In the nineteen nineties, former Yugoslavia, went through a series of interstitial disputes, both religious and political, which evolved into hatred amongst its own people and ultimately into an unforgiving civil war. Rising demonstrations of the groups with different religious and cultural views within the country’s boundaries amalgamated into a war which divided the state into separate countries and left many cities and villages in despair, economic desolation and poverty. Although some have been directly affected by the physical casualties of war, others have suffered indirectly. One of the villages affected is Ruski Kerestur, found in the Republic of Serbia where more than ninety percent of the residents are non-Serbian. Many of its people fled the country due to political and economic uncertainties. This minority group is of the Carpatho-Rusyn decent which are the heart and soul of the village. Inspired by personal motive and desire to heal communities in distress, this thesis presents an opportunity to reconcile Carpatho-Rusyn people from the social diaspora in attempt to reclaim their national identity and give them the courage to persist on and continue the cultural legacy that has been nurtured for generations. Leaning on the speculation that ‘a spirit in people and belief in the future comes from the very foundation of a building’; it utilizes an architectural intervention as basis to conceive a quintessential communal space that redefines social and practical functions necessary for cultivating Rusyn traditions, ethics and domestic values. To develop an understanding of their public realm, the thesis dips into the crevices of time searching for Carpatho-Rusyn progress of development and migratory movement from their homeland in the Carpathian Mountains to the present day conditions. It tends to explore the idea of ‘adaptation’, the ideology that defines an architectural type through the process of transformation and negotiation of a community and its direct effect on public space, urban system and architectonic form. These theories will become a kernel for producing a useful and meaningful civic landmark that will strengthen the spirit of people giving hope and new life to the wounded village. The new ‘living monument’, Carpatho-Rusyn Art Gallery and Reconciliation Centre, presents a new gateway for Ruski Kerestur and its people into the healthy future shedding light on their moral values which were tamed for centuries by wars, ethnic cleansing and inexorable conviction of their non existence. The design proposal reintroduces a Rusyn way to the world and echoes the emotion of pride which permeates every Rusyn soul.

The public spaces of many low-income, inner-city neighbourhoods are fundamental in forming strong social networks, nurturing the development of community and supporting the needs of vulnerable residents. This aspect of the urban condition is rooted in the understanding of public space as social space, emphasizing the innumerable differences of individuals and their everyday patterns of inhabitation. This thesis explores Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, a historically marginalized neighbourhood with a strong sense of community that has developed from an accessible and inclusive public life. However, as the neighbourhood undergoes re-development, social polarization threatens the vitality of its public space and the existing sense of acceptance and connection. To mitigate the impact of gentrification on public space, architecture is employed as a tool to support and enhance the area’s inclusive public realm. Applying principles of Everyday Urbanism, it illustrates the social importance of ‘everyday space’, emphasizing the human condition and multidimensional aspects of cities. Three distinct designs propose ‘neighbourhood places’ at strategic locations throughout the Downtown Eastside. Guided by the principles of ‘city design’ and four established design goals, each project demonstrates an attempt to anchor the existing community in place, foster a dialogue between different neighbourhood groups and promote a sense of ownership and belonging. Although this thesis concentrates on the Downtown Eastside, it outlines a set of design principles that can be applied universally, increasing community connections and support throughout our cities.

The issue of downtown revitalization has been much studied over the past several decades. However, much of the existing knowledge base pertains to our largest urban centres. This leaves a significant information gap with regards to mid-size cities. As a result, past renewal attempts in these cities have often been scaled down versions of what has worked in larger cities. In most cases, this has resulted in detrimental rather than reviving effects. The current trend in cities of all sizes is the implementation of Creative City Theory. This thesis seeks to study this trend and its specific relevance to the mid-size city. The scope of research will then build on the current theory by exploring the effects of well-designed public spaces and their ability to not only unleash the creative spirit but to revitalize the post-industrial mid-size city downtown. This information will then be applied to a design study for Hamilton, Ontario where failed renewal attempts have crippled the city’s downtown. The design will concentrate on Jackson Square (formerly known as Civic Square), a superblock within the very centre of downtown Hamilton. Through a redesign of Jackson Square, the thesis proposes to create a place that not only fosters creativity, but is once again meaningful and significant to Hamilton citizens. While the application of research to Hamilton is specific, the goal is to produce a body of work with principles that can be applied to any number of mid-size cities across the post-industrial world.

