Quality Of Public Space Research Articles

Public works, urban development, common goods

The role taken by public works requires us to use them to address the need to govern the complexity of the contemporary city, focusing its development and physical transformations on shared goals. The combination of urban regeneration and public works finds an outlet in intervention strategies for the quality of public space, public buildings, and architecture of civic value. In order to make public works an opportunity for shared regeneration, planning actions should aim at framing individual works within a broader strategic vision, dealing with the management of services (cultural, educational, social) to involve communities and stakeholders in organising urban enhancement methods. The construction of the ‘public city’ oriented to the common good should constitute a continuous path that allows neither pauses nor retreats. It should activate decision-making and governance processes that enhance citizens’ participation and develop synergies with private subjects, focusing on the social dynamics of the world of work, dwelling and culture.

Exploring the Impact of Public Spaces on Social Cohesion in Resettlement Communities from the Perspective of Experiential Value: A Case Study of Fuzhou, China

With the rapid pace of global urbanization, the urbanization of resettlement communities in China has garnered increasing attention from scholars. This study, grounded in experiential value theory, delves into the relationship between public spaces in resettlement communities and their social cohesion. Focusing on resettlement communities in the central urban area of Fuzhou, this study employs a mixed-method approach to analyze the functional characteristics of public spaces using geospatial data, including their green coverage ratio, spatial accessibility, facility configuration, and neighborhood density. A correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were employed to identify the key elements influencing social cohesion. The results indicate significant disparities in the green coverage, accessibility, facility configuration, and neighborhood density of public spaces. These differences are evident in the quantitative metrics used and also reflect imbalances in spatial layout and resource distribution, highlighting potential pathways for optimizing the quality of public spaces. Further data analyses revealed that both emotional value (β = 0.602, p < 0.01) and functional value (β = 0.136, p < 0.01) have significant positive impacts on social cohesion, with emotional value being particularly influential. This study offers insights for urban planners and policymakers by providing scientific evidence for the optimization of public space design in resettlement communities, with implications for community governance and urban sustainability.

Quality Evaluation of Public Spaces in Traditional Villages: A Study Using Deep Learning and Panoramic Images

In the context of rapid urbanization, public spaces in traditional villages face challenges such as material ageing, loss of characteristics, and functional decline. The scientific and objective assessment of the quality of these public spaces is crucial for the sustainable development of traditional villages. Panoramic images, as an important source of spatial data, combined with deep learning technology, can objectively quantify the characteristics of public spaces in traditional villages. However, existing research has paid insufficient attention to the evaluation of the quality of public spaces in traditional villages at the micro-scale, often relying on questionnaires and interviews, which makes it difficult to meet the needs of planning and construction. This study constructs an evaluation system for the quality of public spaces in traditional villages, taking national-level traditional villages in the Fangshan District of Beijing as an example, based on traditional field research, using deep learning and panoramic images to automatically extract the features of public spaces in traditional villages, using a combination of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Criteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) methods to determine the weights of the indicators and applying the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to evaluate the quality of public spaces in traditional villages. The study found that the quality of public spaces in Nanjiao Village is Grade I; Shuiyu Village and Liulinshui Village, Grade III; and Heilongguan Village, Grade IV and that there is still much room for improvement in general. The evaluation results match well with the public’s subjective perceptions, with an R2 value of 0.832, proving that the constructed evaluation system has a high degree of accuracy. This study provides a scientific basis and an effective tool for the planning, design, and management of public spaces in traditional villages, which helps decision-makers better protect and utilize them.

Age-friendly planning and play: the Study of Older Adult Play Spaces (SOAPS) observation tool

ABSTRACT The Study of Older Adult Play Spaces (SOAPS) observation tool assesses the environmental quality of public space for supporting older adult play. Naturalistic observations were conducted using the SOAPS tool at three play spaces in an age-restricted community in Florida, USA. We found that the most effective play spaces have opportunity for structured, cooperative, rule-based play with flexible surrounding space that allows users to adapt it to their own desires. Integrating these overarching design principles allows space for creativity and bespoke focused use, sedentary and vigorous physical activity, individualized and group socialization, and impromptu as well as organized activity.

