This project posits the need for a design approach to the use of urban sub-infrastructural spaces as public space. The potential held within these neglected parts of the city presents opportunities for the integration of architecture and landscape. The site beneath the infrastructure of the downtown Granville Bridge is one of the last remaining undeveloped parts of downtown False Creek. Surrounded by extreme residential density, the site is formed by the infrastructure creating a unique space unlike any other in the city. Artists involved in small scale industrial production such as textile, fashion, film, and furniture, rely on the city for survival. The design, prototype, production, display, consumption, and involvement of these activities within the public realm are important components to the identity and vigor of any metropolitan city. This project will explore, capture, and capitalize on the unique landscape qualities of partial enclosure provided by the bridge structure. This existing condition provides a spatial quality that is suggestive of opportunities for the integration of interior and exterior functions. With appropriate design intervention this place can become a unique public space while fulfilling the need for a production and entertainment space in downtown Vancouver / Applied Science, Faculty of / Architecture and Landscape Architecture (SALA), School of / Graduate

Inscrite dans le champ de la géographie sociale et critique, cette thèse porte sur la marginalisation et l’exclusion socio-raciale sur les plages de la zone Sud de Rio de Janeiro dans une perspective intersectionnelle. Cette marginalisation doit autant à l’attention accrue des aménageurs et des planificateurs urbains pour les espaces publics de prestige qu’au souci des riverains pour leur cadre de vie, à leurs pratiques et appropriations individuelles qui sont aussi vectrices de mise à l’écart. À rebours du mythe de plages cariocas démocratiques, incarnation spatiale de la « démocratie raciale », je montre comment s’élaborent des imaginaires de corps légitimes, in place, et des stéréotypes de corps illégitimes, out of place, largement médiatisés par la diffusion de discours sécuritaires, consacrant à terme une ségrégation sur les plages. Ces stéréotypes sont spatialement construits : ils s’appuient sur les lignes de division sociales, économiques, raciales héritées de la période coloniale qui traversent la ville, opposant notamment zone Nord et zone Sud, et sur les imaginaires puissants qu’elles alimentent. Resserrant l’étude sur la jeunesse masculine noire originaire de quartiers défavorisés de Rio de Janeiro, je cherche enfin à comprendre quelles sont les appropriations possibles pour ceux les plus touchés par le stigmate et le sens conféré à la place occupée. Privilégiant une approche par les individus et le quotidien, ma recherche repose sur une méthode qualitative de type ethnographique mêlant entretiens compréhensifs, observation directe et participation observante, combinée à l’expérimentation d’une méthodologie de cartes sensibles auprès de ces enquêtés. / Set within in the field of social and critical geography, and adopting an inter-sectional perspective, this dissertation focuses on socio-racial marginalization and exclusion on the southern beaches of Rio de Janeiro. This marginalization phenomenon owes as much to the growing interest of developers and urban planners for prestige public spaces as it does to the concern of the local residents for their living environment, and their individual practices and appropriations that are further vectors of side-lining. Deconstructing the myth of democratic carioca beaches as a spatial embodiment of “racial democracy”, I will demonstrate how the imagination of legitimate bodies (“in place”) and the stereotypes of illegitimate bodies (“out of place”) are produced, in particular through extended securitarian media coverage that sanctions the idea of segregated beaches. Based on social, economical and racial division lines inherited from the colonial era that extend throughout the city, and particularly polarize its northern and southern areas, these stereotypes rely on the powerful imaginations these dividing lines fuel. They are the result of a spatial construct. Narrowing the study to that of young Black men from disadvantaged neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro, I finally seek to understand what appropriations are possible for those this stigma affects the most, and the meaning given to the places they occupy. Choosing an approach that focuses on individuals and everyday life, my research rests upon an ethnographic qualitative method which merges comprehensive interviews, direct observation and observant participation with the methodical experimentation of emotional mapping of those investigated.

The great impact urbanized cities have on its people has been studied since the 1960s. This has created new methods to measure this impact. However, because of lack of knowledge on how to use these methods they are rarely used in the planning process of new spaces in practice. By concluding what each method provides to our understanding of public spaces, and how they can be further developed, we can create a more holistic and efficient planning-process regarding public spaces, while aiming for the important goal “To create cities fit for people”. In this study the focus will be on two existing methods: Space syntax and Jan Gehl’s method of observation. The motivation for these particular methods is their differences in their approach. The purpose of this study is “to get a deeper understanding of already existing urban planning methods in order to improve them for their purposes”. The purpose has been divided into three questions that will be answered: What are the differences between Space syntax and Jan Gehl’s method of observation? What can they provide in the study of public spaces’ effect on public life? If, then how can they contribute to each other in order to improve the methods separately for their purposes in the study of public spaces? To answer these questions, the objective will be to measure the impact of two public spaces on their public life by using the two methods. The results will be interpreted, compared and discussed for potential further development. Regarding what is the difference between the methods, it can be described as space syntax using the perspective of space and Jan Gehl the perspective of life. This leads to space syntax being concerned about how much the space encourages usage of it while Jan Gehl’s method of observation is focusing on the behaviour of the people using the space, for example who they are and what they do. Different representations for the methods become a result of this. When discussing what each method can provide to the study of public spaces, space syntax usefulness for comparing spaces to each other and making prognosis makes it adapted to choose an appropriate location for a new project. Jan Gehl method with its high amount of details can show the success of a space in practice.  Regarding what the methods can provide to each other in order to improve them: Space syntax is not entirely accurate to the observed flow of people, mostly derived from lack of input about important destinations. Therefore, one suggestion for improvement is to introduce important destinations as a variable.  The efficiency of space syntax can be integrated to the quality measurements of Jan Gehl’s method. By using computer programs to measure people’s behaviours, the time spending to observe and catalogue can decrease. However, surveillance has in history been used without people’s knowledge by the government and therefore it is very important for ethical reasons to get the general public’s approval before using these strategies.

In this thesis I focus on the preventive strategy called Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). The aim of this strategy is to act preventively against crime and to reduce fear of crime by means of modification of the physical setting in public spaces. CPTED is theoretically based mainly on findings of crime geography, environmental criminology and architecture. After presenting this concept at the theoretical level I focus on six concrete locations in Prague. On the basis of my field research I investigate if the principles of CPTED are applied in these locations. I also refer to differences between locations, where the preventive principles were applied and locations without use of the CPTED standards. Through the use of questionnaires I try to verify if people really feel safer in places where the principles of CPTED were used. Then I observe the types of activites and the structure of people in those six examined locations. Semistructured interviews with the employees of the Prague municipal police were realised to complete the characteristics of these places. In the last part of the thesis I consider the possibilities of design adjustments in the unsuitable locations according to the CPTED principles.

No description available.

The Urban Center Plaza at Portland State University is a high profile place situated in downtown Portland, Oregon. In some ways it is the ideal university plaza providing space for eating, conversing, or limited recreational activity. It is a place that has been studied before, but not in a more in-depth method incorporating quantitative and qualitative analyses. It is also a place that has gone through several stages of development and is the target of many opinions based on casual observations, at times due to these changes. This thesis focuses on an ethnography of place in this particular plaza in an effort to more thoroughly analyze how people use the space and how it came together to become the plaza known by Portlanders today. This is done through the use of random video observations, direct observations, and in-depth interviews with those who were involved in the creation of the plaza. Analysis of the video recordings includes pedestrian counts, behavioral maps, and common routes taken through the plaza. Direct observations provide more insight into the day-to-day activities of the plaza and the phenomenological perspective of the design elements. Interviews allow for a more complete timeline of events in order to assess the plaza properly. By combining these methods based on other plaza-based ethnographies, it is concluded that the plaza is a well-used and successful space and even suggest possible areas of improvement. Methods are also assessed for future use on other city parks and plazas, possibly in a comparative context.

The aim of the thesis is to revive the former textile factory complex, which is located on a unique place - on the island between the river Svitava and the race. The main idea is to make the area accessible and to use its potential, focusing primarily on the link of history, identity of the place, quality public space and the functional content of the whole area. The concept of the whole work is the planning in time and the gradual phase of integrating brownfields back into the lives of not only local Brno citizens. The island in Obřany could thus become the heart of this city district, a meeting place with a rich cultural life, a space for relaxation, activities and leisure activities close to nature in a charming environment with a touch of Brno's industrial history.

Business Improvement Districts, BID, är en internationellt etablerad platssamverkansmodell som möjliggör samverkan mellan offentlig och privat sektor inom vilket offentliga och privata aktörer, fastighetsägare och handel samverkar för utveckling och förvaltning av den fysiska miljön. Det första BID-projektet lanserades i Toronto, Kanada, under 1960-talet och modellen har sedan dess utvecklats och idag tillämpas modellen i flertalet länder runt om i världen. Internationellt är BID ofta reglerat genom lagstiftning där fastighetsägare och näringsidkare, på geografiskt avgränsade platser, är förpliktade att bidra genom ekonomiska avgifter och engagemang för att öka attraktivitet och trygghet. I Sverige finns det i dagsläget ingen lagstiftning avseende BID-inspirerad platssamverkan. Istället samarbetar den offentliga och privata sektorn genom frivilligt engagemang och åtagande för att skapa attraktiva och trygga platser. En kombination av kvalitativ och kvantitativ forskningsmetod har tillsammans med en tolkande analys tillämpats för att besvara studiens forskningsfrågor. Studien påvisar demografiska och ekonomiska effekter som uppkommit till följd av BID-inspirerad platssamverkan i fem svenska kommuner. Vidare fastslås fyra generella framgångsfaktorer som anses väsentliga för ett lyckat projekt. Studien visar även att det ur ett svenskt perspektiv inte är relevant att ändra befintlig lagstiftning likt internationell implementering. Istället föreslås en nationell paraplyorganisation som tillhandahåller kunskap och erfarenheter kring BID-inspirerad platssamverkan. / Business Improvement Districts, BID, is an internationally established model which enables cooperation between the public and private sector together with real estate owners, retailers and actors to develop and manage the built environment. The first BID project was established in Toronto, Canada, in the 1960’s and the model has since been improved and applied in numerous countries worldwide. Internationally, BID is regulated by law where real estate owners and businesses, on a geographically delimited site, are obliged to contribute by tolls and engagement in order to increase the attractiveness and safety on site. In Sweden, such regulations are absent. Instead, collaboration between the private and public are conducted through non-compulsory work. By a qualitative and quantitative method, following study states that it is possible to distinguish demographical and economical effects created by BID in five Swedish municipalities. Further, the study identifies important key factors which generate a successful BID project. The study also discusses if Sweden should, like what has been done internationally, legislate a BID model suitable for Sweden.

For the past several years, the term social sustainability has gained a strong foothold within urban studies and has become a pervasive and trendy term that seems to be on everyone’s lips. Public space is widely acknowledged as an important urban feature, often in association with the social sustainability. As cities around the world are experiencing rapid population growth, creating meaningful and enjoyable public spaces is more important than ever. The heightened interest in social sustainability, public spaces and placemaking (as a physical manifestation of social sustainability) has led to the emergence of several urban intervention movements, such as Tactical Urbanism. In 2012, for the first time in Los Angeles’ history, this tactic was used to transform a car trafficked street in Silver Lake into a pedestrian friendly public space: the Sunset Triangle Plaza. The aim of this thesis is to, by studying the use and function of the plaza after the conversion, highlight how a broad concept such as social sustainability can be understood from a relatively small-scale public space intervention. The case study was conducted during the spring and summer of 2018, using a variety of data sources including interviews and observations of the plaza during February and March 2018. Two interviews were conducted with managers of the businesses directly adjacent to the plaza. Moreover, street surveys were conducted on two different occasions to ask the public about their use and opinions about the plaza. The results from the case study are presented to illustrate the real-life experience of the theories about social sustainability, public space and a discussion regarding “Whose Public Space?”, when applied at a local context. The findings were then further divided into three categories: usage (what type of activities did the installation enable?), users (for whom were they enabled?) and change (indicators of how the site has changed), reflecting the notions of Tactical Urbanism. While certain changes have been merely “tactical”, others were more substantial; businesses flourished, traffic safety increased, the space has become a meeting place and therefore, it has now got an identity. Immediate change was evident in the process of the physical change when the plaza was constructed, but what has also followed is a continuous change. Even though the plaza with its painted dots may not look like much, a new space for engagement and interaction has been created, both physically and mentally. In addition, converting a street for the cars into a plaza dedicated to pedestrians is especially symbolic in a city like Los Angeles, where the automobile has been the predominant mean of transport for the last 60 years and instrumental in shaping the city’s layout. However, the case study also showed that it is one thing to launch a Tactical Urbanism initiative and another thing to maintain it and achieve long-term social changes. The examined concepts and models to evaluate whether a public space can be considered successful are not always useful. The Sunset Triangle Plaza has certainly changed, but it has implied a continuous change – for better and for worse. Thus, this study also shows that it is evident that the idea of the “organically emerged” city can imply both opportunities and limitations.

In 2008, Malmö stad, together with Svenska kyrkan,announced an invited competition for designing S:tJohannesplan and Konsthallstorget in Malmö (Malmö Stad 2008). With its central location in the city andvarious options for activities, the area has become a major attraction point. White Architects proposal “Open stage” was announced as winner for its flexible function and close connection to historically aesthetic elements (Malmö Stad 2008). By 2014, the area had gotten a severe facelift. With the citytunnel, bus stops and cycle paths S:t Johannesplanand Konsthallstorget is today easily accessible. My thesis aims to shed light on how the task, described in the competition program, was fulfilled. A case study of S:t Johannesplan and Konsthallstorget has been conducted to explore how the emotional connection between the users and the square evokes social activity. The communication between user, square and built environment has been studied using observations, mapping, interviews and readings. Parallels are drawn to phenomenology as a part of exploring the mental tasks of the built environment. Squares as a historical phenomenon have briefly been studied to discover similarities and differences with the contemporary square. The thesis was founded in experienced based research, with my own experiences and emotional connection to square environments located in the central part of Malmö as a canvas. A toolkit consisting of mapping methods has been used for physically mapping participatory observationsin a scientific stance. In cooperation with literary research, interviews and mapping the regular user`s experience, an understanding picture of how the square is generally experienced is brought forward. The outcome from the gathered data is a design proposal for developments at the site which would benefit social activity and elevated sensual presence according to described existing needs. The question of meeting criteria is discussed whereas certain circumstances historically have governed this. The proposal is supported by existing theoretical idealsand strategies for urban planning and design. / 2008 utlyste Malmö stad tillsammans med Svenska kyrkan en inbjuden tävling för utformning av S:t Johannesplan och Konsthallstorget i Malmö (Malmö Stad 2008). Med sitt centrala läge i staden och olika möjligheter till aktiviteter har området blivit en stor attraktionsplats. White Arkitekters förslag ”Öppen scen”, utsågs till vinnare för sin flexibla funktion och nära koppling till historiskt estetiska element (Malmö Stad 2008). År 2014 hade området fått ett marginellt ansiktslyft. Med citytunneln, busshållplatser och cykelvägar är S:t Johannesplan och Konsthallstorget idag lättillgängliga. Mitt examensarbete syftar till att belysa hur uppgiften, beskriven i tävlingsprogrammet, genomfördes. En fallstudie av S:t Johannesplan och Konsthallstorget har genomförts för att utforska hur den känslomässiga kopplingen mellan brukare och torget framkallar social aktivitet. Kommunikationen mellan brukare, torg och bebyggd miljö har studerats med hjälp av observationer, kartläggning, intervjuer och läsningar. Paralleller dras till fenomenologi som en del av att utforska den byggda miljöns mentala uppgifter. Torg som historiskt fenomen har kort studerats för att belysa likheter och skillnader med det samtida torget. Uppsatsen grundades i erfarenhetsbaserad forskning, med mina egna erfarenheter och känslomässig koppling till torgmiljöer belägna i centrala Malmö som en canvas. En verktygslåda bestående av kartläggningsmetoder har använts för att fysiskt kartlägga deltagande observationer i ett vetenskapligt ställningstagande. I samverkan med litteraturforskning, intervjuer och kartläggning av den regelbundna användarens upplevelse lyfts en förståelse för hur torget generellt upplevs. Resultatet från den insamlade datan är ett designförslag för utveckling på platsen som skulle gynna social aktivitet och förhöjd sensuell närvaro enligt beskrivna befintliga behov. Frågan om att uppfylla kriterier diskuteras medan vissa omständigheter historiskt har styrt detta. Förslaget stöds av befintliga teoretiska ideal