Public Space Research Articles

Politicising the Public Space: On Dalit Women Sanitation Workers in India

Caste determines the life worlds of people in India in particular and South Asia in general. Historically, it is observed that caste has conditioned the nature of public spaces. Upper castes can appropriate the public spaces legitimized by caste ideology and practice. However, colonial and post-colonial India witnessed changes in the caste system due to its (modern) legal interventions. Paradoxically, caste persists in its crude and subtle forms. It has also acquired new forms in post-independent public spaces. Caste determines certain bodily dispositions within the so-called public spaces. The ambiguous nature of modernity and the weight of tradition have drastically transformed the public space. A socially regulated economy and public institutions are determining the people, space, and mobility of the castes, too. This article investigates the nature of the stigmatized labour of Dalit women sanitation workers (who come under the manual scavenging community) within diverse public urban spaces. It analyses the various questions related to the Dalit women sanitation workers who work in select public universities, urban housing colonies, and slums in Delhi, India. It probes the Dalit women sanitation workers’ day-to-day life in caste-ridden spaces of urban- “public” spaces. One of the central questions that needs to be addressed is whether the socioeconomic space of these Dalit women workers has changed in contemporary India. Why do Dalit women have to do stigmatized work in public spaces? How are purity and pollution reinforced in elusive ways? Thus, it initiates a critique of the Indian feminist understanding of public spaces. This article acts as a way to engage with the epistemic priority of women sanitation workers to problematize Brahmanic feminism in India. Can there be any social-political engagement with the public space in the case of Dalit women sanitation workers? At the level of theory, this article critiques the dominant-Habermasian idea of the public sphere and Nancy Fraser’s counter-public to reflect on conceptual practice grounded in the Dalit women sanitation workers and public space.

Compensatory practices for the renovation of public spaces in the historical environment of cities

The experience of revitalization of public spaces in the historical environment of cities in the practice of foreign and domestic design experience is analyzed. The task is to determine the place and role of modern art and modern architecture in the life of the historical city center in an environment filled with cultural heritage objects. The foreign and domestic experience of practical accent solutions used as temporary, compensatory practices for the renovation of public spaces in the historical environment of cities is considered. The potential of a new perception as a tool for renewal and an integrated approach to solving the strategy for revitalizing public spaces of historical city centers is revealed.

Landscape urbanism in the context of the historical environment

Currently, most people live in cities, which leads to an increase in building density, a reduction in public spaces, and a violation of the ecological balance. Therefore, one of the main tasks facing architects and designers is to maintain ecological balance, which, in turn, contributes to the creation of more comfortable living conditions. This article examines the need for more effective integration of landscape urbanism techniques in the context of the historical urban environment. It is also proposed to take into account the methodology of urban space design based on the study of the environment, natural characteristics and interactions between them, economic, cultural and social aspects.

Slip Resistance (Friction) and Safe Walk Characteristics of Selected Shoe Soles on Floor Tiles in Nigeria

Slip-related accidents represent a significant public safety concern, particularly in environments where flooring may be exposed to various contaminants. This research investigates the slip resistance characteristics of selected shoe soles on different types of local floor tiles, employing the British Pendulum Tester (BPT) under diverse conditions, including: dry, sandy, wet, soapy, and oily surfaces. The study aims to provide quantitative data on friction coefficients to comprehensively assess the performance of different shoe sole and tile combinations. The results indicate varying levels of slip resistance across the tested combinations, with some shoe soles demonstrating superior performance under specific conditions. For instance, Poly-Urethane soles consistently showed higher friction coefficients in both dry and contaminated conditions, suggesting their suitability for environments prone to slip hazards. Conversely, certain tiles exhibited lower slip resistance when exposed to water and oily substances, highlighting the need for careful selection of both footwear and flooring materials in safety-critical applications. The findings underscore the importance of considering environmental factors in evaluating footwear performance, providing practical implications for improving safety standards in public and private spaces. The data generated from this research can inform recommendations for better footwear design, floor tile selection, and maintenance practices to mitigate slip hazards effectively. This study emphasizes the significance of evidence-based approaches in enhancing slip resistance standards, advocating for ongoing research and industry collaboration to ensure continuous improvement in safety protocols.

