#2 Public Spaces
The spaces in-between
Public spaces shape our daily experiences — our perception, behaviour and mood — so it's important that we design spaces that have a positive impact on the people that are in them. As I see it, public spaces have a responsibility to meet our basic human needs and act in a way that is open, accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Design to meet our basic human needs
The idea and phrase "bumping spaces" brings me pure joy, it refers to those places in between — street corners, outside libraries and at park benches — and makes space for the unexpected to happen. These bumping spaces invite social engagement — by creating a comfortable meeting place, a layout that supports informal interaction or a space that encourages conversation.
In preparation for the 2021 Eurovision Song contest in Rotterdam, design teams were set a challenge — to create attractive public spaces where locals and visitors feel welcome. Each urban design in the series was site-specific and designed in layers: conceptual (using local narratives and stories), municipal (given the site-specific objectives like health or sports) and functional (local needs in terms of public space).
This particular example was inspired by the natural appeal of paddling pools. It's a lovely example of how design can create a dialogue between space and a community that is inviting and warm.
Public space exclusion
Public spaces are not always designed to invite engagement. In fact, hostile architecture achieves the exact opposite, by forming exclusive elements to public spaces and objects. Hostile architecture is a way of designing a person or group out of a so-called 'public' space. I accept that in some cases anti-social behaviour has to be deterred, however, used in an extreme way, it simply treats the symptom and not the problem. We must work on better ways to design public spaces that encourage good behaviour and create an inclusive environment.
How public are public spaces
With this exclusion at play, it has me questioning the true owner of the land. Along with that, it feels like the world of public spaces is closing in on us, with less opportunity for community and sharing. Or is it the use of these spaces that is changing, to a point where they're no longer public-centered?
In some ways we are 'sharing' more than ever, sharing our homes, our cars, our offices resulting in more 'relationships', but seemingly less human connection. As we likely move towards a shared-living model, it's vital we start with designing our spaces in public-centered ways, with sharing and social engagement at the core.