Sammanfattning       Syftet med uppsatsen har varit att analysera och diskutera hur rädsla utvecklas i samband med överfallsvåldtäkter, och undersöka samband mellan media och kvinnors rädsla. Syftet har också varit att relatera rädslans betydelse i förhållande till jämställdhet.   Den övergripande problemfrågan har varit: - Finns det samband mellan medias nyhetsförmedling och kvinnors rädsla för överfallsvåldtäkt? Följande undersökningsfrågor har använts: - Hur ser forskningen på problemet med kvinnors rädsla för brott och våldtäkt? - På vilket sätt kan nyhetsklippen i Nerikes Allehanda ha påverkat utvecklingen av rädsla för överfallsvåldtäkter i Örebro?   Undersökningen har gjorts i två delar. Först genom en undersökning av vad tidigare forskning kommit fram till om kvinnors rädsla för brott och våldtäkt. Sedan genom en textanalys av nyhetsklipp i Nerikes Allehanda, och hur dessa kan ha påverkat rädsla för överfallsvåldtäkter i Örebro. Tidsrummet sträcker sig från september 2009 till september 2010. Som utgångspunkt för textanalysen har Göran Bergström och Kristina Boréus metodbok Textens mening och makt använts. Jag har utgått från en teori om att medierna sätter dagordningen för vilka frågor som blir viktiga.   Genomgående har analyserna genomförts från ett genusperspektiv, som utgår från att män och kvinnor har olika positioner i förhållande till våldtäkt. Ett tema om kvinnors tillgång till det offentliga rummet har en central plats i uppsatsen. För att relatera resultaten till ett vidare jämställdhetsperspektiv har Susan Brownmillers teori, om våldtäkt som uttryck för makt och social kontroll, använts.   Slutsatsen är att det verkar finnas samband mellan medias nyhetsförmedling och kvinnors rädsla för överfallsvåldtäkt. Nerikes Allehandas nyhetsklipp är utformade på ett sätt som kan verka uppskrämmande på många kvinnor. Det gäller t.ex. signalerande nyheter, som är utformade på ett sätt som varnar kvinnor att de kan bli serievåldtäktsmannens nästa offer. Det sker också genom varningar från polisen, medierade genom media. Samspelet mellan Nerikes Allehandas kriminaljournalistik och polisen som huvudsaklig källa till nyhetsartikarna, har troligen haft en central roll i genererandet av en genuskodad rädsla, utan att varken polis eller Nerikes Allehanda haft något syfte att skrämma kvinnor. Ett sätt varigenom rädslan kunnat föras vidare är genom ett kulturellt narrativ, som skapas genom nyhetsklippen. / Abstract   The aim of this essay has been to analyze and discuss how fear develops in the context of rape attacks and investigate the relationship between media and women's fear. The aim has been to relate the importance of fear to gender equality. The overall question has been: - Is there a connection between media coverage and women's fear of sexual assault? The research issues that have been used: - How does research regard questions concerning women's fear of crime and rape? - How can newspaper articles in Nerikes Allehanda have influenced the development of fear of rape attacks in Örebro? The study was conducted in two parts. The first part was carried out as an examination of what previous research has concluded on women’s fear of crime and rape. Then through a textual analysis of newspaper articles in Nerikes Allehanda and how these may have affected the fear of rape attacks in Örebro. The time span is September 2009 to September 2010. Göran Bergström and Kristina Boréus method book Textens mening och makt was used as a basis for the text analysis. My point of departure has been a theory that the media set the agenda for what issues are important. The analysis was conducted from a gender perspective that assumes that men and women have different positions in relation to rape. A theme about women's access to public space has a central place in the essay. In order to relate the results to a wider gender equality perspective, Susan Brownmiller's theory of rape as an expression of power and social control has been used. The conclusion is that news media and women's fear of assault and rape seems to be linked. Newspaper articles in Nerikes Allehanda are designed in a way that may seem frightening to many women. This applies, for instance, to signaling news stories designed to warn women that they may become the next victim of a serial rapist. It also applies to warnings from the police, mediated through the media. The interaction between the crime coverage of Nerikes Allehanda and the police, as the main source of the news stories, probably played a central role in the generation of a gender-coded fear, without neither the police nor Nerikes Allehanda having any intent to scare women. A way that fear seems to have been passed on is through the creation of a cultural narrative that is created by the design of news articles.

