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"urban public space"
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Urban landscapes in high-density cities : parks, streetscapes, ecosystems
\"The positive effects of urban green spaces are well-known, ranging from the promotion of health, support of biodiversity to climate regulation. However, the practical implementation of urban landscapes is less discussed. How can we make these spaces functional, economically feasible and inclusive, especially as cities become more diverse? The publication explores strategies to reconcile the various demands, such as food production, resilience and nature conservation. Indeed, urban landscapes have to be restorative, ecological and aesthetically pleasing at the same time. This is a particular challenge in high-density cities like Singapore, Seoul or New York where space is a scarce commodity. The continuing growth of the worldwide urban population imbues the topic with a special urgency.\"-- De Gruyter website.
Book
Effects of Environmental Features in Small Public Urban Green Spaces on Older Adults’ Mental Restoration: Evidence from Tokyo
Exposure to small public urban green spaces (SPUGS) has been demonstrated to have mental benefits for older adults. However, studies on identifying the objective environmental features of SPUGS and their effects on mental restoration for older adults remain limited. This study employed a multilevel regression model to investigate the restorative and vitalizing effects of the environmental features of 11 SPUGS in Tokyo. Onsite measurements were conducted in Kita-Ku, and 202 older adults were surveyed. The results showed that: (1) The fitting curve of the green view index and Restoration Outcome Scale (ROS) score showed an inverted U shape—both green view index and boundary enclosure had a strong impact on the mental restoration of older adults; (2) The colorfulness index showed the strongest relationship with the vitalizing effect. (3) The sky view factor and number of seats only influenced the ROS score, while the results of revitalization suggest that large areas of water should be avoided. (4) Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET) was also confirmed to have negative effects on the mental restoration of older adults in autumn. These empirical findings can be used as a resource to promote the mental health of older adults in the design of SPUGS in high-density Asian countries.
Journal Article
Tuff City
During the 1990s, Naples' left-wing administration sought to tackle the city's infamous reputation of being poor, crime-ridden, chaotic and dirty by reclaiming the city's cultural and architectural heritage. This book examines the conflicts surrounding the reimaging and reordering of the city's historic centre through detailed case studies of two piazzas and a centro sociale, focusing on a series of issues that include decorum, security, pedestrianization, tourism, immigration and new forms of urban protest. This monograph is the first in-depth study of the complex transformations of one of Europe's most fascinating and misunderstood cities. It represents a new critical approach to the questions of public space, citizenship and urban regeneration as well as a broader methodological critique of how we write about contemporary cities.
eBook
Preferences and Perception Influencing Usage of Neighborhood Public Urban Green Spaces in Fast Urbanizing Indian City
In rapidly expanding Indian cities, the current provisions for public urban green spaces (PUGS) falls below the minimum standards recommended by the WHO, linked with the well-being of urban dwellers. The local authorities are struggling to fulfill the supply side gap, with a disparity in PUGS provisions. Currently, the provisions focus on fulfilling the prerequisites identified by the planning agencies and do not appropriately address the urban greenspace demands. However, effective planning has been emphasized as a way to respond to the diverse, competing and changing demands of PUGS, allowing the incorporation of the needs and preferences of urban dwellers in the planning and management of PUGS to help determine their multifunctionality, usefulness, and popularity. In response, this study attempts to capture the demands of urban dwellers through local social data for neighborhood PUGS of the fast-urbanizing Nagpur. We attempt to assist local authorities in better understanding the provisions for planning and managing PUGS that can fulfil the growing PUGS needs of urban dwellers. Via a social survey of users and residents, we capture visitations, usage, activities, motives of visits, and perceptions about neighborhood PUGS characteristics. The findings highlight the determinants that influence the usage and favored activities. Urban dwellers have a strong tendency to use neighborhood “parks and gardens” due to their convenient proximity, emphasizing how crucial their location is in shaping urban residents’ engagement with these spaces. The socio-demographics shape the preference, and the locals hold negative perceptions about size, vegetation, amenities, as well as maintenance. The identified determinants (access and availability), influencing factors (socio-demographic), and the barrier to usage (negative perceptions) need prioritized attention from the local authorities to accommodate the diverse and competing demands of different sub-groups of the urban dwellers.
Journal Article
Public urban space: The linguistic turn
Urban public open space is a myriad between the physical and the social. Their relationship has been conceived in various terms; the focus shifting between one and the other; nevertheless, in most cases, the language of criticism has so far been lacking, and descriptions have tended towards a more generic, non-nuanced language of criticism. Taking advantage of developments in the field of criticism of language, based, as they were, on methods of Structuralist and Post-structural linguistic analysis, in this case, namely, the work of Rosalind Krauss, and, Manfredo Tafuri, an attempt is made to link up the language of criticism developed individually, by Krauss, for Sculpture, and by Tafuri, for Architecture, for the purpose of advancing a similarly informed language of criticism, to urban design practice; taking, for the purposes of this effort, four relatively recent urban design projects for the creation of urban public open space in Amman, completed, 2005-2011.