A Comparative Study of Swin Transformer and CNN Models for Crowd Counting

Abstract. Crowd counting, a critical component in the management and safety planning of large gatherings and public spaces, is essential for ensuring smooth event operations and preventing potential overcrowding issues. While the standard convolutional neural network (CNN) based model performs well in head counting tasks, it has certain drawbacks when applied to complex scenarios. With the rapid development of artificial intelligence, Transformer models that rely on self-attention mechanisms, as Swin Transformer, have demonstrated exceptional performance in visual tasks, such as image classification, and segmentation in recent times. This study examines the experimental findings of Swin Transformer's head counting tasks and contrasts them with the CNN-based model. Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Square Error (MSE) evaluation indicators show that the Transformer model outperforms the classic CNN model in terms of generalization abilities when dealing with complicated scenarios. Future research work will increase the diversity of data sets and focus on optimizing model structure and improving training efficiency.

Droga pisarska Heleny Filochowskiej

The article reconstructs the biography of a writer, journalist, and caretaker of soldiers in the Foreign Legion. It traces her life journey: Łomża – Kraków – travels across Europe – stay in Oran. It describes Filochowska’s connections with daily newspapers (“Goniec Krakowski”, “Ilustrowany Kurier Codzienny”) and periodicals (“Świat Kobiecy”). The author’s novels (Sztylet, Macierzyństwo, Alarm, Sierżant Szarota, Kariera panny Maniusi) addressed women’s issues from an aesthetic-somatic perspective. Filochowska wrote novellas and short stories – the article identifies their first press publications and their critical reception. Collections of novellas (Nasz kruk, Czarne łabędzie, Historia jednej nocy, Kobieta w masce, Kobra) were recognized by literary critics as interesting portrayals of women’s psychology, though somewhat one-sided in their emphasis on eroticism. From today’s perspective, the courage with which the author wrote about the issues of gender biology, as well as the subordination of women at home and in public spaces, justifies a renewed appreciation of her work.

Canada needs a national COVID-19 inquiry now.

We are now in the fifth year of an ongoing pandemic, and Canada continues to experience significant surges of COVID-19 infections. In addition to the acute impacts of deaths and hospitalizations, there is growing awareness of an accumulation of organ damage and disability which is building a "health debt" that will affect Canadians for decades to come. Calls in 2023 for an inquiry into the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic went unheeded, despite relevant precedent. Canada urgently needs a comprehensive review of its successes and failures to chart a better response in the near- and long-term. While Canada fared better than many comparators in the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is clearly still in a public health crisis. Infections are not only affecting Canadians' daily lives but also eroding healthcare capacity. Post-COVID condition is having accumulating and profound individual, social, and economic consequences. An inquiry is needed to understand the current evidence underlying policy choices, identify a better course of action on various fronts, and build resilience. More must be done to reduce transmission, including a serious public education campaign to better inform Canadians about COVID and effective mitigations, especially the benefits of respirator masks. We need a national standard for indoor air quality to make indoor public spaces safer, particularly schools. Data collection must be more robust, especially to understand and mitigate the disproportionate impacts on under-served communities and high-risk populations. General confidence in public health must be rebuilt, with a focus on communication and transparency. In particular, the wide variation in provincial policies has sown mistrust: evidence-based policy should be consistent. Finally, Canada's early success in vaccination has collapsed, and this development needs a careful post-mortem. A complete investigation of Canada's response to the pandemic is not yet possible because that response is still ongoing and, while we have learned much, there remain areas of dispute and uncertainty. However, an inquiry is needed to conduct a rapid assessment of the current evidence and policies and provide recommendations on how to improve in 2025 and beyond as well as guidance for future pandemics.

Revitalizing Heritage: The Role of Urban Morphology in Creating Public Value in China’s Historic Districts

In the context of historical districts becoming a key to the urban transformation and high-quality development of Chinese cities, this paper investigates the regeneration of historic environments in China, emphasizing the creation of public value through urban morphology. By analyzing five distinct case studies—Chengdu KuanZhai Alley, Shanghai TianZiFang Alley, Guangzhou EnNing Road, Taiyuan ZhongLou Street, and Beijing NanLuoGu Alley—this study explores the relationship between urban form and public value creation from 2000 to 2020. The research posits that the spatial attribute of “public nature” is central to the regeneration process, highlighting the importance of understanding how urban spaces can foster community engagement and social interaction. An evaluation system is constructed to assess the regeneration of historic areas based on spatial “publicness” and people’s perceptions, addressing the need for a more nuanced approach to urban planning. The findings reveal that effective urban regeneration not only preserves historical significance but also enhances the quality of public spaces, thereby contributing to social equity and cultural integrity. This study aims to provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, advocating for a public value-oriented approach to the renewal of historic districts that balances economic development with the preservation of cultural heritage. The integration of public value concepts into heritage management is crucial for creating vibrant urban environments that resonate with community needs and aspirations.