Municipality Project Redefining the Identity of Finiq: A Systemic Approach to Urban Resilience and Sustainable Development

This paper will discuss the challenges and potential of the Municipality of Finiq, a region in southern Albania rich in natural, historical, and cultural features; at the same time, however, facing severe degradation and loss of identity. Drawing inspiration from the myth of the Phoeniciae, this study introduces the concept "Re-Invention," which symbolizes the desire of this municipality to reconstruct itself by way of transformation. This would be described as an interrelated population decline, isolation, and a lack of spatial hierarchy that characterizes the Finiq community and its surrounding settlements. Amongst these, the key problems iden- tified are the abandonment of residential structures and poor quality public spaces, which are contributing to an unstructured spatial configuration of this area. In this paper, a methodology for revitalizing these public spaces is presented by re-identifying and amplifying the hidden identity of Finiq Municipality. It includes an approach based on the integration of local tradi- tions, realizing immediate needs of the community in which one lives, so as to create a new sense of place and cohesion. This research delivers a framework for sustainable development that may contrast the continuous decline of recovering at least part of the historical and cultural importance of the area by unveiling its hidden identity.

Examination of the Placemaking Concept on Bursa Historical Cumhuriyet Street

In historical cities, urban public open space’s identity is a fundamental aspect that contributes to shaping the identity of communities. The architectural elements succeeded in expressing the identity of the community and maintaining the continuity of identity. The city's identity is determined by the city's geographical context, cultural level, architectural elements, local traditions, and quality of public open spaces. In recent years the multi dimensional place-making concept become an interesting study area in increasing urban identity. The concept of place-making coines to describe a multi-disciplinary approach in planning, designing, and urban public open spaces management to improve the urban environment and the quality of life. In this study, the conceptual framework of the topic was drawn by putting forth the concept of place and place-making to improve the quality of places in historical public open spaces. The studying area is Cumhuriyet Street in the historical center of Bursa City, which is located in the traditional trade center as a pedestrian road. The historical background is examined to demonstrate its potential in creating a place-making concept in the city's historic core.

Investigating the factors affecting the quality of public spaces as mixed-life places; a case study of Ferdowsi street, Shahin Shahr, Isfahan

ABSTRACT Public spaces serve as the backdrop for various urban activities, and streets, in particular, hold immense significance in this regard. Among the critical environmental aspects of an urban street, the quality of public spaces as mixed-life places stands out, as it contributes to heightened social interactions. The goal of this article is to present a novel model for analyzing the quality of public spaces as mixed-ife places. This is achieved through a comprehensive review and integration of relevant perspectives and insights. A case study was undertaken in Ferdowsi Street, located in Shahin Shahr, Isfahan, to identify the criteria contributing to the mixed-life quality. Seventy questionnaires were randomly distributed and completed by participants. Subsequently, the gathered data were analyzed through the statistical software SPSS. Our findings revealed that Ferdowsi Street currently lacks the attributes associated with mixed-life quality. However, it did highlight some promising potentials which these qualities could be developed.

TRANSFORMING MEDELLÍN: ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE

This article examines the transformative impact of Sergio Fajardo’s mayoral administration (2003–2007) in Medellín, Colombia, focusing on architecture and urban design projects that have promoted equity. Central to this urban renaissance was the Proyecto Urbano Integral (PUI) Nororiental, which revitalized informal settlements in the city’s northeastern zone. The initiative leveraged financing from Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM), a city-owned utility company, ensuring sustainable investment in public works without reliance on international loans. This financial model enabled the redistribution of funds to Medellín’s poorest neighborhoods, fostering transparency and combating corruption. Key to this urban strategy was the involvement of the Empresa de Desarrollo Urbano (EDU) which implemented the PUI with an intersectional planning approach combining public transit, education, culture, recreation, health, and safety initiatives. The PUI emphasized community participation through “Imaginary Workshops” promoting ownership and engagement among residents. The PUI Nororiental, enhanced by the Metrocable transit system and associated public spaces, has successfully integrated isolated neighborhoods while reducing violence and fostering social cohesion. Despite critiques of high costs, this article argues that quality public spaces and civic buildings promote community pride and destigmatization. Medellín’s “social urbanism” serves as a model for addressing inequity in Latin America and the broader Global South, demonstrating how architecture and urban design can drive social change.

