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Importance of public spaces in cities

Research · September 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1656.1125

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0
 HOUSING AND URBANISM
TERM 1
SHAPING THE MODERN CITY

IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SPACES IN CITIES

CHARITA KISHORE RUPA

12th January 2015

1
 CONTENTS

 INTRODUCTION

 CONCEPT OF A PUBLIC SPACE

 VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PUBLIC SPACES

 CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS OF A PUBLIC SPACE

 CRITERIA AND DESIGN APPROACH FOR A SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPACE

 EXAMPLES OF GOOD PUBLIC SPACES

 CONCLUSION

2
INTRODUCTION

The moment one steps out of his or her private space such as their home, work space etc. they are
automatically in the public realm. Everyone in the world irrespective of age, background or status
invariably use public spaces. It is, then, astounding that for many years these spaces have been
taken for granted and very little attention has been directed towards their quality. Although some
conscious effort had been made towards creating public spaces like gardens and squares in some
cities the general attitude towards the importance of Public space had been neglected by many and
almost considered merely as 'gaps between buildings'1(Gaventa, S.2006,p7). Ghel, J.(2001,p10)
explains their traditional uses and says that 'public space has always served as a meeting place,
marketplace and traffic space'2. Over the years, alongside technological advancements, these public
spaces lost their meaning of being meeting and market places. Telecommunication made it possible
for people to communicate without having an actual physical place to meet and pedestrian
pathways were constantly being replaced by stretched armatures for vehicles. Public space as a
market place also underwent dramatic changes where, trading from open booths was moved to
shops and ultimately to giant enclosed enclaves of malls.

However in the recent years, the attitude towards public space has gradually changed rediscovering
their importance as an integral part of urban identity of cities. Few cities, especially European cities
like Copenhagen and Barcelona having successful urban regeneration strategies act as catalysts in
encouraging other cities across the world to rethink and reinvest in the quality of their public
spaces. This unprecedented increase in the interest towards public spaces is a stepping stone
towards improving the quality of the public life of people.

This essay attempts to convey the immense value that public spaces hold today and to suggest the
increasing need for architects, planners, policy makers and governments to take a greater interest
in designing and maintaining public spaces.

CONCEPT OF A PUBLIC SPACE

It is practically impossible to specifically pin down the meaning of a public space through one single
definition. As Hajer and Reijndrop (2001,p8) have rightly said 'The broad reassessment of the
meaning of the public space is treacherous territory'3. According to Wikipedia, 'A public space is a
social space that is generally accessible and open to people'4. In a broader sense, it is a space in
which people can choose to be at, regardless of their ethnicity, age, ideologies and gender. It is a
space that allows and facilitates a coexistence of different categories of people. Generally, when
one thinks of a public space, it is automatically assumed to be a city square, a park, a boulevard etc.
This is where the question of what exactly a public space is arises. A public space doesn't necessarily

1
Gaventa, S. 2006, New Public Spaces, Great Britain, Octopus Publishing group Ltd, pg 7
2
Gehl, J. & Gemzoe, L. (2001) New City Spaces. Copenhagen, Danish Architectural Press. pg 10
3
Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A. (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 8
4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_space
3
only mean a typical square or garden but can also be spaces of everyday use such as streets,
sidewalks and subway platforms to spaces such as a public library. The problem lies in the thinking
of public spaces mainly influenced by a set notion of a public space as a gathering space. Hajer and
Reijndorp (2001, p16) also agree that 'we seem to think too much about public space in the sense
of fixed and permanent physical spaces, and we give insufficient consideration to the way in which
public domain comes into being in places in flux, often extremely temporary'5. It is difficult to
exactly demarcate the boundary of the meaning of a public space. These spaces have an inherent
quality of democracy. Who can occupy a public space is an open ended question. The meaning and
the use of a public space is not fixed but is in a state of flux. A particular space can be used
differently by different groups of people at different times. The meaning and the users of a public
space are always subjected to ongoing change. Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A.(2001, p40) explain that
'Citizens create meaningful public space by expressing their attitudes, asserting their claims and
using it for their own purposes'6.

A public space acts as a stage in which people occupying that space at that moment have a dual role
to play. They perform the roles of both the actor and the spectator. Public spaces are spaces in
which one can 'see and be seen'. Gehl, J.(1987, 2011 revisited ed. p17) says that 'As opposed to
being a passive observer of other people's experiences on television or video or film, in public
spaces the individual himself is present, participating in a modest way, but most definitely
participating.7'

An important change it the way of perceiving a public space can be noticed in the recent years.
Public spaces are being looked at upon as a consumable good. We can see an increasing demand
where people want to step out of their private realm and use or 'consume' public spaces. This can
be related to the experience of the 'other' in the public realm.

