Placemaking In Public Space

Placemaking is an idea that inspires peoples to try a different approach in reimagining the public spaces. It is a way to create a bond between the place and the people that share it, so they can come together and shape it better to their needs and create a place that is for everyone. It is not just about promoting better urban design, its more about taking in consideration and paying special attention to the needs of the community and to the cultural,physical and social identity that defines the place. Its goal is to try a multifaceted approach to creating and improving public spaces, from the planning level to the design and management of the public spaces. The focus of placemaking is the community based participation and it capitalizes

This concept was first introduced in the 1960s by Jane Jacobs and William Whyte, who introduced the idea that the focus of the design should not just be cars and shopping centers but the people. The center of their works its to show the social and cultural importance of inviting public spaces and lively neighborhoods. Jacobs famous idea “eyes on the street” encourages people who she calls the natural proprietors of the street to actively partecipate in the safety of their place, while Holly White outlines what are key elements for creating a vibrant social life in the public spaces and how the contribute to the quality of life of the individuals and

These studies usually consist of three parts – a recording of public life in the spaces ,a quality evaluation of the public spaces and, based on these, recommendations for improvements – and they provide substantial knowledge for the city , how its being used and how it can be improved. Because Gehl Architects recognize that making recommendations alone is often not enough to convince decision makers, many of the studies also entail extensive educational and pedagogical demonstrations of the recommendations’ benefits. Major studies of this type have been conducted for the city centers of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Riga, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and London. Life between buildings has become Jan Gehl’s major focus of study and work. By starting with public life and the areas in which it takes place, building design becomes a means to an end, rather than an end in itself. Gehl emphasizes that life between buildings is a dimension of architecture that deserves more careful treatment. It is where social interaction and perception, urban recreation, and the sensory experience of city life take place. Life between buildings comprises the entire spectrum of human activities in public space – the necessary, the optional and the social types of behaviors