Public Space In City Research Articles

An iterative model for the development of an urban development strategy – a case study of Polanica-Zdrój (Poland)

Motives: The current approach to the design of public space in cities is changing due to the global situation, i.e., the climate and health crisis, as manifested by the COVID 2019 pandemic. There is a need to develop and apply new, innovative research methods and techniques that allow both an in-depth knowledge of a given area and the monitoring of the changes that occur in this area. One of the proposals for such a framework is an iterative model based on the results of the analyses carried out during the research and design work using the research through design (RtD) method.Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the applicability of the iterative process model for the development of urban strategy, particularly in terms of designing more resilient urban public spaces.Results: The iterative process model was tested during consultation meetings on the development strategy for the municipality of Polanica-Zdrój. The design concepts developed during the research were an excellent support for illustrating the goals of the spatial policy of the municipality of Polanica-Zdrój as specified in the draft of its development strategy. They became the starting point for the future design process. A project with blue-green infrastructure (BGI) elements was included in the draft development strategy as an exemplary project for the development and modernization of tourism and tourism-related infrastructure of a supra-local, infrastructural and linear nature. A study using the RtD method supported the identification of opportunities and limitations associated with the implementation of BGI in the protected urban areas.

Street Puppet Theatre Shows on the Façades of Commercial Buildings as a Novel Stimulator for Social Gatherings in Smart Cities

This study investigates the innovative use of street puppet theatre performances on the façades of commercial buildings to stimulate social gatherings in smart cities. This research investigates the impact of a unique musical puppet show held throughout the 2024 holiday season in the well-known shopping mall El Corte Inglés in Madrid, Spain. This study utilises both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, such as space syntax analysis and empirical observations. It uses the UCL Depthmap 10 software program to assess urban morphology and identify integrated and segregated areas. Observations and video recordings were conducted to analyse social gatherings and behaviours during the performances. The findings reveal that these performances attract diverse audiences and foster social engagement, transforming commercial façades into vibrant public spaces. The study concludes that such innovative uses of urban architecture can significantly enhance the sociability of detached and segregated urban spaces. The research demonstrates that this particular dynamic façade not only fosters social sustainability by creating lively urban spaces but also contributes to economic sustainability by attracting potential customers to commercial centres. This research advances the discourse on smart city development and public space utilisation, offering valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers on leveraging interactive urban façades to enhance public engagement and revitalise underutilised spaces.

Research on The Application of Interactive Design in Subway Public Art

China's urbanization is developing rapidly, and subway space, as an important part of urban construction, is receiving more and more attention from society and the government. The subway has alleviated the city's traffic congestion problem to the greatest extent, and has made rational use of the city's public space system. Public art in underground space has also become a window for urban cultural propaganda. Underground space is transforming from a functional space to a humanistic art space. In recent years, China's subway public art has developed rapidly and presented a diverse state, but there are still some common problems, such as the passive and single communication between space art and passengers, the lack of a certain degree of artistic publicity, and the failure to better meet people's current needs for humanistic art.

Numerical simulation of layout and landscape elements on the thermal environment of urban squares

Extreme urban heat poses significant challenges to the resilience and livability of cities. Urban squares are important open public spaces in cities, serving as main locations for residents' leisure and recreational activities and reflect the identity and cultural background of the cities. Improvement in thermal comfort in urban squares can improve the quality of the urban environment and help mitigate the urban heat island effect. This study developed 18 layout and landscape combination scenarios based on statistical analysis of data from 100 urban squares in regions with hot summers and cold winters. Further, the effectiveness of the proposed design solutions in improving the thermal environment was comprehensively analyzed. The results show that: 1) The block array layout with vegetation, water bodies, and permeable tiles is the most effective scenario, with a PET of 31.84 °C, approaching a comfortable level of heat stress; 2) Among the three layouts, the block array layout optimizes thermal comfort better than the main view entrance layout and main view center layout, and reduces physiological equivalent temperature by 10.51–10.77 °C compared with that of the other two layouts; 3) Scenarios incorporating water bodies provide better optimization effects than those with only trees, even when the total area covered by greenery remains unchanged; and 4) Permeable paving materials with high albedo more effectively improve the thermal comfort. Our results highlight a great potential of comprehensively using multiple landscape strategies to improve outdoor thermal comfort, and provides design basis for enhancing thermal comfort in similar sized urban squares in hot summer and cold winter areas.

