Urban Sustainability and Climate Issues: The Effect of Physical Parameters of Streetscape on the Thermal Comfort in Urban Public Spaces; Case Study: Karimkhan-e-Zand Street, Shiraz, Iran

One of the most important issues in urban studies relating to climate and environmental sustainability is the analysis of the thermal conditions of urban public spaces, especially urban streets, since this issue seems to affect the comfort of citizens using such spaces. Thus, the main aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of streetscape parameters on the thermal comfort of citizens using urban streets in a hot summer and in a hot semi-arid climate. For this purpose, Karimkhan-e-Zand Street in Shiraz, Iran, was selected as the case study. The selected street is a historical and popular public space of Shiraz. In the present study, using physical and micro-climatic data analyzed in ENVI-met v4 software, the thermal comfort conditions of Karimkhan-e-Zand in Shiraz on 10 July were simulated during the hottest day of the year. Furthermore, the relationships between physical street parameters and micro-climatic parameters and their effects on the thermal comfort index (PMV) were investigated through running a set of regressions in STATA 14 and analysis of ENVI-met v4 output maps. The results of the present study show that the thermal comfort of the citizens, which is determined by the PMV index values, is in very poor condition in almost all the studied hours, and the air temperature has the greatest effect compared to other micro-climatic parameters on the PMV index. The results of present study also show a significant relationship between the sky view factor and mean radiant temperature, as well as between the surface albedo and relative humidity. Furthermore, the type of vegetation and the aspect ratio of the street affect the level of increase in thermal comfort on the street.

Download Full-text

The (No-)Public Space. Reviewing the Transformation of Al-Qaed Ibrahim's Urban Image

The Journal of Public Space ◽

10.32891/jps.v5i1.1257 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 177-192

Author(s):

Iman Hegazy

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Public Spaces ◽

The Political ◽

Urban Image ◽

Political Conflicts ◽

Political Events ◽

The One ◽

The Impact ◽

The City

Public spaces are defined as places that should be accessible to all inhabitants without restrictions. They are spaces not only for gathering, socializing and celebrating but also for initiating discussions, protesting and demonstrating. Thus, public spaces are intangible expressions of democracy—a topic that the paper tackles its viability within the context of Alexandria, case study Al-Qaed Ibrahim square. On the one hand, Al-Qaed Ibrahim square which is named after Al-Qaed Ibrahim mosque is a sacred element in the urban fabric; whereas on the other it represents a non-religious revolutionary symbol in the Alexandrian urban public sphere. This contradiction necessitates finding an approach to study the characteristic of this square/mosque within the Alexandrian context—that is to realize the impact of the socio-political events on the image of Al-Qaed Ibrahim square, and how it has transformed into a revolutionary urban symbol and yet into a no-public space. The research revolves around the hypothesis that the political events taking place in Egypt after January 25th, 2011, have directly affected the development of urban public spaces, especially in Alexandria. Therefore methodologically, the paper reviews the development of Al-Qaed Ibrahim square throughout the Egyptian socio-political changes, with a focus on the square’s urban and emotional contextual transformations. For this reason, the study adheres to two theories: the "city elements" by Kevin Lynch and "emotionalizing the urban" by Frank Eckardt. The aim is not only to study the mentioned public space but also to figure out the changes in people’s societal behaviour and emotion toward it. Through empowering public spaces, the paper calls the different Egyptian political and civic powers to recognize each other, regardless of their religious, ethnical or political affiliations. It is a step towards replacing the ongoing political conflicts, polarization, and suppression with societal reconciliation, coexistence, and democracy.

Download Full-text

Lessons For Toronto From Melbourne’s City Centre Revitalization

10.32920/ryerson.14651670 ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Study of Universal Thermal Comfort Index in Hosing Estate Public Space in Bangkok, Thailand

Journal of Design and Built Environment ◽

10.22452/jdbe.vol21no2.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

pp. 10-18

Author(s):

Pitiwat Wattanachai ◽

Chawanat Sundaranaga ◽

Thidarat Kridakorn Na Ayutthaya ◽

Non Phichetkunbodee ◽

Damrongsak Rinchumphu

Keyword(s):

Thermal Comfort ◽

Public Space ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Thermal Reduction ◽

External Temperature ◽

Comfort Index ◽

Large Trees ◽

Public Areas ◽

Outdoor Comfort ◽

Air Circulation

A lower external temperature increases comfort and reduces the chance of heat stress; it can be impacted by the density of the urban area, and this is an important issue for the residents in housing estate developments. Therefore, to sustainably reduce this issue, the external temperature is important to manage for urban public spaces’ development. This article reports the results of studies on increasing thermal comfort in public areas by adding different types of shading into computer programs, Rhinoceros and Grasshopper, to calculate the Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI). Increasing the outdoor comfort can be done by adding shaded areas via large trees that can result in thermal reduction and humidity increase, but they do not obstruct air circulation. The result can be used as a guideline for the design of public spaces in housing estates to meet the outdoor comfort efficiently and support the users’ expectations.

