Walking the public: re(visiting) Athens’s historical centre

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitra Kanellopoulou
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Social Exchange ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Space Planning ◽  
Space Projects ◽  
People Search ◽  
And Function ◽  
The City

Purpose Since the 1980s, planning public spaces for leisure walking is largely linked with economic and cultural objectives. Parallel to this tendency and the priorities of local authorities on barker public space projects, inhabitant’s associations, that grow up after the 2000s, propose new ways of visiting the city through collective walks. Drawing on the example of the Atenistas group, and based on the discourses of its founders, its presence on social media and the narratives of participants, the purpose of this paper is to question the emergence and function of new forms of urban walking that joggle between tourism, social exchange and act of citizenship. Design/methodology/approach The case study is based on personal semi-directive interviews with organisers and participants at “Atenistas Open Walks”. It is also based on interviews that have been held with architects and urban planners within technical services of the municipality of Athens as also as within private sector’s structures. Findings First insights from the study question pedestrianisation as a dominant urban planning tool towards animated street life and performant local economy. Contrary to the traditional top-down approach in Athens’s public space planning which uses pedestrianisation or land management to re-invest on the city centre, Atenistas Open Walks reveal the existence of alternatives ways of a re-engagement with city values and history. People search to explore the city by themselves and re-trace their proper itineraries (and ways of seeing the city) by outpassing official discourses on the decline, the success, the dangerousness or the beautifulness of certain neighbourhoods. Consequently, walkers constantly nourish their will to better understand the city. Public space experience outpasses morphological or functional issues. The act of walking with others in the city willing to explore places and to exchange on this experience, confront people with different narratives and trajectories and can momently be a strong factor of social cohesion and activation of public space with significant impacts on local economy. Walking collectively can emerge, in this way, as a counter model of public space planning capable of revitalise not only touristic activity, but also citizenship. Originality/value The study questions dominant discourses that link urban liveability and touristic attractiveness of urban centres with recreational events and streets’ pedestrianisation projects.

scholarly journals Linking place attachment and social interaction: towards meaningful public places

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norsidah Ujang ◽  
Marek Kozlowski ◽  
Suhardi Maulan
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Place Attachment ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Interaction Field ◽  
Human Need ◽  
Socially Responsive ◽  
The City

Purpose A public space is a place of significance when it fulfils the human need for social interaction and attachment. However, the scarcity of public spaces poses a challenge to support socialisation for people within a defined social and cultural group. The purpose of this paper is to explore the association between place attachment and social interaction within public spaces in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach Face-to-face interviews with urban users were conducted to examine the users’ engagement in three main public spaces in the city and the significance of these spaces to everyday social interaction. Field observations were carried out to examine patterns of users’ activities and interactions. Findings The authors uncover a lack of multi-functional spaces to support diverse forms of interactions in the city. A street has an important function to generate activities. However, spaces for people to sit and stay remain scarce, and are in most cases consumed by extended commercial use and thus considered private. Opportunities for social interaction are very limited. The significance of the places relates strongly to commercial and tourism functions, and hence place attachment evolves around those activities. Participants associated their familiarity and engagement with interaction between familiar people, close ethnic relationships and business acquaintances. Practical implications The authors argue that more robust and socially responsive public spaces should be reclaimed for the culturally diverse users. Social implications Development of attachment through meaningful spaces for people to stay and interact could enhance the role of public spaces in the city. Originality/value By understanding the social meanings of places, particularly in a multi-cultural setting, a stronger basis for designing and managing urban places towards resiliency and social sustainability can be provided.

CONTEMPORARY DIRECTIONS OF URBAN PLANNING IN THE REVIEW OF GRADUATION THESIS OF THE NEW GENERATION

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
И.Г. Федченко
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
University Graduates ◽  
City Development ◽  
Semantic Categories ◽  
Space Projects ◽  
The City