Therapeutic Playground: Typology of Solutions and Analysis of Selected Public Playgrounds as Places with Therapeutic Potential

The article highlights the need for a change in the approach to playground design toward creating spaces with therapeutic qualities that are fully inclusive and therefore meet the principles of sustainable design. The aim of the research was to identify different types of therapeutic playgrounds, to identify components that build the therapeutics of playgrounds, and to evaluate selected contemporary playgrounds in terms of therapeutic potential based on the author’s evaluation tool. The research methodology was based on interpretive, qualitative, and comparative studies. As a result of the research, the author’s typology of therapeutic playgrounds was created, solutions responsible for specific therapeutic effects were identified, and selected realizations of new playgrounds located in Szczecin (Poland) were evaluated in terms of adaptation of these solutions. The conducted research demonstrates the great possibilities of introducing the therapeutic function of play into public spaces and adapting to public playgrounds the solutions characteristic of the five types of therapeutic playgrounds identified. Unfortunately, the research also shows that the evaluated playgrounds use the therapeutic potential of play to a very limited extent. The research connects the issue of playground design with therapeutics, going beyond the accessibility problem, and leading to the identification of desirable directions in playground design. It is necessary to implement an integrated approach, based on the implementation of the identified components of therapeutics and three paths to the implementation of a therapeutic playground. This can contribute to improving not only the quality of playgrounds but also public spaces in cities and realizing the idea of a city that is friendly to all residents.

Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Global environmental and health issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the weaknesses of current urban systems, including the poor availability and accessibility of green and public spaces in cities. Nature-based Solutions are configured as promising solutions to increase the resilience and health of the built environment by addressing climate and pandemic issues, promoting the psycho-physical well-being of users and proposing solutions for the protection of the environment and ecosystems. Following a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA methodology, this study aims to provide a taxonomic framework for Nature-based Solutions for the built environment that is applicable to the urban and building scales, highlighting key benefits in addressing pandemic and climate challenges and achieving urban resilience. This framework proposes a holistic and multifunctional approach that will prove to be a useful tool for researchers and policy makers to incorporate greening strategies into urban regeneration and redevelopment processes. The application of Nature-based Solutions still seems to be limited. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of this issue among citizens and policy makers and to promote close co-operation between the different actors in territorial decision-making processes.

General principles for the formation of city public spaces

City public spaces act as a holistic concept that cannot be dismembered and is a systemic structure that exists in the flow of time and carries traces of history, politics, culture, economic development and technological progress. In general, this structure is stable, but always changing in detail, and its growth and shape are only partially under control. This process of city formation has no final result, it is absolutely continuous. Given the constant development of open public space and its complex multifaceted structure, there is a need to derive general principles of its formation and development. This determines the relevance of the issue under study in this article. City public spaces - all undeveloped space surrounding the city; dismembered separate built-up areas; space that is part of a single building massif. Urban open spaces are diverse - they differ in size, configuration, ratio of natural and artificial components, type of functions, and role in shaping the city's image. Existing theoretical studies in this area provide an understanding of the importance of formulating general principles for the formation of open public spaces in cities for their further organization. Thus, the article summarizes the general principles of their development - the principle of "multifunctionality", the principle of "inclusiveness", the principle of "comfort", the principle of "hierarchy", the principle of "contextuality", the principle of "public openness". The relevance of using these principles for the organization of open public spaces in cities is shown, and recommendations for improving the quality of these spaces are provided. The influence of the above principles on the characteristics and properties of open public spaces of cities on their physical, functional and social content is revealed.

On the issue of the concept of public sculpture in urban space

The subject of the study is the phenomenon of public sculpture. This topic is very relevant, as public sculpture causes extensive controversy, which involves sculptors, architects, urbanists, representatives of public organizations. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the place of public sculpture in the contours of the artistic and associative landscape of a modern city. The research methodology includes historical, cultural and cross-cultural analysis, a dialectical approach to assessing the trajectories of the aesthetics of public sculpture, as well as a conceptual analysis of the phenomenon of public sculpture in modern public, including urban, spaces. As a result of the research, the historical genesis of the phenomenon of public sculpture was presented, the place of public sculpture in the postmodern paradigm was characterized, attention was paid to the problems of low performance quality, inappropriate installation sites in public urban space and the creation of visual noise. Refined scientific definitions of the concepts of social and public sculpture are proposed. I'd like to emphasize the importance of researching and defining the concepts of public and urban sculpture, as well as the need to develop methodological approaches for the management and evaluation of public sculpture. This article proposes an adaptation of the concept of an artistic and associative city landscape, which allows public sculpture to harmoniously fit into the urban environment. The use of a methodological approach will allow us to manage creative activity in this area and make the right decisions regarding the ordering, financing and placement of public sculpture in public spaces of cities.

