Life In Public Spaces Research Articles

Life in Public Spaces: A Theater of the Streets, Social Exclusion, and a Safe Zone in Shanghai

This article reports on fieldwork in Shanghai during 2007 and 2008. Orum was a Fulbright Scholar at the time teaching at Fudan University, and doing research on the topic of public space. Along with his students he examined how public spaces were used in several parts in Shanghai, plus they interviewed a number of recent migrants who worked as vendors on the streets and formed part of the informal economy. The article outlines the theoretical importance of public spaces in general, and then provides an interpretation of how those spaces are used both for a “theater of the streets” and a “safe zone” for political discussion.

Die Heimbeatmungssituation aus Sicht von Angehörigen und Familien

Summary Home respiratory intensive care from the perspective of relatives and families Families who have a 1 : 1 home respiratory intensive care are facing a high psychosocial challenge. They have to cope with the severe illness of their family member, and they also endure a lack of privacy during the constant presence of a nursing staff in their houses. During a qualitative study, several interviews were carried out by the narrative method. Based on the question how families experience the home respiratory intensive care. Two central subjects were identified: the stress they experienced and the health-preserving resources resulting from the care context. Two main categories could be elaborated: the load of stress connected to this situation, and the health keeping recourses as a result of the care that’s needed. Although the issue »stress« took the main part in the reports. The main problems the respondents encountered were: life in public spaces with their sick family members, the missing of psychosocia...

La desigualdad invisible: el uso cotidiano de los espacios públicos en la Lima del siglo XXI

El proceso de transformación que experimenta Lima en la actual era de la globalización ha supuesto la agudización de prácticas de segregación y/o exclusión en la forma de usar los espacios públicos de la ciudad aunque, paradójicamente, éste no parece ser un problema que preocupe a los limeños. El objetivo de este artículo es sustentar que la vida cotidiana en los espacios públicos expresa las grandes desigualdades sociales que existen en Lima, las cuales ofrecen múltiples facetas en conflicto, como la del conductor de vehículo motorizado con el habitante-transeúnte o la del habitante-residente con el habitante-transeúnte, las que se suelen superponer a desigualdades más visibles como el nivel de ingreso o el lugar de residencia.

Computing and monitoring potential of public spaces by shading analysis using 3d lidar data and advanced image analysis

Abstract. The paper regards specific context of public spaces in “shadow” of tall buildings located in European cities. Majority of tall buildings in European cities were built in last 15 years. Tall buildings appear mainly in city centres, directly at important public spaces being viable environment for inhabitants with variety of public functions (open spaces, green areas, recreation places, shops, services etc.). All these amenities and services are under direct impact of extensive shading coming from the tall buildings. The paper focuses on analyses and representation of impact of shading from tall buildings on various public spaces in cities using 3D city models. Computer environment of 3D city models in cityGML standard uses 3D LiDAR data as one of data types for definition of 3D cities. The structure of cityGML allows analytic applications using existing computer tools, as well as developing new techniques to estimate extent of shading coming from high-risers, affecting life in public spaces. These measurable shading parameters in specific time are crucial for proper functioning, viability and attractiveness of public spaces – finally it is extremely important for location of tall buildings at main public spaces in cities. The paper explores impact of shading from tall buildings in different spatial contexts on the background of using cityGML models based on core LIDAR data to support controlled urban development in sense of viable public spaces. The article is prepared within research project 2TaLL: Application of 3D Virtual City Models in Urban Analyses of Tall Buildings, realized as a part of Polish-Norway Grants.

Rethinking urban design for a changing public life

PurposeThe nature and conceptualization of public space and public life have been always associated with collective participation and socialization – in other words, the capacity to live together among strangers. Today these associations seem to have become challenged and problematic, and often end in questioning whether public space still matters for our public life? This paper aims to bring new understanding to the reading of public life in public spaces and also contribute to rethinking of the role of urban design today within our changing public life.Design/methodology/approachThe paper adopts participant‐observation within a case‐study area, “Parque das Nações”, in Lisbon, Portugal.FindingsThe paper identifies a number of spatial, social and experiential conditions that are conducive to social interactions amongst strangers. Often it is the combination of three factors that generates the most interaction.Research limitations/implicationsParticipant observation is a useful method to study public behaviour in the public realm. Nevertheless, as the study was conducted in one location, the findings may not be transferable to other locations/cultures, etc.Practical implicationsThis paper demonstrates the need to rethink and adapt urban design practices to an increasing changing public life. Urban design needs to be much more sensitive to all locations (planned and unplanned) and the favourable spatial, experiential and social conditions people make use of and which can provoke positive interactions need to be recognised.Social implicationsA better understanding of the factors that are conducive to positive interaction between strangers and non‐strangers in the public realm will help to develop more favourable conditions for these to take place. The interaction between people is part of the fabric of social life.Originality/valueThis is the first paper to combine social/spatial and experiential factors in the observation of social interaction in public places.