Potential of Former Mill Race Corridors for Urban Regeneration Strategies—A Case Study from Podolínec in Prešov Region (Slovakia)

In the past, mill races were part of the urban structure of many towns in Slovakia. As regulated and artificially created waterways, they served to drive mills, rollers, or hammers. With the use of new sources of energy, they lost their functions, and most of them were dried, filled, or buried underground. In our research, we examine the former mill race corridor in Podolínec (Prešov region, Slovakia) and its potential to contribute to urban regeneration strategies. The research steps included the following, namely 1. Identification of the route of the mill race corridor according to historical sources, 2. survey of its current state and its spatial preservation in the urban structure, 3. evaluation of the possibilities of its new uses, which could increase the quality and attractiveness of urban public spaces. The research results show that the fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race are still identifiable in the urban fabric, and in the cadaster, they are in public ownership and suitable for new uses. The fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race in Podolínec represent a potential for strengthening the blue and green infrastructure, pedestrian and cycling greenways, and a potential for the presentation of cultural heritage values, which could contribute to the improvement of the qualities of the urban environment.

Special Feature: Making the civic city: architectural interventions and experiments in the urban

This Special Feature seeks to inform contemporary debates about the role of architectural design on the development (or not) of civic cultures within our cities. Contributors to this Special Feature present research that covers a wide spectrum of case studies that demonstrate the influence of urban design on the articulation of new models of citizenship, and the role of architecture in shaping patterns of exclusion in contemporary cities. In response to these issues, we highlight how the effects of architectural elements within their individual buildings can have much wider social implications in terms of the often impoverished dynamics of the urban spaces they foster; we offer examples of how urban infrastructures hold the potential for animating more just public cultures; and we review examples of the convivial cultures that support citizenship on the ground in cities today. In the final analysis of the impact of architectural interventions in the development of civic cultures, we argue that urban researchers should work with methods that trace the sonic qualities of public space in order to supplement visual approaches to the urban.

The Role of the Characteristics of Urban Furniture and Equipment on the Quality of the Public Space of the Pedestrian Zone

Public spaces are complex structures that contain numerous elements formed by various influential forces suchas social relations, spatial elements, contemporary tendencies of city life and many others. The quality of the city'spublic space determines the frequency of its use, the concentration of content and the intensity of the experiencethat a place will have on its users. The paper describes the results of research that indicate the influence of thecharacteristics of urban furniture and equipment as architectural and urban planning elements on the quality ofpublic spaces in the city center. The systematization of the results of the comparative analysis of theoreticalpositions helped to form three groups of characteristics of architectural-urban elements: spatial, physicomorphological and functional. Through the conducted survey, the opinion of users of the pedestrian zone of NoviSad was investigated regarding the importance of the researched group of public space elements on theirexperience of the place.

Cross-cultural aspects of streetscape perception

Public space auditing is an efficient tool for urban planning of active mobility infrastructures. It enables real estate developers and urban planners to judge the level of comfort their design of sidewalks and public places can provide. Most of the research focus on the methodology to characterize the satisfaction of a public space, but there is a lack of knowledge about inter-cultural aspects of such methods. Our main research question is whether there is consistency in the way in which French and Spanish auditors perceived an urban streetscape: would they rate a public space the same and what features would be differently audited. We selected three urban identities of a modern district representing a variety of urban form: a public place with a tramway station, a commercial street designed as a strip mall, and green residential area with leisure activities. Each of these points of view were audited by a pool of French and Spanish participants according to criteria related to buildings’ architecture and sidewalks’ design for walkability and cyclability purposes. Both virtual reality and real scenes of the public spaces were recorded in videos and provided to participants for rating purposes. Architectural ambiances were measured with qualitative scales, quality of public space was measured with two integrated indicators of pedestrian level of service, and the accordance of infrastructures for active mobility was probed with individual scales. Results from the audit suggest that some streetscape impressions may be quite similar when assessed with various types of measurement, in different cultural contexts: scale, size and architectural style stimulate the same kind of feelings, and the quality of public spaces were perceived equivalently by the two communities as well as bikeability. Dissimilarities in perception occurred for the perception of materials and general feelings of the areas, and in the rating of walkability and in preferences for walking.