National component in landscape design

Improving the quality of public spaces in cities is an essential aspect in their harmonious development. It is important to take into account the cultural, historical, national and local characteristics and preserve the unique features of a city since it is often a place of coexistence of different cultures and communities. The “national component” in urban environment design has been explored using landscape design objects as an example. A review of such cities as Enschede (the Netherlands), Kazan (Russia), and Ravenna (Italy) shows that the majority of cities around the world have a rich cultural heritage accumulated over centuries of historical development and represented in the approach to landscape design.

The Lawn as a Social and Cultural Phenomenon in Perth, Western Australia

Lawns, introduced in Australia through English colonial heritage, dominate public spaces in cities, serving various ecosystem functions. Australian lawns consist of non-native grasses that differ from native original vegetation and require intensive management and maintenance. This study explores public perspectives on urban lawns in Perth, Western Australia, an area largely overlooked in ecological and social research in the context of Australia compared to Europe and North America. This paper presents empirical research on public perceptions of urban lawns and alternatives in Perth, Western Australia. The study explores social values and preferences regarding traditional lawns and new options, considering visual appearance, uses, and maintenance. Findings from an online questionnaire, involving 171 respondents, identified seven categories based on a content analysis of lawn definitions: flat area; ground covered by grass; maintained; non-native vegetation; open space; recreational space; and turf grass. The results revealed that respondents most value lawns for aesthetics, cooling and recreation (exercises, walking pets, as a transit area, passive recreation, and social gatherings). At the same time, participants demonstrated an environmental awareness of lawns and the necessity of revisiting the existing planning and maintenance routine based on irrigation and intensive mowing by considering several alternative solutions. While valuing new solutions such as Scaevola patches in dedicated areas and “weedy lawns”, participants still preferred alternatives closest in appearance to a conventional lawn (e.g., lawn grass with Dichondra and lawn grass with clover). The study emphasizes the need for a ‘blended model’ of urban lawns, combining durability with heat-resistant, biodiverse vegetation to address social values and environmental concerns.

Behavior Mapping and Its Application in Smart Social Spaces

Behavior mapping is the systematic observation of people using their environments. The Smart Social Spaces research project, recently completed in Sydney, Australia, is used as a vehicle to illustrate the usefulness of this method for understanding the relationships between people and public spaces in cities. Behavior mapping was the central method used to establish what impact the inclusion of smart technology and street furniture had on people’s use of two public spaces. Using this method, it is possible to record real-time patterns of people’s use of public space, enabling local authorities to better support the social use of public space and the management of its infrastructure.

Smart Screen Design in Public Spaces: A Case Analysis of Xiushui Square Park in Chun’an County

This paper explores the importance of outdoor smart screens in smart city development, using Xiushui Square Park in Chun’an, Zhejiang, as a case. It critiques current smart screens’ site selection, exterior design, and interface, and suggests improvements. Based on field research, the study proposes a site selection strategy considering pedestrian flow, climate, and regulations. It highlights designs that integrate local culture and interfaces to serve all ages. The findings suggest these strategies can improve smart screens’ practicality and service quality, promoting smart city sustainability. The paper aims to provide references for researchers and practitioners in smart city public space design.

Mapping Everyday Public Spaces in Urban Neighbourhoods

Central public spaces in cities have always played an important role in urban experience, and continue to have a city-wide significance, often described as the meeting spaces of cultures, politics, social and individual trajectories. Peripheral and/or neighbourhood public spaces, where the everyday life of citizens unfolds, rarely enjoy any of this significance and may not receive the attention needed from the main stakeholders involved. Many researchers have highlighted the significance of these public spaces in cities, pointing out that the patterns of everyday life in residential neighbourhoods – whether it is the chance encounters in the local market or conversations in the local square– are the essential material of society and may well have integrative social functions, of an individual or collective initiative. This paper aims at an empirical contribution to a better understanding of the synthesizing mechanisms, which shape public spaces in cities’ neighbourhoods, by addressing the variety of factors involved and their relations and by highlighting the need for manifold perspectives on the localized ‘meaning’ of places, constructed, and shaped by local practices and behaviours. Drawing on the theoretical framework of relational theories, the paper sets out to explore the links between the physical sphere and the social sphere of three different residential public spaces in the city of Limassol, critically exploring the ways in which the boundaries of public space are challenged and negotiated. Both spatial analysis and social sciences methods are employed to map and unveil the essential role residential public spaces play, in bringing together what society divides in contemporary, multicultural cities, where multiplicities of identities, languages, religions and cultures may naturally give rise to tensions and even hostilities. The potential for interaction and meetings between different people backgrounds in the public realm is shown to be a crucial prerequisite for shaping encounters during their everyday life, encouraging tolerance and a feeling of belonging.