Regaining public space for children: the context and mechanisms of a play street intervention in central Paris

ABSTRACT Increasing the population’s access to urban public spaces has become a political priority for many cities. Street calming initiatives, including play streets, have been one means to make urban public spaces more accessible, especially to children. While play streets have proliferated globally, most are ‘one off’ events. The key elements involved in developing a longstanding play street remain unclear. Drawing on concepts from realist evaluation, this study involved the qualitative examination of a locally developed and recurring play street in Paris-Centre. It aimed to identify key contexts surrounding a play street and the mechanisms activated to illustrate how these can contribute to the play street’s development and sustainability. Collaborating with play associations, mobilizing knowledge about play, activating local networks, and receiving funding activated mechanisms of legitimacy, acceptance, and confidence in the play street. This was critical to launch the play street. Local priorities, strong leadership with shared values and aims activated mechanisms of enthusiasm among families and commitment and perseverance among the project leaders to defend their ideas. There were important for the play street’s sustainability. These findings can be a critical starting point for other localities aiming to develop a play street.

Approaching an Urban Night Space Through a 'Virtual' Rhythmanalysis: Public Spaces, Spatio-Temporal Appropriations, Representations, and Online Live Streams

This paper presents an attempt at a 'virtual rhythmanalysis of an urban night space. Rhythmanalysis, as presented by Henri Lefebvre and Catherine Régulier, is a critical practical-theoretical approach to examining the urban space and its modes of temporal production. Across the globe, 24-hour urban lifecycles are increasingly valued in the planning, development, and management of urban districts and spaces. But how does the night affect urban space, and how can we approach it methodically? Utilizing the emergent Lefebvrian rhythmanalysis framework, the paper examines how a public space is (re)produced night after night through spatial and temporal appropriations of the space through the shifting rhythmic constellations of embodied practices and materialities. The paper utilizes screens and online live-camera streams to examine the night space, shifting the rhythmanalysis' original phenomenological-hermeneutic basis towards postphenomenology and mediating visual technologies in the experience of space. The emergence of new audiovisual materials extends our understanding of what the city 'is' and how it can be experientially approached. From a postphenomenological perspective, human-technology relationships are transformed in different ways using audiovisual technologies. Together with addressing the possibilities and challenges of shifting the Lefebvrian `lenses' to a virtual setting, the rhythmanalysis of the urban night space reveals the interplay between strong and weak rhythms and their diurnal oscillation, and the polyrhythmicities of the intersecting flows, bodies, and materialities of the space.

Placemaking and the dynamic transformation of urban landscapes: a comprehensive exploration

ABSTRACT In contemporary urban development discourse, the transformative capacity of public art, particularly murals within placemaking paradigms, is a significant area of interest. This paper explores the dynamic interplay between public art and urban settings, focusing on murals as catalysts for urban revitalization. By fostering local economic growth, community participation, and socio-spatial well-being, murals play a pivotal role in urban transformation. Despite their impact, the contribution of murals in Balkan urban landscapes remains underexplored. To address this gap, the paper examines the power of murals through the ‘Street B’ initiative in Pristina, Kosovo. An evaluative framework is introduced to assess murals’ roles in regeneration and placemaking, affirming their significance in transforming urban spaces. Additionally, the regulation of public spaces and artistic creativity, emphasizing the need for clear guidelines and metrics to integrate public art into urban strategies are addressed. By advancing this dialogue, the research enriches existing literature and underscores the aesthetic and socio-functional value of murals in urban change.

Developing a Method to Evaluate Public Space Perception in River Valley Plain Villages of the Loess Gully Area Based on Villagers’ Perspectives

The natural conditions in the loess gully area are harsh, and the construction of rural public spaces often lacks scientific guidance. It is essential to develop an optimization method for public spaces that is oriented toward the needs of villagers. For this study, the numerous river valley plain villages in Northern Shaanxi were selected as typical examples, with a focus on Liangqu Village as a case study. First, a public space perception evaluation system was established using the semantic differential method, which comprised four criterion-layer factors and nineteen indicator-layer factors. Perception evaluations were conducted for two types of public spaces: nodes and lanes. The results indicate that “facility completeness”, “accessibility”, and “activity diversity” were the most significant factors affecting villagers’ perceptions of node spaces. In contrast, “safety”, “landscape richness”, and “facility completeness” were the most critical factors influencing villagers’ perceptions of road spaces. Based on the evaluation results, the optimization needs of public spaces were categorized into four levels, and factors that urgently require improvement such as “facility completeness” and “safety” were identified. This study analyzed villagers’ perceptions and needs related to public spaces, providing scientific guidance for establishing a bottom-up design method for optimizing public spaces.