В статье представлен обзор тематики выпускных квалификационных работ по градостроительству, представленных на Международный смотр-конкурс дипломных проектов архитектурных вузов, проводимый Межрегиональной общественной организацией содействия архитектурному образованию (МООСАО) в 2018 и 2019 годах. Проведенный анализ позволил сформулировать современные направления развития градостроительного знания по смысловым категориям проектов: технологические проекты; стратегические проекты различных уровней; проекты развития урбанизированных территорий; проекты уникальных тематик (освоение космоса, Арктики, концепции города будущего, проекты на территориях зарубежных государств). The article provides an overview of the topics of diploma works on urban planning submitted to the International Review Competition of architectural projects of university graduates held by the Interregional Public Organization for the Promotion of Architectural Education in 2018 and 2019. The analysis made it possible to formulate a generalization of topics into semantic categories: technological projects (technologies for urban planning, environmental-friendly planning, participatory design); strategic projects of various levels (the development of agglomerations and resettlement systems, strategies for the development of cities and historical centers, the modernization of transport systems, as well as projects to form the “nuclei” of economic growth); urban development projects (reconstruction of existing buildings, renovation of communal and warehouse areas of the city, development of disturbed territories, public space projects under the federal program “Formation of a comfortable urban environment”); projects of unique topics (space exploration, the Arctic, the concept of the city of the future, projects in foreign countries).

Tolerance zones: a pragmatic approach to respond to problems related to open alcohol and drug scenes in Bremen/Germany

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanna Prepeliczay ◽  
Henning Schmidt-Semisch
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Related Disorder ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Social ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Tolerance Zones ◽  
Drug And Alcohol ◽  
The City

Purpose This study aims to describe and analyse an approach in the city of Bremen (Germany) to establish streetwork-supported tolerance zones for local open drug and alcohol scenes to reduce related disorder and nuisance in public spaces. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative methodology included systematic participant observations at public sites of drug and alcohol use, and problem-centred interviews with different groups of respondents (residents, passers-by, trades people, drug users, experts from addiction help and police). Findings In residential districts, tolerance zones were well accepted by their target group and found to reduce perceived disorder and nuisance in public space. However, their success depends on the social and spatial conditions of the chosen location, its surrounding urban infrastructure, cooperation among local actors and characteristics of drug using groups. Originality/value Usually, policing of open drug scenes focuses on repression and law enforcement. The example of Bremen suggests that streetwork-supported tolerance zones dedicated to the drug scene can substantially reduce disorder and nuisance in public space.

The 2015 Cricket World Cup in Christchurch

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-17
Author(s):  
C. Michael Hall ◽  
Alberto Amore
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Sporting Events ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
World Cup ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
Disaster Capitalism ◽  
The City

Purpose This study aims to focus on the development and upgrading of the Hagley Park cricket oval in Christchurch for the 2015 Cricket World Cup and how this hallmark event was used a catalyst to rebrand the city following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on the findings from research conducted between 2012 and 2016. Data for the analysis were collected from mainstream media, sport organisations websites and government archives. In addition, a two-round series of semi-structured interviews with relevant stakeholders was undertaken in the aftermath of the Cricket World Cup. Findings In the case of Christchurch, the earthquakes and the destruction of much of the downtown provided a recovery opportunity, with the 2015 Cricket World Cup used to expedite the development of a new sporting venue in the city centre and rebrand the city to international tourists and sport enthusiasts. Research limitations/implications The Hagley Park cricket oval case study provides evidence on the rhetoric of urban competitiveness and the use of hallmark sporting events to reframe urban development in post-disaster contexts. Originality/value This research provides further evidence on the logics of disaster capitalism and how cities embark on costly redevelopment projects for sports and events whilst overlooking exacerbating vulnerabilities among the local community.

scholarly journals The impact of the car restrictions implemented in the city centre on the public space quality

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
pp. 752-759 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrzej Szarata ◽  
Katarzyna Nosal ◽  
Urszula Duda-Wiertel ◽  
Lukasz Franek
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
City Centre ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

scholarly journals New urban trends towards the use of public space in Turin

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Sarah Isabella Chiodi
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Local Unit ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
New Type ◽  
National Research Program ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The City