EVALUATION STUDY OF THE REALITY OF PUBLIC SPACES IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CASE OF THE LAKHDAR AL-SABAA NEIGHBORHOOD IN AL-IDRISSIYA- DJELFA-ALGERIA

Public spaces are the basic element within residential neighborhoods, by their effective role as they are considered a complement to the dwelling space for users, but it suffers from various problems, as it records a state of deterioration that often reflects a lack of design efficiency with the absence of management features for the actors of this component within the residential neighborhoods. In order to determine the totality of this problems, we conducted an evaluation study of the reality of public spaces in residential neighborhoods by choosing the Akhdar Al-Sabaa neighborhood in Al-Idrissiya, where we studied the extent of efficiency and effectiveness and evaluated the participatory performance of residents within the neighborhood through field analysis and comparing the planning of public spaces within the neighborhood with international indicators in the quality of public spaces. Through this research paper, after reading, comparing, and reviewing, we were able to come up with a number of results and solutions in dealing with public spaces and contributing to raising their quality.

The Role of Intangible Features in Developing Open Spaces

this paper focuses on the role of intangibleelements of the public spaces in the residential areas such asa neighbourhood. The main emphasis is the significance ofthe factor of social satisfactions on developing public spaces.The research to date has tended to focus on examining thephysical quality of public space, particularly tangiblefeatures, but fewer have dealt with the intangible featuresthat related to the residents’ social life and communityinteraction. Consequently, in this research, the analysisincludes some important intangible elements such as a senseof community, social satisfaction and safety and security inthe public spaces and the local initiatives. The researchincludes two case studies in Misurata, Libya. Both cases areneighbourhoods type with similar in size, population,number of houses and distance from the city centre.However, one case is a Governmental Neighbourhood GNswhile the other one is a Traditional Neighbourhood TNs.This inquiry is a qualitative research, however, it adoptedmixed methods approach, and i.e. both questionnaires andin-depth interviews were utilized for data collection. Theresults of this study show that there are a several crucialfindings related to the importance of these intangibleelements, these findings suggest some practical guidelines tobe considered in new development projects.

Evaluation of Cognition of Rural Public Space Based on Eye Tracking Analysis

Amid the current global trend toward urbanization, there is a growing need for an improved quality of life. While rural public spaces are essential components of community life, their design and planning have traditionally focused on material aspects, neglecting the spiritual well-being of rural residents. This study uses the public spaces of Huixingtou Village in Handan City, Hebei Province, China, as an example to investigate the impact of five key elements within rural public spaces (architecture, streets, greenery, nodes, and landmarks) on individual emotions and perceptions, exploring how these elements contribute to the satisfaction of individuals’ spiritual lives. Initially, we compared the disparities among these elements concerning perceptual dimensions (functionality, technology, and aesthetics) and emotional dimensions (sense of achievement, safety, and well-being). This analysis revealed significant variations in emotional and perceptual dimensions influenced by different rural public space elements. Subsequently, we examined the associations between these elements and objective physiological response data from participants, using eye-tracking technology to delve into the interplay between emotions and perceptions. The results indicate that distinct rural public space elements elicit specific emotional responses, with visual elements and features exerting a pronounced influence on emotional reactions. This in-depth analysis provides comprehensive recommendations for emotional design strategies. Ultimately, this study furnishes emotionally driven design strategies for rural public spaces based on objective data, offering practical guidance for sustainable development and the enhancement of rural public space quality. These findings have significant implications for creating more attractive, inclusive, and sustainable rural spatial environments, addressing the needs of individuals seeking a high and enhanced quality of life.

Evaluating the vitality of urban public spaces: perspectives on crowd activity and built environment

PurposeIn urban planning, sustainability is closely linked to the quality of urban public spaces (UPS). However, some UPS encounter issues of low attractiveness and underutilisation. Vitality serves as a crucial measure in this context. The research perspective on the vitality of UPS centres on the balance between human activities and the built environment. Therefore, this article aims to systematically review critical aspects of UPS vitality evaluation system, including research objects, vitality components and research methods, from the dimensions of crowd activity and the built environment.Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review using PRISMA analysed English-language publications from 2008 to 2023 in Scopus and Web of Science (WOS) databases, employing keywords related to UPS and vitality, with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.Findings(1) Research objects, including parks, squares, waterfronts, blocks and streets. (2) The factors contributing to crowd activity characteristics originate from five dimensions, namely spatial, temporal, visitor, activity and feedback. Environmental factors, both external (accessibility, surrounding function mix and population density) and internal (service facility mix and water presence), significantly impact vitality. (3) The study primarily relies on quantitative data, including traditional surveys and emerging significant data sources like dynamic location and traffic, social media, geospatial and point of interest (POI) data. Data analysis methods commonly used include correlation analysis and comprehensive evaluation techniques.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the vitality evaluation system for UPS from multiple perspectives for urban planners, aiding in identifying key factors and research methods in the vitality evaluation of various types of UPS.