The surface parking lot was a key element in the destruction of traditional public space. It fragmented the fabric of traditional cities, prompting the sprawl of twentieth century cities and suburbs. The automobile permitted the average individual, for the first time in history, to move through public space insulated in a private shell, shielded from strangers and protected from undesirables. Consequently, the role of the sidewalk dwindled. The automobile and the parking lot dominated the pedestrian and the sidewalk, whose diminished vitality further encouraged widespread automobile use. As a result, the parking lot became one of the defining features of the American city. In the United States parking lots are expected to be utilitarian, prevalent and free. Even as traditional public spaces disappeared, there was little demand for new public spaces, particularly not in the parking lot. Through investigations of parking history and public space, this thesis argues that parking lots, by virtue of their visual and physical accessibility, are contemporary public space. Although they are singular in their use, in contrast to the multifaceted street, parking lots are the settings for modern public life. This thesis further asserts that the simple landscape of the utilitarian parking lot can be transformed into complex public space, thereby enlivening the public realm.

The aim of this thesis is put forward a critical inquiry into the new advent neoliberal publicity and the spatiality which brought forth by this emergent publicity in Ankara thereby interrogating some key concepts such as neoliberalism, neoliberal urbanization, public space and publicity. &ldquo / The Renovation Project of Ankara Historical City Center&rdquo / will be assessed owing to constitute a model for understanding the tendencies in the planning of public spaces of Ankara for the last two decades. Considering the vast area which will be subjected to the renovation project, the borders of the study area is confined to &ldquo / Special Project Area: Hacibayram Mosque and Its Environs&rdquo / .

This study aims to ask what meaning the current users of Taksim Republican Square (TRS) in Istanbul attach to it, besides an understanding of the socio

Public spaces play essential roles in urban life for the city, the public and individuals, by setting strong relations between urban space and social and cultural values. Public spaces and their essential components have multi-dimensional impacts on people. Public art, as a constituent of public space, includes a wide range of artworks, activities and outcomes, contributing to the significance of the places in a variety of ways. However, each culture, country and city, has diverse policies and outcomes of public art based on different perspectives. Focusing on the public art policies in Ankara over the last two decades, this thesis seeks to examine how far the recent policies have contributed to the city. By carrying out in-depth investigation on the public art work interventions and policies of the Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, the thesis assesses the multi-dimensional contributions of these policies and interventions. It seeks to discuss how far the public artwork policies of localities are crucial for creating genuine public spaces of cities.