<p>What do we mean when we talk about public space? We asked this question, among others about the relationship between urban populations and public spaces, to some people in the context of the National Research Program (PRIN 2009) titled ‘Public Spaces, moving populations and urban renewal programs’. This paper reports part of the outcome of the research done within the local unit of Turin (Italy), which has been developed with a set of interviews to local stakeholders and with a field research in the selected areas of the City Centre and the districts of San Salvario and Barriera di Milano.<br />From the answers of the stakeholders emerged some relevant issues that I analysed through a selected literature about the concept of public space. The result is a sort of catalogue of typical public spaces of the city, as acknowledged by the local stakeholders and by the field research, and analysed through the international literature. The typologies identified are: traditional public spaces, ‘cappuccino’ spaces, weak sociality spaces, new virtual public spaces and the ‘District Houses’, a new type of public space emerging in the city. To identify them, some characteristic pictures of public spaces of Turin and interviews’ pieces are also reported.<br />However, facing this scenario built on the empirical research, we should mind that the conflicting views of public space depend also on the professional and cultural background of the interviewees, which is such fickle data that it cannot be catalogued. So, the catalogue proposed is not exhaustive, but only indicative of the trend about new perspectives on the meaning of public space which emerged through research conducted in the city of Turin.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of a Modernist Approach through Buildings in Kayseri, Turkey

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-154
Author(s):  
Hikmet Eldek Güner
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Early Republic ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Republican Period ◽  
New Public ◽  
Modern Style ◽  
Early Republican ◽  
The City

Kayseri was an important commercial city throughout history, and with the declaration of the Republic, it continued its importance in different areas. The city has many original buildings from the Early Republican Period and was a model of modernisation set on a western ideology. Modernisation of the Republic was started with industrialisation. Consequently, Kayseri became an industrial city in the early 20th century. Investments (both economic and spatial) made by government were later continued by the private sector. Industrialisation was seen as the most important dynamic of development and key to modernisation. This situation resulted in the establishment of a new Kayseri around the industrial area and was viewed as an example for a modern Turkey. These industrial areas were constructed close to the boundary of the city centre. At the same time, the city centre was reconstructed according to modern city planning and the new style (modern style). The ceremonial ground (city square), an urban grid system, wide main transport routes, new public and municipal buildings, which were symbols of international style, were constructed by destroying the historic city centre in the Early Republic Period.The Republic was not only constructing new public buildings in a modern style; it was tried to build a new life with the modern residential areas. Instead of the traditional dwellings, modern houses were constructed to illustrate the new lifestyle together with new functional buildings such as modern education complexes, a community centre, stadium and train station were all constructed to show how to live the modern life.The city gained a new face with the changes starting from 1930. Today, many buildings, belonging to the Early Republican Period, are not being considered in the conservation of cultural heritage and are in danger. Industrial complexes, residential areas, public places are seen as a building stock destined to disappear and be replaced by new buildings. These earlier buildings hold important historical, social, economic and political values. Similarly, construction techniques and materials were also unique for that period.The aim of this study is to draw attention to the 20th century buildings in Kayseri constructed in the Early Republic Period, and classify these buildings under different headings (industry, housing, public space, educational space, open spaces) with the photographs, plans and history, thus defining their values and why they must be conserved. Republic was not only constructed new public buildings in modern style, it was tried to build a new life with the modern residential areas. Instead of the traditional dwellings, modern houses were constructed for point out of new life style and also new functioned buildings like as modern education complexes, community center, stadium, train station were constructed to show how to live in the modern life. The city has gained a new face with the changes starting from 1930. Today many buildings, belonging to the Early Republican Period, are not being considered in the conservation of cultural heritage and they are in danger. Industrial complexes, residential areas, public places are seen as a stock of a building and faced to disappear for constructed for the new buildings. They have very important values like as historical, social, economic and politic. Also construction techniques and materials were also unique for that period. The aim of this study is, to attract attention on 20th century buildings in Kayseri which are constructed in Early Republic Period, to classify these buildings in different headings (industry, housing, public space, educational space, open space …etc) with the photographs, plans and history. In general, meaning the main aim of this study is to define their values and explain why they must be conserved.

scholarly journals STREET DESIGN AND WOMEN’S SAFETY PERCEPTION

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suhaila Abdul Rashid ◽  
Mohammad Hussaini Wahab ◽  
Wan Nurul Mardiah Wan Mohd Rani
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Educational Institution ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Street Design ◽  
Safety Perception ◽  
Trading Activities ◽  
Physical Elements ◽  
The City ◽  
Population Rate