Journal Article
The Application of Space Syntax to Enhance Sociability in Public Urban Spaces: A Systematic Review
Public urban spaces are vital settings for fostering social interaction among people. However, understanding how spatial layouts can promote positive social behaviors remains a critical and debated challenge for urban designers and planners aiming to create socially sustainable environments. Space syntax, a well-established theory and research method, explores the influence of spatial configurations on social aspects. Despite its significant contributions, there is a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews evaluating its effectiveness in enhancing social interaction within urban public spaces. This study aims to identify the existing scientific gaps in the domain of space syntax studies, with a primary focus on sociability in public urban spaces. Following the PRISMA framework, a thorough literature search was conducted in the Scopus database, yielding 1107 relevant articles. After applying screening and eligibility criteria, 26 articles were selected for in-depth review. This review adopted a novel approach to synthesizing and analyzing the findings for identifying underexplored scientific gaps. The findings suggested a wide variety of research gaps to address, encompassing evidence, knowledge, practical, methodological, empirical, theoretical, and target populations to provide a thorough overview of the current state of knowledge in this field. In conclusion, by exploring the interplay between space syntax and design elements such as the urban infrastructure, landscaping, and microclimate in these areas, future research can bridge this gap, particularly when considering a cross-cultural lens. This study underscores the importance of space syntax in promoting social interaction in urban public spaces, offering a robust foundation for future research and practical applications to create more socially engaging environments.
Journal Article
Producing ownership through play: everyday public space practices in the Frankenberger neighbourhood
Play is commonly associated with childhood as a creative and productive activity that supports learning and innovation. However, its relevance extends beyond childhood and offers a critical lens for examining the consumption-oriented and rationalised patterns of contemporary urban life. In public space, playful activities often emerge as spontaneous and voluntary practices through which individuals engage with their surroundings, develop a sense of belonging, participate in shaping everyday spatial use, and move beyond purely functional or passive interpretations of space. In this article, owning space is understood not as a legal or formal condition, but as a situational and experiential process enacted through everyday use, interaction, and spatial adaptation by city residents. Such practices demonstrate how public space can be actively produced through use rather than passively consumed, and how everyday activities may resist tendencies toward standardisation and privatisation.
This study investigates the relationship between play theory and urban public space through a case study of the Frankenberger Neighbourhood in Aachen. Moving beyond playground-based and child-centred interpretations of play, the research focuses on playful and social practices embedded in everyday public space use, while critically engaging with processes of privatisation and control. The study draws on systematic observations, behavioural mapping, visual documentation, and questionnaires designed to explore users’ preferences, choices, and expectations regarding public space. Together, these methods illustrate how residents participate in and activate public space through playful practices, how owning space is produced through everyday use, and how such insights can inform public space design. The article argues that urban designers and planners can support more inclusive and playful public spaces not by prescribing specific functions, but by enabling spatial conditions that allow users to shape, reinterpret, and co-produce space through their everyday practices.
Journal Article
Creative movements and urban regeneration in Qatar: the case of Msheireb in Doha
The integration of cultural heritage and creative identity into contemporary urban development has emerged as a significant paradigm for fostering creativity, innovation, and economic prosperity in rapidly developing Gulf cities. Going beyond traditional planning practices, cultural regeneration and creative districts have become increasingly important for developing vibrant and inclusive urban futures as they navigate global interurban competition. This study investigates the concept of creative cities, focusing on the role of urban space transformation and public art in fostering socialization, public engagement, and innovation. This study employed qualitative methods, including analytic-descriptive procedures and document analysis, to evaluate how urban regeneration projects in the Gulf region implement creative placemaking principles. In analyzing a place-based case study, the authors explore Msheireb Downtown Doha in Qatar towards becoming a creative city, especially through a framework that connects physical–spatial attributes with visual-aesthetic elements, sensitive-perceptual aspects, and environmental qualities. The Msheireb case study demonstrates that effective regeneration requires more than physical reconstruction by focusing on strategic planning, cultural heritage preservation, adaptive reuse, sustainability, community engagement, and cultural amenities, which provide practical recommendations for cities seeking to unite modernization with cultural heritage. These findings highlight the need to balance top-down and bottom-up approaches to create vibrant, inclusive, and creative cities and urban spaces that foster cultural innovation while addressing the diverse needs of the community. The research also identifies complexities such as gentrification and social inequalities and recommends future research directions to further explore the impact of creative urban regeneration initiatives on local communities and urban identity.
Journal Article
Inclusive Parks across Ages: Multifunction and Urban Open Space Management for Children, Adolescents, and the Elderly
In urban areas where increased density has caused loss of urban open space (UOS), there is a need for high-quality parks that are inclusive and fit for multiple user groups. To make parks more inclusive, UOS management may need to consider multifunction and the perspectives of various age groups in future development and maintenance activities. Walking interviews were conducted in a park in central Landskrona, Sweden, with children, adolescents, and elderly users, and also with the head park manager of the city. The results revealed different perspectives among the three age groups of users concerning affordances and UOS management. The manager described user-oriented management to support multifunction and inclusion, including user participation. All user groups studied showed an appreciation of liveliness, contact with nature, social places for their own age group, clean and safe parks, and a variety of different atmospheres and activities in the park. Social multifunction can be developed in programmed or non-programmed ways, but some functions interfere with each other. UOS managers can develop parks to suit different age groups, promote user participation within management, and develop social multifunction to create inclusive parks for various age groups.
Journal Article