Sustainable micro renewal and renovation of arts town in China: Intermingling design of contemporary art and Chinese classical garden

<p>The gardening philosophy of Chinese classical gardens is an integral part of China’s rich traditional culture, reflecting ancient scholars’ understanding of nature and humanity and embodying aesthetic and philosophical values. With the progression of time, integrating the principles of Chinese classical garden gardening into contemporary space design has emerged as a critical issue in contemporary public space design. This study uses the Butong Arts Town in Qinhuangdao as a case study, focusing on applying Chinese classical garden gardening concepts in public space design and regional micro-renovation. Special attention is given to nodes that simultaneously serve interactive and recreational functions. In the micro-renovation of the Butong Arts Town area, Chinese classical garden gardening principles can be employed through greening, landscaping, and other means to enhance the quality of the space. Additionally, by integrating local cultural characteristics, it is possible to create public spaces with distinct regional features, providing a comfortable and pleasant environment for artists, designers, planners, and tourists. The design methods used in this study explore the behavioral characteristics and usage needs of various groups from multiple perspectives, aiming to optimize activity spaces. This research identifies the main issues within the target areas and proposes corresponding improvement measures to enhance the functionality and aesthetic quality of the space. The aim is to integrate people’s growing spiritual pursuits with public activity spaces, providing new references and ideas for future sustainable space design.</p>

Co-designing with and for Small and Remote Communities: Reflections on Transformative Innovation, Servitisation, and Agonism.

Within the conceptual framework of design for social innovation and democracy, this paper reports on implementing participatory processes in regenerating public spaces in semi-rural contexts, questioning the meaning of transformative innovation, servitisation, and agonism in non-urban contexts. This inquiry argues for exploring a reassessment of how we enact participatory public space regeneration strategies through their application in a remote context. The latter has been untouched by all the bottom-up initiatives and movements that have swept through European urban centres over the last fifteen years; returning to the urban space with these reflections could provide an opportunity to explore new perspectives, even in a saturated context, questioning the models of metropolitan practices. By challenging the paradigm of innovation as the only direction associated with a valid process of improvement and change, this paper delves into the urgency of looking at co-design processes through the lenses of decoloniality, relationality and agonism, creating moments of reflexivity inside the research team and with the local community. Our reflections and learnings stem from “Human Cities / SMOTIES, Creative Works with Small and Remote Places”, a participatory design project that examines community engagement methods for co-designing public spaces and transformations in European rural areas, specifically Albugnano, a small town in northern Italy. Setting the Albugnano community as an experimental ground, the case study addresses the lack of valorisation of tangible and intangible heritage, depopulation and social fragmentation by unpacking narratives, nurturing social imagination, and collectively envisioning and designing potential regenerative transformations.

Riders driving at the limit of AI: geographies of two-wheeled food delivery and traffic safety in Seoul, South Korea

ABSTRACT Food delivery has become a leading cause of industrial accidents in Korea, with platforms’ AI features acting as “the boss” to riders. Our analysis of 175 articles from the Korean press (2014–2022) examines how AI intersects with the commercial use of motorcycles and traffic safety. With particular attention to riders’ interview quotes and opinion pieces, we show how AI constrains riders’ mobile experiences and subjectivities, by taking over their autonomy to choose their task and drive responsibly. This creates an algorithmic loop where data on “fast and successful” deliveries is generated by time-pressured rides, often involving unsafe riding and traffic violations. Our findings contribute to platform urbanism literature, by highlighting the mobile and embodied implications of profit-driven mobilities. We further broaden the AI urbanism debate by showing how traffic safety and public space are reconfigured by the AI-driven speed and volume of food delivery.