Social hållbarhet är ett mångdimensionellt begrepp där trygghet utgör en av dimensionerna och är en viktig faktor för att skapa god livskvalité. Det offentliga rummet utgör en nyckelfaktor i en hälsosam och välfungerande stad. En god omgivande miljö är en källa till att motivera medborgare till bättre hälsa och välbefinnande. Det offentliga rummet har även en stor inverkan på trygghet, god urban planering är essentiellt för att skapa en god miljö att leva och bo i. Hög grad av trygghet skapar också förutsättningar för att nå social hållbarutveckling. Bakomliggande drivkrafter till denna studie är att det offentliga rummet är en viktig plats där alla ska vara välkomna och känna sig trygga. Det offentliga rummet skapar möjlighet för sociala relationer, kunskapsutbyte samt utgör en viktig funktion i samhället. Det offentligarummet ska värna om människan, och människan ska värna om det offentliga rummet. Därmed syftar denna studie till att undersöka ungdomars upplevelse om det offentliga rummeti relation till social hållbarhet och trygghet. Den valda arenan utgörs av det offentliga rummet i Stenungsund. Metoden som använts i studien är av en kvantitativ ansats, enkäter har delats ut till gymnasieelever i årskurs 1-3 iStenungssunds kommun. Enkäten avslutades med möjligheten för respondenterna att markera på en karta över Stenungsund de platser respondenterna känner sig trygga, otrygga samt tycker om. Resultatet av studien visar att ungdomarna i Stenungsund överlag känner sig trygga i det offentliga rummet. Dock förekommer det skillnader mellan hur tjejer och killar upplever trygghet. Killar känner sig i högre grad trygga än vad tjejer gör. Eleverna i de olika årskurserna tenderar även att uppleva trygghet på olika sätt. Markeringarna på kartan visade således på en gemensam uppfattning om vilka platser som upplevs som både trygga, otrygga samt omtyckta. / Social sustainability is a multidimensional concept in which safety is one of the dimensions, and is an important factor in creating a good quality of life. The public space is a key factor in a healthy and well-functioning city. A good environment is a source for motivating citizens to better health and wellness. Public space also has a great impact on safety, good urban planning is essential to create a good environment to live in. High level of safety also creates the conditions for achieving socially sustainable development. The driving forces behind this study is that the public space is an important place where everybody will be welcomed and feel safe. The public space creates the opportunity for social relations, exchange of knowledge and constitute an important function in society. The publicspace should protect and promote the citizen, and the citizen must take care and show respect for the public space. Thus, this study aims to investigate young people's experience of publicspace in relation to social sustainability and safety. The method used in the study is a quantitative approach, questionnaires have been distributed to high school students in Stenungssund. The survey ended with the possibility for respondents to mark on a map of Stenungsund the places they feel secure, insecure and like. The results of the study show that young people in Stenungsund generally feel safe in public spaces. However, there are differences between how girls and boys experience safety. Boys feel increasingly confident than girls do. Students in different grades also tend to experience safety differently. The markings on the map thus showed a common understanding of what places are experienced as both secure, insecure and liked.

Over the course of the last several decades, an increase in the level of concern surrounding the various health and environmental consequences of current, popular waste disposal methods, including landfilling and incineration, have resulted in an increase in municipal recycling efforts. These efforts take place primarily at the residential and commercial levels, while the availability of recycling in public spaces like sidewalks, transit stops, parks and other areas is not something that is often encountered in cities around the United States. This thesis studies the implications and opportunities for public space recycling through the action research process during which I conducted case study research of existing public space recycling programs in Portland, Oregon, and New York, New York, alongside the planning and implementation of a pilot program for transit stop recycling in Austin, Texas. The aim of this thesis is to examine and establish various goals and common strategies for the implementation of public space recycling programs and ultimately make a case for this arguably invaluable, yet often overlooked, recycling initiative. Working under the theoretical framework of the urban metabolism and Karl Marx’s theory of the metabolic rift, the reimagining of waste disposal practices to include widespread materials recycling is one avenue for the restructuring of the relationship between the city and the natural environment. The expansion of recycling practices into public spaces forwards the overall mission to make recycling an integral part of daily life. If implemented properly, the widespread implementation of recycling programs like public space recycling could begin to heal the fragmented urban metabolism and ensure the longevity of the ever-evolving urban and natural environments. The conclusions of this research revolve around the importance of context for public space (and other) recycling practices. This research shows that for public space recycling to succeed as a strategy for the mainstreaming of recycling practices and the reparation of the metabolic rift, the unique characteristics of each individual public space must be taken into consideration upon the implementation of a public space recycling program. / text