Public Space and City Functions

The study explores how public spaces contribute to a city's core functions—economic, social, and political—through a conceptual framework that positions public spaces as central. However, focusing solely on these typologies may not fully address the complexities of contemporary cities. The framework is a starting point to discuss this correlation in a South Asian context.Drawing lessons from various public spaces in cities across the world, the research carries out an in-depth analysis of the public space of Raja Bazaar, a historical market in the centre of Rawalpindi city. Raja Bazaar is a shared street with pedestrian and vehicular movement, fulfilling its role as a trading centre for the city. It has a lot more potential in its unrecognized heritage, food industry, and local crafts which is currently lost in urban challenges. Urban mobility has recently dominated the public space, consequently, suppressing the social function of the street especially for the residents. The political functions and religious festivities still thrive with temporary pedestrianization, pop-up activity and space appropriation at particular times of the year. The study also finds the positive impact of community’s ownership of public spaces. However, even the community engagement and mobilization have limitations in the absence of well-functioning local governments–a major lesson learnt during the implementation of public space revitalization initiatives in Raja Bazar. Recognizing the complex nature of city functions and the diverse characterization of public spaces, the conceptual framework developed under this study needs further investigation through comparative analysis of its application in different neighbourhoods and regions.

Contemporary revitalization of public spaces in Łódź. The role of squares, streets and courtyards in creating the genius loci based on the historical heritage

Despite its medieval origins (1423), the city of Łódź is young. It flourished as an important industrial center in the nineteenth century, becoming the second largest city in Poland in the twentieth. Its “American” plan with one main street and districts developing around factories is unusual in Poland and leaves little room for city squares and public space. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Łódź has been trying to create more shared areas because they underwent far-reaching degradation after the transformatio of 1989 and the economic crisis of the 1990s. Nowadays, however, these areas are being revitalized. There are many competitions and projects concerning both the rehabilitation of existing city squares and the creation of new ones. However, the term “city square” has largely lost its original, traditional meaning, with “square” now covering a variety of open spaces, ranging from pedestrian streets to courtyards. The article discusses selected examples of municipal and private investments in squares, streets and parks. Despite the positive reception of these urban changes, the “renewal” of the city is criticized by specialists and considered controversial.The article attempts to analyze these solutions in terms of urban planning as well as urban landscape and ecology, also venturing to gauge whether such solutions can be considered modern and adequate to the requirements of twenty-first-century urban planning.

Comparative study of ergonomic and technological criteria for universal accessibility at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Accessibility focused on people with reduced mobility has been a challenge for urban design in Latin America since these considerations are only met in 25% of public spaces in cities. Universal accessibility within the study centers is even more limited since the facilities do not have inclusive designs focused on people with reduced mobility. The University of Guayaquil was chosen as a case study, specifically the facilities of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism due to their spatial and architectural conditions. The objective of this study proposes the architectural redesign of public and buildable spaces with ergonomic and technological criteria that improve accessibility for people with disabilities. A qualitative and quantitative approach methodology is applied, evaluating the spatial and architectural conditions through weightings applied to ergonomic and technological criteria. As a result, it is obtained that the ergonomic criterion improves the conditions of users with physical disabilities by 60% according to adaptations of size and design and that the technological and communication information systems generate a better performance around disabilities. visual and auditory generating a 90% general improvement in users. As a future line of research, it is intended to extend these criteria to the rest of the faculties of the University of Guayaquil to obtain an inclusive model of higher education.

