Explore a 37-minute lecture that examines the critical value and evolving nature of public spaces in urban environments. Gain insights into how public areas serve as more than just gaps between buildings, investigating their design, usage, and the complex negotiations that determine their success. Learn about the challenges facing public spaces, including commercial pressures and funding issues, through case studies from London and North America. Discover how factors like sunlight patterns, tree placement, and children's activities influence public space effectiveness. Examine historical perspectives, modern design approaches, and the role of activism in shaping shared urban areas. Delivered by Liza Fior, founding Partner of muf architecture/art and Professor at University of the Arts London, the lecture covers topics ranging from restricted public spaces and commercialization to the importance of trees and strategies for reclaiming public areas for community use.
The Value of Public Space: Design, Development and Social Impact
Overview
Syllabus
00:00 // Introduction
00:16 // The Role of Public Space
02:22 // Challenges to Public Space
02:49 // Examples of Restricted Public Spaces
04:46 // Footfall and Commercialization
05:31 // Efforts to Improve Public Spaces
06:42 // Children and Public Space
08:53 // Historical Perspective on Public Space
10:37 // Coexistence in Shared Spaces
12:31 // Buildings Shaping Public Spaces
15:29 // The Power of Adjacent Spaces
16:40 // The Evolution of Public Squares
17:49 // Activism and Public Space
21:20 // Modern Public Space Design
23:00 // Case Studies in Public Space Design
25:57 // Buildings as Active Public Space Contributors
27:20 // Encouraging Shared Use of Space
28:36 // Public Spaces Before Private Development
32:16 // Claiming and Reclaiming Public Spaces
34:34 // The Role of Trees in Public Space
36:08 // Conclusion
Taught by
Gresham College