Many researchers, philosophers and urban planners have often spoken about the concept of
encountering the 'other' in a public space. Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A. (2001,p12) comment about
the unique place that the public realm occupies in society and say that 'It is the sphere where we
encounter the proverbial 'other' and where we must relate to 'other' behaviour, other ideas and
other preferences'8. It is a place that provides a platform to experience something new and
introduces a feeling of discovery, adventure and reflection in people. It gives opportunities for the
unfamiliar to mingle freely but at the same time have control over their privacy. As Zukin, S.(1995,
p31) has put it, ' A way of trusting strangers while maintaining a private identity'9. It is a space
where society is created. According to Gehl, J. (1987 , p17) "The presence of other people, activities,
events ,inspiration, and stimulation comprise one of the most important qualities of public spaces
altogether'10.

5
Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A. (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 16
6
Hajer, M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 40
7
Gehl, J, (1987,2011 revisited ed.) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.) New York: Van
Norstrand Reinhold , pg 17
8
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 12
9
Zukin, S. (1995) The Cultures Of Cities. Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc. pg 31
10
Gehl, J, (1987,2011 revisited ed.) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.) New York: Van
Norstrand Reinhold , pg 17

4
VALUE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PUBLIC SPACES

We often hear people repeat Aristotle's famous phrase 'Man is by nature a social animal'. Human
beings are incapable of being in isolation and need to be in the presence of others. Ardent, H.(1958,
p22) argues that "No human life, not even the life of the hermit in nature's wilderness, is possible
without a world which directly or indirectly testifies to the presence of other human beings" 11. This
need for social interaction requires a place and that lays the basic need for public spaces.

Public spaces provide a platform or space in which people can come in contact with the social world
outside and experience the opportunity of being with, seeing and hearing others which instils
stimulation. It is a space that gives people a chance to see something new, to feel differently, to
learn and to be inspired. The public realm can be perceived as not only a place but also an
experience. Public spaces play a vital role in the social development of people on various levels,
from small neighbourhood parks to large city centre squares. They are places of great value where
people of different backgrounds come together and pick up new ideas by merely being
spectators."...being among others, seeing and hearing others, receiving impulses from others, imply
positive experiences, alternative to being alone. one is not necessarily with a specific person, but
one is nevertheless, with others"12 (Gehl, J, 1987, p17).

Public spaces are spaces which allows culture to thrive. It can be looked at as a gateway to cultural
development in a society. It give an opportunity for people of varied cultures, backgrounds and
races to come together and showcase their culture and at the same time experience new cultures
unfamiliar to them. It is a place where cultural and social development is possible. People coming
from different cultures have different ways of dressing, different languages, customs, beliefs,
ideologies and behaviour. These cultural practices can be shared and experienced by people only in
the public realm. It gives rise to an opportunity where development of a new perspective is possible
and expands the horizon of cultural and social possibilities like in the Art, music and culinary worlds.
"...Public spaces are the primary site of public culture; They are a window into the city's
soul"13(Zukin, S, 1995, p 259).

Public spaces not only play a vital role in cultural development but is also important in the personal
development of an individual. It helps in developing personal ideals and values of a particular
individual and realising one's own character and beliefs. participation of an individual in the larger
urban culture creates an opportunity for one's own personal reflection and reassures the
uniqueness of one's personality in society.

Like how adults cannot live without social interaction, the personality of children cannot thrive
without being exposed to the social environment. Public spaces play an important role in the social
development of children. For example, in a Public park, children learn to share and play. Human
Values are instilled in children just by experience and observation in public spaces.

11
Ardent, H. (1958) The Human Condition, The university of Chicago Press, Chicago. pg 22
12
Gehl, J, (1987,2011 revisited ed.) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.) New York: Van
Norstrand Reinhold , pg 17
13
Zukin, S. (1995) The Cultures Of Cities. Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc. pg 259
5
Cultural value is also the key driver of the economic value of cities. Good public spaces are
extremely essential in the economic development of cities. It is important for both the people who
use these spaces on a daily basis and also the tourists and commuters that float by. These spaces
are the prime locations where tourists can experience the real feel and culture of the new city."...As
both site and sight, meeting place and social staging ground, public spaces enable us to
conceptualize and represent the city- to make an ideology of its receptivity to strangers, tolerance
of difference, and opportunities to enter a fully socialized life, both civic and commercial"14( Zukin,
S. , 1995, p 260). Thus, public spaces are extremely valuable in the social, economical and cultural
development of a city and its individuals.

CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS OF A PUBLIC SPACE

As important as public spaces are, they are also faced with innumerable constraints. Designing and
maintaining a public space is highly challenging. Public spaces need to be protected against various
impediments such as crime, misuse, deterioration, violence and climate. Among all, the safety of
the users of public spaces is the key challenge. The assurance of the feeling of safety is a
precondition for public space to be utilized to its highest capacity. As seductive as the experience of
the 'other' can be, it can be equally or more controversial in nature. "...Public domain experiences
occur at the boundary between friction and freedom. On the one hand there is always the tension
of a confrontation with the unfamiliar; on the other, the liberation of the experience of a different
approach"15(Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A,2001,p116). A major constraint of the public realm is the
presence of thieves, muggers, illegal drug peddlers and other dangers in society. Public spaces need
to ensure the safety of its users and protect it against misuse by the 'undesirables'. It becomes an
extremely tricky situation where public spaces need to be protected against crime by filtering out
the undesirable activities but at the same time not losing the public character of the space. This
precarious situation can be handled with different approaches. The immediate move would
sometimes be to fence up the place and restrict the usage of the space. This would not be the ideal
way of handling it. Instead of discriminating between groups of users, surveillance cameras, good
quality of lighting, clever organisation of space, metal detectors or patrolling of security guards can
be utilized. This way the original meaning of a ' public place' is not lost and at the same time, safety
is ensured. Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A.(2001,p120) voice that 'The battle of Tompkins Square Park is
a famous and almost classic example of the battle for the meaning of public space'16. They explain
the riot that broke out over Tompkins square Park in the late 1980s in New York. The park had been
occupied by the homeless, alcoholics and drug addicts. At the time the police attempted to take
control over the situation by closing the park at night. Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A.(2001, p120)
question this action, 'was the police intervention really intended to fight displacement? was it really
about the protection of public domain? or did it in fact undermine that very notion?'17

14
Zukin, S. (1995) The Cultures Of Cities. Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc. pg 260
15
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 116
16
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 120
17
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 120
6
Thus the challenge lies in balancing the need between the 'public' and the 'space' battling safety
through restricted access and the ideology of democracy. This issue should be carefully addressed
with a strategic design that allows both visual and spatial security.

CRITERIA AND DESIGN APPROACH FOR A SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPACE

How does one decide if a public space is a good or bad? How can we say that one public space
functions better than the other? Is it because there are more people using that space or because it
is safer or aesthetically more appealing or more inviting in the eye of a tourist or because it is more
'public' than the others? What is the criteria for a successful public space becomes a complicated
question.

The success of a public space becomes a question of its contextual design approach and its
manageability. A public space should be a space that people don't just use as a transitional space to
pass by but a space that tempts people to slow down or stop and experience the place. A place that
in some way enriches the lives of the people using it . This almost completely depends on the
design of the public space in terms of aesthetics, accessibility, comfort, safety, diversity etc. The
most minute aspects like the spacing of street lights, arrangement of street furniture, design of
landscape, pattern of paving, material finishes and zoning of activities play a vital role in how these
spaces are used and their level of success.

Referring back to the example of the Tompkins square park mentioned in the earlier part of the
essay, we can see how the character of the park is transformed by mere rearrangement and zoning
of activities. After the violent confrontation, the park was closed for two years for renovation.
Hajer, M and Reijndorp, A. (2001 , p120) explain how, now 'The park has been given a new lease of
life'18. After renovation, the park has been subdivided into different zones. The various groups using
the park have found their own places in the park : the dog owners can be seen in the enclosed
sawdust plot, the tiny benches along the pathways are occupied by the homeless, families sit in
their glass plots keeping an eye on the children playing in the playgrounds and the basket ball
courts are occupied by children and teenagers. Each group of people be it young or old or rich or
poor, have found their own use in parts of the park and coexist maintaining the privacy they need
and at the same time displaying the diversity of that community in one small park. Hajer, M. and
Reijndorp, A(2001, P120) argue that 'Tompkins square is an example of the value of compression
and moderated parochialization'19. This example throws light on the importance of the details in
design for public spaces. As important as the actual layout of the separate spaces may be, the
integrated interrelationship between these separate space is more important.

Hajer, M. and Reijndorp, A(2001, P89) argue that 'The core of successful public space thus lies not
so much in the shared use of space with others, let alone in the 'meeting', but rather in the
opportunities that urban proximity offers for a 'shift' of perspective: through the experience of
otherness one's own casual view of reality gets some competition from other views and lifestyles'20.

