goods ◽  
Shopping Centres

This study examines the role and effectiveness of suburban, ethnic shopping centres in providing an alternative to public space. It is a response to the suburb's lack of good public spaces, and the resulting lack of community and sense of place, and is informed by the development of 'ethnoburbs' across North America. This study explores themes revealed by both literature and a series of field observations and intercept interview. A case study analyzing First Markham Place and how its mall patrons use the space revealed implications regarding the effectiveness of these malls as public spaces. The author found that the mall's role as a community hub provides opportunities to satisfy both practical and innate desires for cultural goods, services, and co-ethnic interactions, encourages a 'public life' not seen in conventional suburban malls, and creates a unique sense of place for members of the target ethnic community as well as non-members.

scholarly journals RUANG AKTIVITAS MASYARAKAT PULOMAS

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 845
Author(s):  
William Adiputra Dharmawan ◽  
Doddy Yuono
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Lower Class ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Third Place ◽  
Final Project ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Housing Complex

Modern people have a demanding and busy life. Jakarta is not an exception. Whose people is growing rapidly in terms of socio economic standing into middle class.This class requires different types and patterns of usage of space. They prefer to live in suburubia, spends time in malls instead of local places, and usually have 9-5 jobs.The mall’s role as a public space is problematic as it can siphon away public life that could’ve happen in local place which can shape a strong sense of place and character. Other than that, malls also requires a significant energy commitment to get to it, doesn’t create community around it, exclusive to lower class people, etc. A local third place is proposed as a solution. To pull back public life into the suburbia. Something smaller in scale, making the visitors into people not mere consumer. A personal place, A place that forms communities, a palce that is local so people don’t have to spend a lot of energy going to the place. A place that is open to all. A Third place. In this final project, the chosen site is right in the middle of a housing complex in Pulomas. Local residents would only have to walk no more than 5 minutes to visit the place. It provides public spaces that are in demand by local residents, such as food hall, gym, study space, archery hall, eventspace, etc in smaller scale. Public life that is stolen from the mall is taken back into the local place, creating a sense of place and community. AbstrakMasyarakat modern memiliki tuntutan kehidupan yang sibuk dan padat. Tidak terkecuali penduduk Jakarta. Yang strata sosio-ekonominya bertumbuh secara cepat menjadi kalangan menengah ke atas. Kalangan ini memiliki kebutuhan ruang dan pola penggunaan ruang yang berbeda. Mereka memilih untuk tinggal di perumahan, menghabiskan waktu di mall dibanding di tempat yang lokal, dan umumnya memiliki pekerjaan 9-5. Penggunaan mall sebagai tempat publik berpotensi menjadi masalah, ketika kehidupan publik yang bisa menjadi karakter suatu tempat di alihkan ke tempat yang anonim seperti  mall. Kurangnya kehidupan publik mengikis sense of place dan social capital yang dimiliki sebuah tempat. Selain itu mall juga membutuhkan komitmen energi yang besar untuk mencapai mall, pengunjung yang tidak menjalin komunitas, ekslusifitas terhadap kalangan menengah kebawah, dlsb. Third place yang lokal di usulkan sebagai solusi, untuk menarik kembali kehidupan publik di perumahan. Sebuah tempat yang mempunyai skala lebih kecil, menjadikan pengunjungnya sesama manusia, personal, membentuk komunitas, lokal sehingga kita tidak perlu banyak energi untuk mengunjungi tempat itu, dan terbuka bagi semua, sebuah third place. Di proyek tugas akhir ini, dipilih site tepat di tengah perumahan, di Pulomas. Warga lokal hanya tinggal jalan kaki tidak lebih dari 5 menit untuk mencapai site. Menyediakan tempat publik skala kecil yang dibutuhkan oleh warga lokal seperti food hall, gym, ruang studi, lapangan panahan, eventspace, lounge, dll. Kehidupan publik yang sebelumnya dicuri oleh mall dan tempat lain dilokalisasikan, menciptakan sebuah sense of place, dan sense of community.

scholarly journals The role of ethnic malls in placemaking: a case study of First Markham Place

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Liu
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Ethnic Community ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Cultural Goods ◽  
Shopping Centres

This study examines the role and effectiveness of suburban, ethnic shopping centres in providing an alternative to public space. It is a response to the suburb's lack of good public spaces, and the resulting lack of community and sense of place, and is informed by the development of 'ethnoburbs' across North America. This study explores themes revealed by both literature and a series of field observations and intercept interview. A case study analyzing First Markham Place and how its mall patrons use the space revealed implications regarding the effectiveness of these malls as public spaces. The author found that the mall's role as a community hub provides opportunities to satisfy both practical and innate desires for cultural goods, services, and co-ethnic interactions, encourages a 'public life' not seen in conventional suburban malls, and creates a unique sense of place for members of the target ethnic community as well as non-members.

scholarly journals Lessons For Toronto From Melbourne’s City Centre Revitalization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Gilliard
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Physical Quality ◽  
Social Quality

Public space is important to a city’s economic and social quality. Downtown Toronto is not known for its public spaces but Melbourne is widely recognized for recently revitalizing its city centre with improved public spaces. A case study of Melbourne investigates its comparability to Toronto as well as the details of its "renaissance." It is concluded that Melbourne is, in fact, highly comparable to Toronto. Interventions in Melbourne were characterized by the principles: long-term vision, emphasizing local strengths, investment in quality, making space for people on foot, and using effective arguments and evidence. To emulate Melbourne’s city-centre revitalization, Toronto first should facilitate a civic conversation about the long-term vision for its downtown; second, it should initiate a public life survey of the downtown; third, it should invest is the physical quality of downtown public spaces; and fourth, it should begin an incremental program to reclaim roadway space from cars in locations of high pedestrian use.

scholarly journals Forget what you hear: Careless Talk, espionage and ways of listening in on the British secret state

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Oliver Kearns
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Second World War ◽  
Social Difference ◽  
World War ◽  
Ordinary Life ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
War Propaganda ◽  
Second World

Abstract As the covert and clandestine practices of states multiplied in the twentieth century, so did these practices’ footprint in public life. This footprint is not just visual and material but sonic and aural, sounding the ‘secret state’ into being and suggesting ways of ‘listening in’ on it. Using multisensory methodology, this article examines Careless Talk Costs Lives, a UK Second World War propaganda campaign instructing citizens on how to practice discreet speech and listening in defence against ‘fifth columnist’ spies. This campaign reproduced the British secret state in the everyday: it represented sensitive operations as weaving in and out of citizens’ lives through imprudent chatter about ‘hush-hush’ activities and sounds you shouldn't overhear. The paradox at the campaign's heart – of revealing to people the kind of things they shouldn't say or listen to – made the secret state and its international operations a public phenomenon. Secret sounds therefore became entangled within productions of social difference, from class inequalities to German racialisation. Sound and listening, however, are unwieldy phenomena. This sonic life of the secret state risked undermining political legitimacy, while turning public space and idyllic environments into deceptive soundscapes – for international espionage, it seemed, sounded like ordinary life.

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