Mapping Safety, Security and Walkability of Historical Public Open Spaces in Post-Conflict Libya: Tripoli as North African Case Study

North African cities have been undergoing major transformation over the past two decades following protracted instability, civic uprising, and conflicts, changing their perception from havens to territories of displacements with social, psychological, and physical problems. Historic public spaces in those cities, in particular, form a critical part of urban environments as they have the identity, livelihoods and cross-community engagement in a healthy and fulfilling urban fabric and culture. Whilst there have been several studies on the characteristics of open spaces in urban environments, there is very limited work on the changing perceptions, use and engagement of public spaces in historic cities especially in the post-Arab Spring and its relative instability. This study aims to deploy investigative and creative methods to map, analyse and navigate through the transformation in the perceptions of historic public spaces in Post-Conflict Libya and its divided cities. It will study the users' (locals and visitors) attitudes, movements, and reflections on how those spaces have changed over time. visitors' behaviour in open historical public spaces in Tripoli, Libya. The study explores the relationships between the characteristics of historical public spaces, physical activity, and psychological behaviour. The paper argues that safety and security in public spaces are critical and inherent qualities that inform much of the users’ attitudes in historic cities, which has continued to be the case in post-conflict Tripoli.

Exploring the Urban Environment in the Educational Design of Design Objects for Public Spaces

The purpose of the study is to find ways of involving students of the “Environmental Design” speciality in solving real problems of open public spaces in cities by means of design during educational process. General scientific methods of theoretical research are applied: analysis and synthesis, generalization and comparison. The novelty of the research. In view of the relevance of creating high-quality public places in the urban environment and the presence of a significant number of problems associated with the placement of design elements in public space, it was considered necessary to include in the educational process of students majoring in Environmental Design the exploration of the real-existing urban environment to improve its quality at the artistic and design level. The task of developing the concept of a multifunctional design object with pronounced artistic and figurative characteristics in the public space has been proposed and substantiated. The article reveals the sequence of basic steps of pre-design research intended to guide students to learn how to analyse (from the point of view of design) the existing state of public spaces in which students can feel themselves as direct users and designers. The basis of this task is the methodology for performing pre-design research and forming conceptual ideas in the field of Environmental Design. The main teaching method is the project method as a set of research problematic methods of creative direction. Conclusions. Such pre-design research can be carried out as part of a course or diploma project; or as a separate task in the process of studying professional disciplines in the field of Environmental Design. Exposing students to the real problems of the urban environment and involving them in solving the issues in the educational process will help prevent unconscious neglect of the context in their future professional careers. As a result of the assignment, students learn to notice and distinguish elements of the urban environment, to be critical of design objects in public space, to approach their design only after a comprehensive pre-design analysis, to understand the importance of visual purity of space and to appreciate the integrity of the existing architectural composition. Presenting to their fellow students the rationale for adopted solutions helps them critically evaluate their ideas and prepare for active participation in public projects to improve the comfort, social attractiveness, and the urban environment safety.

We Are Public Space: Bodies and Minds in Post-pandemic Cities

The project aims to pay heightened attention to public spaces in cities on several levels. The first follows the trend of newly developed privately owned public spaces (known as POPS), which establish a precedent for how corporations and cities define public space and what they prioritize within it. A clear focus on people as consumers – rather than citizens – have several effects, including strict restrictions, the creation of societies of control (Deleuze 1992: 3), and various forms of often indirect exclusion of certain groups of inhabitants. The second level attempts to accentuate subjective experiences focused on our bodies and making them consciously present in relation to public space. Both layers are a significant component of the performative lecture walks, on the basis of which I introduce the results of interactions with the respondents in my case studies. Finally, I shall describe what cities looked like during the pandemic and consider whether these scenes might be a model for the future. Are we to expect further experiences of empty cities?

포스트 코로나 시대 스마트시티 공공공간 장소정체성에 관한 연구

A smart city is completed due to a virtuous cycle of urban structure that produces data and efficiently utilizes generated data to induce citizen participation and lead collaboration to improve the quality of life. The public space of a city is a basic element that composes the city and is a space where various activities and social participation of citizens occur. Due to the recent COVID-19, a change in perception and role of public space is required.
 The purpose of this study is to theoretically consider public space and placeness, analyze public space restructuring projects in major cities around the world, and present the placeness of smart city public space in the post-COVID-19 era.
 Flexibility, eco-friendliness, and sustainability are very important for smart city public spaces in the post-COVID-19 era. Data visualization, which means data sharing and visualization, is decreasing, while Data integration, which means data collection and utilization, has become more important. On the other hand, the morphological symbolism, which was a major historical characteristic of public space, decreased and the meaning as a space for exchange increased. Finally, the most important place identity of smart city public space can be said to be citizen participation.