18
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 120
19
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 120
20
Hajer , M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi. pg 89
7
EXAMPLES OF GOOD PUBLIC SPACES

As mentioned earlier, cities like Barcelona, Copenhagen and Melbourne with their imaginative
public space policy have managed to become pioneers in urban regeneration standing as an
example to inspire other cities in the world to pay attention to the quality of the public realm.
Explicitly in the case of Barcelona, successful regeneration of the urban space was achieved through
a change in new public space policy. During the election in 1979, a new government led by socialists
came into power. This government appointed Oriol Bohigas as the new city counsellor for urban
design. Bohigas adopted a policy that wouldn't depend on the interest of the private industry but
instead on the public sector for the renewal and creation of new parks, squares and other public
spaces. Gehl, J and Gemzoe, L. (2000 , p29) quote Pasqual Maragall, elected mayor in 1982
expressing the underlying philosophy of the policy as "We want to recreate the lost dignity of the
urban landscape and to stimulate and direct the energy of the marketplace"21. A twofold process
was implemented; existing squares were renovated in conjunction with building underground
parking spaces and new squares, parks and streets were created by demolishing dilapidated
warehouses, apartments and other buildings. Art and architecture have played a vital role in
designing the public face of Barcelona. Gehl, j. and Gemoze, L (2000, p29) convey that new parks
and squares were created under the motto" move museums into the street"22.

This is a classic example showing the importance of the role of the government in creating public
spaces for its citizens. Although a public private partnership makes the maintenance of public
spaces easier, the government should take more responsibility and not solely depend on the private
sector for the creation and maintenance of public spaces.

Image 1- Placa dels Paisos Catalans,Barcelona Image 2- La Rambla del Mar,Barcelona

21
Gehl, J & Gemzoe, L (2000) New City Spaces Copenhagen, Danish Architectural Press, pg 29
22
Gehl, J & Gemzoe, L (2000) New City Spaces Copenhagen, Danish Architectural Press, pg 29
8
 another unique example of how a museum is developed
into a public domain is The British Museum at Great
Russell street, London. Although it is a museum and not
a typical typology of a public space like a park or a
square it has certain characteristics of such public
spaces. The British museum not only behaves as an
attraction for tourists but is also utilized by the locals to
commute between the 2 streets it is located between.
It's majestic atrium acts as a sort of a public plaza
Image 3- Atrium of The British Museum
where people could stop and get a cup of coffee along
the way.

Collective spaces such as multiplex cinemas and

malls are becoming complete worlds unto
themselves cutting off any sort of conversation with
the outside world. The Centre Pompidou is an
interesting example of an avant-garde multicultural
complex that generates a public realm engaging its
interior world with the exterior surrounding. The
circulation of this building is designed in such a way
that it fills the space with activity giving it the true Image 4- The Centre Pompidou
character of s successful public space. The Centre
Pompidou illustrates how even such collective crowd
pullers can be a part of the public realm of the city.

CONCLUSION

Now that the value of public spaces and the importance of design and planning in creating them has
been established, it is vital to remember that the design approach for creating these spaces should
be very site specific. Each public space has its own inherent meaning and use. The design of one
space cannot simply be imitated and plugged into another just because it is functioning successfully
in that particular place. Merely mimicking the characteristics of one successful place into the
creation of another public space is not the solution and can often result in a disastrous misuse of
the space. Such spaces should be carefully created considering the type of usage, lifestyle of users
and the context of its surroundings.

We can now see the complexity that lies in the subject matter of not only designing, creating and
maintaining public spaces but also in their fundamental definition itself.

Public spaces offer great cultural, economical and social values restoring the identity of cities and
enhancing the lifestyle of its citizens giving them opportunities for new experiences."...Public spaces

9
are needed. The need for spaces of all types and sizes is obvious- from the little residential street to
the city square"23. (Ghel, J. 1987,p51).

Although it is quiet challenging to urbanists, architects and governments, creating new public
spaces and maintaining them should continue to be taken very seriously.

23
Gehl, J, (1987,2011 revisited ed.) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by Koch, J.) New York: Van
Norstrand Reinhold , pg 51
10
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ardent, H. (1958) in The Human Condition, The university of Chicago Press, Chicago.

Gaventa, S. 2006, in New Public Spaces, Great Britain, Octopus Publishing group Ltd.

Gehl, J, (1987,2011 revisited ed.) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (transl. by
Koch, J.) New York: Van Norstrand Reinhold

Gehl, J & Gemzoe, L (2001) New City Spaces. Copenhagen, Danish Architectural Press.

Hajer, M and Reijndorp, A (2001) In Search of New Public Domain . Netherlands. NAi.

Zukin, S. (1995) The Cultures Of Cities. Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_space

http://healthbridge.ca/images/uploads/library/Public_Spaces_How_they_Humanize_Cities.p
df

http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/2050-public-space-community.pdf

IMAGE REFERENCE

Image 1- http://www.artonfile.com/images/BP-13-09-04.jpg

Image 2 - http://www.way2barcelona.com/travel-guide/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/la-
rambla-del-mar-barcelona.jpg

Image 3 -
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/76/British_Museum_Great_Court_MG_4743.jpg

Image 4 - http://www.nitee.com/en/images/centrepompidou.jpg

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