The Importance of Resilient, Health-Promoting, and Accessible Cultural Landscapes Using the Example of One Suburb of Gdańsk, Poland

The urban green public spaces “UGSs” provide a place for everyday contact with nature to humans. Green and blue infrastructure is important for urban heat mitigation. This study focuses on the relationship between satisfaction with the place of living and quality of life indexes, accessibility, and the quality of public green spaces in one of the suburbs of Gdańsk in Poland. Even though there are award-winning public parks and a large-scale Tri-city Landscape Park, the individual indexes measuring the satisfaction of local inhabitants with accessibility to public parks and their quality were well beyond the average in Gdańsk. The research question was to explain such low satisfaction with green public parks and spaces in Gdańsk-Osowa. The results of the evaluation of available “UGSs” against the universal standard for health-promoting urban places confirmed their recreational value but also demonstrated limited spatial and physical accessibility and possible overcrowding. Thus, the possibilities for everyday contact with nature for numerous inhabitants are limited and that condition may influence the life quality indexes. The results suggest that increasing urban density and the further development of residential neighborhoods requires careful planning of new public parks in consideration of proximity to public open green spaces. The accessibility of public parks within walking distance is crucial when planning new developments.

Assessing Spatial Heterogeneity in Urban Park Vitality for a Sustainable Built Environment: A Case Study of Changsha

In the realm of sustainable city development, evaluating the spatial vitality of urban green spaces (UGS) has become increasingly pivotal for assessing public space quality. This study delves into the spatial heterogeneity of park vitality across diverse urban landscapes at a city scale, addressing limitations inherent in conventional approaches to understanding the dynamics of park vitality. Leveraging geotagged check-in data from 65 parks in the study case of Changsha City, a quantitative analysis was undertaken to assess spatial vitality. The investigation incorporated data concerning internal and external factors influencing park vitality, employing the Multi-scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR) model to dissect nuanced spatial heterogeneity. The research uncovers notable spatial discrepancies in factors influencing park vitality across diverse urban areas, emphasizing the reliance on adjacent residential communities and internal commercial amenities provision. These dependencies correspond with economic development differences among urban locales, revealing distinct geographic trends. This study has a novel perspective and methodology for investigating urban park vitality, providing significant insights for urban green space planning and management. It emphasizes the necessity of acknowledging spatial diversity in urban park planning and design by incorporating the distinct socio-economic characteristics of each urban zone, which is crucial for both urban planners and policymakers.

Pengukuran Kualitas Aset Taman Plaza Rakyat di Lingkungan Kantor Pemerintahan Kota Cimahi

Taman Plaza Rakyat is one of the Green Open Spaces (RTH) managed by Dinas Perumahan dan Kawasan Pemukiman, Dinas Lingkungan Hidup, Dinas Pekerjaan Umum dan Penataan Ruang of Cimahi City. This park is designed as a public green open space that can be used for people in Cimahi City. Based on preliminary observations, there are several problems that exist in the park. The purpose are to determine the quality of asset Taman Plaza Rakyat based on 5 aspects among other are accessibility, attractiveness and appeal, comfort, activity and use, also safety and security (Public Space Quality Evaluation, Praliya and Garg 2019). The second is to find the solutions to solve the problems. The type of research is descriptive method with qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data collection techniques used are observation, interviews, questionnaires with 100 respondents, and documentation studies. The results of asset quality evaluation is enough but there are lack of facilities and amenities in the park. The park lack of facilities in five dimention among others are accessibility, attractiveness and appeal, comfort, activity and use, as well as safety and security. Due to the result of asset quality evaluation, Taman Plaza Rakyat need to be improved by asset development planning to increase the quality of the park

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.