Urbanization is a process that creates many opportunities as well as threats. It is a process that will keep on continuing as population rate, migration, economic and social pattern are changing. Along with urbanization, demand for sustainable development and public space is crucial. Streets are important public space in a city. It is a network for many kind of activities. Design of streets affects the way people use it as well as their perception on safety. As a public space, safety is an important factor to consider. A safe public space will create a liveable environment. Feeling safe is important for human being due to the fact the built environment does affect our perception. Gender plays a role in safety perception where women perceive their environment differently. This study focuses on the importance of street as public space in contributing towards safety perception. In order to evaluate the phenomenon, a mixed method approach was adopted. Four streets in the city centre which are important public space with trading activities, connected to educational institution, offices and other economic activities were chosen. 120 questionnaire were distributed and direct observation were conducted in order to evaluate the phenomenon. Findings revealed that physical elements in the street do affect safety perception.

scholarly journals EVALUATION OF THE GENERAL ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE URBAN PUBLIC SPACE ACCORDING TO MANY CRITERIA

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-203
Author(s):  
Feshchur R. ◽  
◽  
Sosnova N. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Planning System ◽  
Space Planning ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Controversial Problem ◽  
Reasonable Choice ◽  
The City

Cities are constantly changing – new and existing facilities are created and reconstructed, existing ones are modernized, and new territories are developed, and, accordingly, public spaces are formed and develop in a certain way. To a large extent, this process is random and does not take place systematically, but this rather happens as a response to the urgent economic, environmental, social or other needs of city residents. Development management in the urban planning system is designed to solve the controversial problem of maintaining integrity and at the same time striving for its transformation. The use of the tools of mathematical modeling, considered in the article, allows one to solve the problems of spatial development of a city and its public spaces in a purposeful way, and to coordinate such a solution with the interests of stakeholders. When forming public spaces of a city one faces the task of streamlining competing development projects (alternative projects) for a particular area of ​​a city, taking into account the importance of their impact on the establishment of a distinctive image of the city and ensuring quality of life of its residents. To solve this problem, it is advisable to use methods of expert evaluation of design decisions, in particular, methods of ranking, valuating, and folding vector-valued criterion into a scalar criterion (integrated indicator of project weight). Ranking means assignment of a certain rank (a number from the natural series) to every project. The most important project is given the highest rank, which corresponds to number "one". The sum of the ranks given by all experts to a particular project can be considered as a generalized value of its weight. The article considers approaches to the assessment of urban public spaces on the basis of various criteria, namely urban, social, economic, environmental ones. The developed models of public space planning are designed for making a reasonable choice from a set of alternative projects subject to implementation, either according to the dominant criterion or according to many criteria in the conditions of resource constraints.

scholarly journals "Eco-Infill" as an alternative strategy for postindustrial landscape in the light of climate change: The case of Belgrade shipyard

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-341
Author(s):  
Ana Nikezic ◽  
Natasa Jankovic
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
City Centre ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Life Styles ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Artificial Environment ◽  
Abandoned Spaces ◽  
The City

At this moment, and under the circumstances that surround us, we have recognized as a definite global challenge the problem of climate change, and in general, the ecological misbalance of cities. In an attempt to meet this challenge, we will try to discuss possibilities of implementing the "Eco-Infill" strategy (fragments of nature incorporated into abandoned artificial environment) as a viable, somewhat ?alternative?, urban development strategy. The contemporary matrix of the post-industrial urban landscape is dotted with large and small fragments of abandoned spaces, which need to be incorporated into the city texture. Belgrade is a city with a potential, one of the larger capitals of the region, standing on the threshold of the European Union and undergoing an intensive process of political, economic and social transition. Similar to other large cities, it was previously an industrial city, but is now increasingly relying on the tertiary sector, promoting itself through its geographical, morphological, and cultural advantages. The consequences of privatization during transition and an exceptionally long and difficult political and economic crisis produced Brownfield and other abandoned spaces of the city centre with a complicated proprietary-ownership status, and no realistic guidelines for a much needed regeneration of the city centre in terms of contemporary problems linked to ecological, social and cultural values. In this article, there is a tendency to define principles on which the transformation of these abandoned places is based on and to try to apply these strategies onto the Belgrade shipyard on the river Sava. If we accept the previously set general views, these spaces can become crucial in developing a strategy for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Although these effects are primarily aimed at confronting climate change, they are bound to upgrade the quality of life and offer new life styles, potentially affecting all aspects of urban life, considering that most of the eco-infill we are talking about consists of active public space.

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