Download Full-text

Privatization of Public Space: Spatial Practice in the Umbrella Movement

Space and Culture ◽

10.1177/1206331218769014 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 449-459

Author(s):

Kin-Ling Tang

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Spatial Practices ◽

Dominant Ideology ◽

The Public ◽

Spatial Practice ◽

Representational Space ◽

Radical Critique ◽

Temporal Dimensions

This article argues that in order to understand the resistance potentials of taking space movements, the temporal dimensions and spatial practices implied cannot be neglected, or else there would be a tendency to be overoptimistic about resistance in these movements. Using the Umbrella Movement that took place in Hong Kong in 2014 as a case study, this article notes that representational space and spatial practice by protesters were guided by a dualistic view of the public and the private, which in turn is the dominant ideology in neoliberalism, and that their acts of resistance were not able to go beyond the confines of conceived space. In the movement, protesters reclaimed public spaces through privatizing them. Based on the work of Lefebvre, this article argues that only with a radical critique of neoliberal values embedded in capitalism including the public-private dualism can any real transformations of everyday life and hence revolution be possible.

Download Full-text

Playful Engagement for Public Spaces

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction ◽

10.1145/3488543 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (ISS) ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Koichi Araake ◽

Michinari Kono ◽

Eiji Iwata ◽

Norio Sasaki

Keyword(s):

Problem Solving ◽

Public Space ◽

Design Strategy ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Careful Consideration ◽

Shopping Mall ◽

And Behavior ◽

Space Activities ◽

Bodily Movements

Designing embodied playfulness has been explored as a method for problem-solving. However, when thinking about deploying such an approach in public space activities, we often face many limitations regarding safety and ambiance, especially for bodily movements and behavior. To explore and address the challenges of deploying playfulness with restrained bodily movements in public spaces, we present a case study of an escalator augmented with auditory and visual feedback. An escalator in a public shopping mall has many limitations that require careful consideration in the design to maintain safety and avoid mistakes. We describe the challenges of our design strategy in order to complete the installation of a public escalator over five days. The results show that our approach significantly encouraged people to use the escalator, and also improved their manner of using it. Our work presents a successful method of treating the balance of social limitations and enjoyment that can affect human behavior in positive ways.

Download Full-text

Public Space, Common Space, and the Spaces In–Between: A Case Study of Philadelphia's LOVE Park

City and Community ◽

10.1111/cico.12454 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 676-703

Author(s):

Luke M. Cianciotto

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

General Public ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Public Spaces ◽

The Other ◽

The Public ◽

Common Space ◽

The Common

This study concerns the struggle for Philadelphia's LOVE Park, which involved the general public and its functionaries on one side and skateboarders on the other. This paper argues LOVE Park was one place composed of two distinct spaces: the public space the public engendered and the common space the skateboarders produced. This case demonstrates that public and common space must be understood as distinct, for they entail different understandings of publicly accessible space. Additionally, public and common spaces often exist simultaneously as “public–common spaces,” which emphasizes how they reciprocally shape one another. This sheds light on the emergence of “anti–common public space,” which is evident in LOVE Park's 2016 redesign. This concept considers how common spaces are increasingly negated in public spaces. The introduction of common space to the study of public spaces is significant as it allows for more nuanced understandings of transformations in the urban landscape.

Download Full-text

HOW ARE PUBLIC SPACES SUSTAINING CULTURAL IDENTITIES IN THE CONTEXT OF CHINA’S INCREASINGLY GLOBALLY FOCUSED URBAN DEVELOPMENTS: USING A CASE STUDY OF PUTUO IN SHANGHAI

Journal of Architecture and Urbanism ◽

10.3846/20297955.2016.1210045 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 198-205

Author(s):

Hee Sun (Sunny) Choi

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Urban Development ◽

Public Space ◽

Local Community ◽

Public Spaces ◽

Cultural Identities ◽

Urban Change ◽

Global Presence ◽

The City

This paper explores what it means for a public space to embody the city within rapid urban change in contemporary urban development and how a space can accomplish this by embracing the culture of the city, its people and its places, using the particular case of Putuo, Shanghai in China. The paper employs mapping and empirical surveys to learn how the local community use the act of communal dance in everyday public spaces of this neighborhood, and seeks not to ﬁnd generalizable rules for how humans comprehend a city, but instead to better understand how local inhabitants and their chosen activities can influence their built environment. The findings from this emphasize the importance to identify how public spaces can help to define cities with China’s emerging global presence, whilst addressing the ways in which local needs and perspectives can be preserved.

Download Full-text

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

10.32920/ryerson.14668236.v1 ◽

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.

Download Full-text