The Influence of Elderly-Friendly Public Spaces and Stakeholder Perspective on The Quality of Life in Urban Micro-Districts of Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China

The Influence of Elderly-Friendly Public Spaces and Stakeholder Perspective on The Quality of Life in Urban Micro-Districts of Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, China

Abstract Su504: The Impact of Locked Cabinets for Automated External Defibrillators (Aeds) on Cardiac Arrest Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Background: Rapid defibrillation by the public with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is critical to improving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival. Concerns about theft, vandalism, and misuse of AEDs have led to the implementation of security measures, including the use of locked cabinets to house these devices in public areas. Aim: This scoping review aims to systematically explore the existing literature on the impact of locked cabinets for AEDs during emergencies. Methods: A search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL and Google Scholar (20 pages) was performed on May 25th 2024. Studies of any design (e.g., experimental, observational, qualitative) that evaluated the impact of locked cabinets on AED accessibility and effectiveness during emergencies. Data were charting was iterative, and after reading included studies the studies were grouped by the outcomes studied. Results: We screened 2,096 titles and found 10 relevant studies: 8 observational studies and 2 OHCA simulation studies. Four papers were only published as conference abstract and no studies reported on patient outcomes. Data were reported on varying numbers of AEDS (ranging from 39 to 31,938) which were located inside buildings and public spaces. Overall theft and vandalism rates were very low, with the majority of studies reporting rates of <2%. Although in some studies it was unclear if the AED was stolen, or whether it had been used in an emergency and not returned. The impact of locking AEDs in cabinets was reported in one study, and showed minimal impact on rates of theft and vandalism (0.34% vs. 0.12%, p< 0.01). Two OHCA simulation studies conducted at AED locations showed significantly slower AED retrieval when AEDs were locked away. One survey of first responders reported that 50% (25/50) were injured while accessing an AED, which required breaking glass. Conclusion: Rates of theft and vandalism of AEDs located in private and public locations are low overall and in unlocked cabinets. Further research is needed on the impact of locked AEDs on patient outcomes.

Integrated Framework for Enhancing Liveability and Ecological Sustainability in UAE Communities

Urban growth is vast in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to economic development, and there is a need to consider liveability and sustainable ecosystems for future urban expansion. Promising strategies for sustainability focus on minimizing a building’s effects on the environment and improving residents’ quality of life, which is important in the desert and when confronting the issues of water and climate change. Sustainable practices that impact the livelihood of people in the UAE include factors such as walkable areas, open space, policing, healthcare, education, housing, and ensuring friendly transport that enhance the overall quality of life of residents in the region. Recognizing and appreciating the UAE’s cultural values is crucial when incorporating these aspects, allowing references to the nation’s character when creating communal areas. The primary research included quantitative surveys of three identified communities, composed of fifty participants each, where the findings indicate partial to full compliance, with 85.7% of the liveability indices being about public transport and green space. Through this analysis, liveability and sustainability principles need to be trialed and incorporated into future urban development to embrace the ecology as well as the inhabitants. To realize these targets, the proposed study adopted a four-part approach. Initially, an analysis of related studies concerning the UAE or the Gulf area was carried out to obtain important liveability and quality-of-life factors. A total of 6 dimensions and 51 indicators were extracted from the literature to inform the next stage. Subsequently, the authors identified and evaluated the design of three chosen communities in various cities in the UAE concerning liveability and sustainability indices. Consequently, a conceptual redesign of a typical community was made, illustrating the improved quality of life and sustainability. Lastly, a survey with respective facets from an urban planning architect and environmental scientist cum environmental economist was conducted to evaluate the practicality of the proposed design. This research gives a comprehensive picture of how liveability and sustainable ecosystem concepts need to be implemented in the UAE urban context and offers a direction to develop lively, context-specific, culturally attached, and sustainable urban environments for the present day and for the future.

Design of Public Space: An Essential Tool for a Better Future

Labics (Maria Claudia Clemente and Francesco Isidori with a text by Marco Biraghi)The Architecture of Public SpacePark Books, 2023

Effect of human sound component on the sociability of urban public spaces—a case study in Sheffield, UK

AbstractSoundscape quality is important for fostering social interactions in urban public spaces. This study focuses on how and to what extent the compositions of the soundscape affect the sociability of urban public spaces where human sound is focused. Four 360° experimental soundscape samples were designed as foreground/background/no human sound type and signal sound type, based on the raw data collected in Peace Gardens, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Following Affordance Theory, sociability was analyzed by the experimental survey through two aspects—suitability and stimulation level—through a questionnaire consisting of Soundscape Quality evaluation (SQE) and Level of Willingness for social interactions (LoW), respectively. 120 participants were recruited in the same site representing the compositions of space users. Results show that only foreground human sound type significantly enhanced both suitability and stimulation levels, other samples were evaluated with either high suitability/low stimulation or low suitability/high stimulation. Results indicate people prefer a human sound dominated soundscape with high complexity and this preference was varied among different companion types and age groups. To achieve high sociability, it is suggested to create a complex and eventful soundscape within the range of pleasantness accompanied by a centripetal spatial form, and concerns users' diverse demographic backgrounds.