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Types of Public Spaces PDF
Types of Public Spaces PDF
Lawrence Ogunsanya
lawrencesanya@yahoo.com
ogunsanya@ukzn.ac.za
PUBLIC SPACE/REALM IN CITIES
Public space/realm is defined as space that is shared communally by the
public.
Public space is intimately linked to the ideas of universal access, the common
ground, and shared amenities.
Examples include parks, plazas, pedestrian pathways, and streets, indoor spaces
such as atriums, shopping centres, and community centres.
• Examples:
• Hotel lobbies/foyers, Shopping mall, food court, Airport
terminal, office park square, university sqaures etc.
CORPORATE SPACES
CORPORATE SPACES
• Challenges:
• Omnipresent security intimidate and portray a feeling of
unwelcome towards visitors of corporate spaces.
• Extended use of space not always encouraged due to
dominant ownership.
• Due to Branding, corporate spaces frequently use similar
design styles and materials. This can lead to
homogeneity.
• Visual accessibility is not always visible
CORPORATE SPACES
• Design requirements:
• Corporate spaces should provide a safe area that has
enough capacity to accommodate the extremes of
pedestrian traffic.
• Adequate lighting and security
• Corporate spaces should provide a comfortable area that
is welcoming, inviting and inclusive.
• landscaping and public art
• Well established management regime
• Use of high quality materials
• Provision of retail space and branding
• Accessibility
• Flexible and adaptive
DOMESTIC SPACES
• Examples:
• Balconies and terraces, courtyards, community parks,
DOMESTIC SPACES
DOMESTIC SPACES
DOMESTIC SPACES
• Challenges:
• Failure to achieve balance of actives
• Intimacy, safety and comfort
• Natural surveillance
• Sense of Ownership
• Poor maintenance
• Design requirements
• Engagement: Creating Responsive Spaces
• Inclusive & Sustainable Spaces
• Use of different materials is an important tool for defining
spaces and pathways.
• Designation of primary and secondary movement
corridors through the square and clustering of activity
types
• Provision of intimacy, furniture and shade
• Accessibility, Flexible and adaptive
DOMESTIC SPACES
Natural Surveillance
CONSUMPTION SPACES
• Consumption spaces are public open spaces, part of
the public realm where ‘consumption’ activities are
predominant.
• Often a combination of fixed retail, informal trade and
mobile temporary stalls. They are by essence places
where people meet, trade, recreate and exchange.
• Distinguishing characteristics:
• Three main spatial typologies have been identified:
• The corridor shape is usually characterized by a linear
continuity of the shop frontages and a relatively narrow
width between the building frontages.
• The square shape is a typical square surrounded mainly
by retail venues at the ground floor.
• The crossing of streets very probably generated by the
“natural” meeting occurring at such places.
• Presence of shops, stalls and external seating
CONSUMPTION SPACES
CONSUMPTION SPACES
CONSUMPTION SPACES
• Challenges:
• Un-integrated spaces can appear to create a level of
conflict and competition between permanent fixed retail
and informal market vendors in stalls.
• Providing shelter or shade to create a more comfortable
pedestrian experience.
• Provision of site amenities, landscaping and street
furniture for pedestrians
• Flexibility and adaptability of the space
• Contextual relationships of the space and the site
• Commercialisation / homogenisation and exclusivity of
space.
CONSUMPTION SPACES
• Design requirements
• Vibrancy, safety and comfort
• Provision of furniture and shade
• Accessibility, Diversity, Flexible and adaptive
• Shopping units and food courts
• