Certain urban public spaces seem to embody the cities in which they are found, helping to make those cities the vibrant places they are. This project explores how urban public spaces can be created to reflect the vitality of the city by embracing the culture and the people who reside in it. Through literature review and case studies, a framework is developed focusing on the areas of identity and use in the design of public spaces. Identity is looked at in terms of place attachment, spatial identity, and how surrounding uses affect the identity of a space. Use is explored in terms of designing a public space to encourage a diversity of uses at different times. Identity and use are inevitably linked: much of a space's identity depends on the uses that take place there and whether or not the space meets the needs of its users. In the same way, a space will not be used unless potential users can identify with it and feel a connection to it. A design project is carried out in an urban neighborhood based on this framework to create a space that is connected to its users and its city. / Master of Landscape Architecture

In this essay, I have explored various roles that I played during my working hours and how they influenced my individual behavior and agency. I began by presenting a series of strategies I employed to navigate the commuting space – a new socially charged environment distinct from the one in which I was raised, where boundaries blur and social norms consolidate. Subsequently, I presented three previous projects, outlining their features and purposes, to ultimately use them as the foundation for an action carried out between 2022 and 2024. There, I illustrated the intricate interplay between the artist, the audience, and the external world.

Public spaces are the fundamental elements of urban space. Their quality significantly enhances the quality of urban life. Despite their inevitable significance, the &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of public spaces has been threatened, especially in contemporary cities, primarily by the neoliberal policies, globalization and the recent advances in communication technologies. Besides, the declining &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of public spaces is also resulted from the provision and management policies, leading to exclusive places, rather than creating inclusive spaces for all. Public spaces are no longer inclusive spaces, melting pots of the urban arena. They are rather spaces of exclusion due to exclusionary design and management policies. This research aims to examine the notion of &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of public spaces and to identify the attributes, which describe this notion. It focuses on Gen&ccedil / lik Parki in Ankara &ndash / one of the biggest urban parks in Turkey and one of the most important open public spaces of the Republican regime. It examines the changing &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of this urban park from its construction to nowadays under four historic periods regarding four types of &lsquo / access&rsquo / : physical access, social access, access to activities and discussions, and access to information. Based on the findings, it discusses the factors and urban design strategies for the improvement of the &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of Gen&ccedil / lik Parki. It also makes more general recommendations for the enhancement of the &lsquo / inclusivity&rsquo / of public spaces in the city center of Ankara and other Turkish cities.

The diploma thesis is dealing with public space in the city of Hradec Králové and the main participants that influence the form of public space the inhabitants of the city. The thesis describes the urban development of the city, the implementation of plans in public space and the most important events held. A survey was carried out thanks to which the level of participation of the inhabitants of the city in the events that were held was found out, their aproach towards the public space and the way they saw the changes that were made in the public space. On the whole it summons the recommendations and advice from the inhabitants in this area which is put in contrast with the statement of the authority of Hradec Králové. It also confronts the economic parameters of possible further changes in public space. The thesis results in general advice for the development of public space in the city of Hradec Králové but also in other cities.

The project proposes the investigation into the adaptive re-use of abandoned and unused buildings in the Pretoria CBD to develop social housing that makes use of existing infrastructure, structures, economic activity and transport networks. This is done as a response to the need for social housing in the medium income market. Most developments for this market are built outside city limits and use precious resources and unnecessary new materials. This project focuses on what is currently known as Huis Potgieter, on the UNISA Sunnyside Campus, as a testing ground to develop theories and approaches that can be used in the development of future developments. Throughout the research conducted into the project, the residents have been emphasised as the main design informant, specifically by the regulations set out by the national government. Considering the highly user-centred approach as identified by the regulations, it is appropriate to approach it from an interior design knowledgebase. Looking firstly at the resident’s needs, those in similar housing developments and income markets have identified and emphasised the need and importance of shared public spaces. Other research has confirmed that public spaces are a large contributor to both the social and psychological well-being of the residents. This project focuses on providing public spaces as integrated areas within the building, interspersed between living units, in an effort to provide comfortable, inclusive, and enjoyable public spaces that encourage a sense of place among the residents. A design proposal to integrate interior public spaces into the daily lives of the residents was developed. Various public space theories were collated and synthesised to develop a set of theory-based guidelines for use in this and future social housing projects. The project aims to develop a proposal that considers all users in the development, both in their physical needs (in the form of an inclusive design approach), as well as their social and community needs, by providing public spaces that accommodate a wide range of users and activities. To benefit future studies and to contribute to the field of interior design, a new term, interior public spaces, was developed in order to describe the type of public spaces created. In order to create a strong identity for the building, which the users can relate and respond to in their own attachment and appropriation, the legibility of the intervention is large focus of the project. To increase the legibility of the building, the building identity – KwilaliCity - was developed to reflect strongly in the public areas of the building to create a common ground for all residents. The intervention ensures accessibility to its wide range of residents by introducing a strong inclusive design component, with a focus on wayfinding. Applying the wayfinding and inclusive approach early in the project allows for an integrated resolution that serves to strengthen the design approach. The intention that residents are encouraged to develop an attachment to KwilaliCity and their fellow residents is evident in the encouragement to appropriate specific elements in and around their homes, in order to reflect their identities and give them some control over their housing environment. / Hierdie projek neem voor om die her-gebruik van verlate en ongebruikte geboue in die Pretoria besigheidsdistrik te ondersoek, met die doel om sosiale behuising wat gebruik maak van bestaande infrastruktuur, strukture, ekonomise aktiwiteit en vervoernetwerke. Die projek het vorendag gekom as ‘n reaksie op die nood vir sosiale behuising in die medium-inkomstemark. Ontwikkelings vir hierdie mark word dikwels geplaas buite die stadperke, en gebruik waardevolle hulpbronne en onnodige nuwe material. Die projek fokus op wat tans bekend staan as Huis Potgieter, te vinde op die UNISA Sunnyside-kampus, as ‘n toetsarea waar teorieë en benaderings te ondersoek en wat in toekomstige uitbreidings gebruik kan word. Tydens die navorsing wat afgelê is vir die projek, is die inwoners beklemtoon as die hoof ontwerpinformant, hoofsaaklik deur die regulasies uiteengesit deur die nasionale regering. Met hierdie hoogs gebruiker-geörienteerde benadering, soos geïdentifiseer deur die regulasies, is dit toepaslik om gebruik te maak van die interieurontwerp kennisbasis. Eerstens word daar gekyk na die inwoners se behoeftes. Inwoners in soortgelyke behuising en inkomstemark het die behoefte en belangrikheid van gedeelde openbare ruimtes uitgelig en beklemtoon. Verdere navorsing het bevestig dat openbare ruimtes ‘n groot bydraende faktor is in die sosiale en sielkundige welstand van die inwoners. Die projek fokus op die voorsiening van openbare ruimtes as integreerde areas binne die gebou, verweef tussendeur die leefeenhede, in ‘n poging om gemaklike, toeganklike, en aangename openbare ruimtes te skep wat ‘n gevoel van plek by die inwoners aanwakker. ‘n Ontwerpvoorstel om die interieur openbare ruimtes te integreer met die daaglikse lewens van die inwoners is ontwikkel. Verskeie teorieë wat handel oor openbare ruimtes is versamel en saamgevat om ‘n stel teorie-gebasseerde riglyne te ontwikkel wat gebruik kan word in hierdie en toekomstige sosiale behuisingskemas. Die projek poog om ‘n voorstel te ontwikkel wat alle inwoners in ag neem, beide in hul fisiese behoeftes (in terme van ‘n inklusiewe ontwerpbenadering), sowel as hul sosiale en gemeenskapsbehoeftes deur inwoners van openbare ruimtes te voorsien wat ‘n wye spectrum van gebruikers en aktiwiteite kan akkommodeer Om toekomende interieurontwerpstudies te baat, is ‘n nuwe term, interieuropenbare ruimtes, ontwikkel om die soort openbare ruimtes, soos geskep in hierdie projek, te beskryf. Ten einde ‘n sterk identiteit te ontwikkel vir die gebou, wat die inwoners in staat sal stel om verband te hou en te reageer daarop deur hul aanhegtig en bewilliging, is die leesbaarheid van die ingryping ‘n groot fokus van die projek. Om die leesbaarheid van die gebour te verbeter, is ‘n gebou-identiteit – KwilaliCity – ontwikkel. Dit kom sterk voor in die openbare areas van die gebou om ‘n gelyke grondslag vir alle inwoners te skep. Die ingryping verseker die inklusiwiteit vir die wye reeks inwoners deur ‘n sterk inklusiewe ontwerpkomponent in te bring, wat fokus op die navigasie en leesbaarheid van die ruimtes. Deur hierdie benadering toe te pas vanaf die begin, maak voorsiening vir ‘n geïntegreerde oplossing wat help om die ontwerbenadering te versterk. Die bedoeling is dat inwoners aangemoedig word om aanhegting met KwilaliCity en hul mede-inwoners, en is aangebring in die aanmoediging om spesifieke elemente om hul eenhede te bewillig, in ‘n poging om hul identiteit te weerspieël en bietjie beheer te gee oor hul huislike omgewing. / Mini Dissertation (MInt (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2018. / Architecture / MInt (Prof) / Unrestricted

The project set out to develop a non-typological approach to public space in a poly-centric city. The principle of third space was used to conceptualise an interface for public life that would potentiate both public and private realms, and mitigate the issues currently related to contemporary public space. The notion of third space was also considered for the projects programmatic response in order to achieve an authentic urban experience. In essence a bridge between industrial typology and retail space was proposed to remedy the state of the unconscious consumer as well as establish the cross-fertilisation that occurs when a larger demographic of users are present. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

This work analyzes the occupations of the public space in the contemporary urban experience. It is intended to argue the complexity of the relations that involve the existence of the Points on the perspective of the churrasquinho hawker, category that grew more in the city of Maceió, having as empiricist referential the spaces occupied by this trader. Considering the creative practices of appropriation that they exert, either in the places chosen for their work, either in the different way how they appropriate is what it is intended to determine: a) how the Point, place of reinforcement of the human activity, can contribute for the dynamics of the public spaces of the at present cities; b) what are the determinant factors in the process of selecting the trade point used by the hawker in their occupations; c) which localities are likely to the appropriated for this stratum of the population; d) how the appropriation of these spaces configures; e) which is the urban importance of the recognition of this category. / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Alagoas / Este trabalho analisa as ocupações do espaço público na experiência urbana contemporânea. Pretende-se discutir a complexidade das relações que envolvem o surgimento dos Pontos sobre o prisma do ambulante do churrasquinho, categoria ambulante que mais cresceu na cidade de Maceió. Tendo como referencial empírico os espaços ocupados por este comerciante e considerando as práticas criativas de apropriação que eles exercem, seja nos locais escolhidos para seu trabalho, seja no modo variado como se apropriam é que se pretende determinar: a) como o Ponto, lugar de concentração da atividade humana, pode contribuir para a dinâmica dos espaços Públicos das cidades atuais; b) quais os fatores determinantes para o processo de escolha dos Pontos de comércio utilizados pelos ambulantes em suas ocupações; c) quais localidades são passíveis de serem apropriadas por esta camada da população; d) como se configura a apropriação destes espaços; e) qual a importância urbana do reconhecimento desta categoria.

VIKOVÁ, Tereza. The Uses of Public Space in Connection to Visual Art and Art Education [Dissertation]. Prague, 2019. Charles University, Faculty of Education, Art Education Department. 98 pages (Attachments on CD: 1 text, 2 image attachments) The subject matter of the master's thesis is the use of public space. Namely a way of use when the user, on the basis of self-awareness in the common space, feels and assumes responsibility for this space. The author is particularly interested in the moment of focus, which may (or may not) result in action and become a change. In this context, the so called gentle action phenomenon is being mentioned. That is, an individual's actions emanating from within the system itself, which is usually characterized by subtle action with a deeper, more far-reaching effect. The author's central ideas are applied in a thematic series consisting of a combination of a didactic and an artistic part. Together, they create a coherent whole. The author shows her own approach to the problem (in relation to fine art and art education) based on the extraction of a public space element from its everyday environment, its temporary appropriation and restitution. Particular topics reveal the aspects of private and public and outline the ways in which the user relates to his or her...

Gathering places (mötesplatser in Swedish) is an frequent used concept within the discourse about urban and regional planning in Sweden. It is an ambiguous term that is used in a variety of contexts and with a variety of meanings. Present work aims to investigate and describe the function of an urban square in Sweden as a public gathering place based on a number of given aspects. To achieve the aim of this thesis two different research approaches, in addition to an extensive literature study, is being used; a survey with people in a calculated target area and observations following the methodology created by Metha, 2014. Previous studies have shown that there are a number of variab- les that need to be understood to create a comprehensive insight in the social dimensions of urban public space. Among these, different groups and their perception of different factors are crucial to include. Furthermore, the inclusion and the possi- bility to use the public space is of great importance. As is the possibility to feel safe and calm in the space. Hence, there are numerous factors to include when the social dimensions of a public space is to be studied. These factors can be measured as indicators on how good the public space is, as is done in the Public Space Index developed by Metha (2014). Present study’s findings include a suggested definition of the term “Public gathering place” and data that indicates that Bysistorget is an overall good public gathering place. This is, however, proble- matized when the data is divided by different groups and a more variegated understanding arises.

Les questions de l'usage de l'espace public sont devenues un sujet de recherche important dans le passé récent. La recherche plutôt opérative a mis en avant un ensemble convaincant de recommandations de dessin et de gestion pour améliorer l'usage des espaces, mas elle a à peine réussi à approcher la question comme un problème de politique et planification urbaines. Ce projet de recherche essaiera de contribuer pour le replacement du problème à une échelle urbaine, à travers la comparaison de trois processus de production de l'espace public à l'échelle urbaine, notamment Lyon, Louvain-la-Neuve et Lisbonne. Dans ces trois terrains, des différentes façons de prendre en compte l'usage ont été suivies et cette diversité fait partie de la problématique. Cette recherche adopte une approche inductive au sujet, cadrée par des lectures dans l'intersection de la sociologie de l'action et des études de politiques publiques, qui cherchent expliquer les résultats de l'action collective par des analyses approfondies de leurs processus. Cependant, elle maintient un repère géographique dans la mesure où elle est concernée aussi par la spatialisation des politiques publiques, c'est-à-dire les espaces produits par les différents processus et les dynamiques d'usage qu'y sont présentes / Issues of public space use have become a paramount subject of research in the recent past. While research of an overtly operative outlook has convincingly put forward design and management recommendations for improving the use of public spaces, it has struggled in approaching the issue as the scope of urban policy and planning. This research project aims at contributing to re-placing the problem at an urban scope. It will do so by comparing three very different policy and planning processes which, at an urban scale, explicitly put forward use as a main objective of public space production, namely Lyon, Louvain-la-Neuve and Lisbon. The diversity of what 'taking use into account' might mean in each case study is a part of the research problem. This research adopts an inductive approach to the subject, framed by readings in the intersection of pragmatic sociology, policy and economics/management studies which suggest the explanation of policy outcomes by in-depth analyses of the processes leading to them. However, it maintains a geographical standpoint as it is concerned, as well, with the “spatialization of public policies”, i.e. the spaces that are actually produced by said processes and the dynamics of use taking place therein