Design of city squares as successful contemporary public places, with particular reference to King George Square, Brisbane

Abstract

IntroductionThis study addresses the issue of the design of city squares, with particular reference to King George Square in Brisbane. The issue concerns the field of urban design, an integral component of city planning. The positive expression of the city square is essential to achieving good urban design. However, contemporary city squares are often ill-designed and under or un-used. The goal of the study is: To investigate the issues and problems of city squares and to provide a reference manual for the design of city squares as successful contemporary public places. Literature and practical research techniques are used to achieve this goal. Issues and ProblemsThe design of contemporary city squares has failed in many respects. Their most crucial design problems include lack of comfort, poor location and orientation and failure to create a sense of place or unique local identity. Changes in public life and culture have affected the contemporary role and viability of the city square. Square designs are needed which support a contemporary public life concerned with observation and strangers. City squares are valued as places of amenity where people can gather and rest to escape from the traffic, congestion and rush of the inner city. Modern planning and design factors have also contributed to the problems of city squares. Factors of:a) Automobile dominated citiesb) The Modem Movement in designc) Zoning and urban renewal policiesd) Short-sighted design approacheshave led to the creation of squares which fail to make positive contributions to their surroundings or to cater for their users.The definition of a successful square has assumed new proportions. Modern researchers have identified the critical ingredients of successful public squares as:a) Use and User Diversityb) Comfortc) Accessibility/Publicnessd) Discovery, Delight and Challengee) Aesthetic/Ecological Diversity.Design Recommendations A city square is an integrated whole and the design of various elements, together, create a successful public place. Literature research revealed that there are four main aspects of square design: a) Location and spatial formb) Designing for peoplec) Climatic comfortd) Furnishings.Design recommendations are developed for various square elements pertaining to the main aspects of square design. These recommendations provide practical guidance for analysing, developing or redesigning city squares according to the criteria for successful public squares.Case Study of King George SquareKing George Square, the city square of Brisbane, is currently under-used due to its design failings. The square is used as a case study to illustrate the validity and practical applicability of the design recommendations.The aim of the case study is:To redesign King George Square as a successful contemporary public place in accordance with the design recommendations established in Chapters 3 to 6.Changes in public life which King George Square’s design has failed to address and modern planning and design factors which have overlooked pedestrian needs have contributed to the square's dysfunction. The square contributes to the amenity of the city and its design should reinforce the relaxed, sub tropical character of Brisbane and provide an appropriate setting for City Hall. The existing design of the square is analysed according to the design recommendations. This enables a number of strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and constraints to be identified in the square’s design. The results of the analysis are used to devise a redesign for the square in accordance with the design recommendations.King George Square's present design functions primarily as a pedestrian thoroughfare and it lacks humanising elements and subspaces. Considerations regarding pedestrian flow, sight lines of City Hall, size and enclosure determined the outcome of the redesign. The redesign features a colonnade, pedestrian places, amphitheatre and central open area. The entries to the square have been improved and alterations have been made to surface treatment, street furniture, public art, water displays and planting. The redesign suggests one way in which the square’s functioning and public use and value could be improved. ConclusionThe design recommendations for successful city squares also have general applicability to other square types as well as to central city parks and gardens. The recommendations should be interpreted according to the definitions and functions of different types of public places.User control, management and maintenance are also qualities of successful public squares which provide scope for future research.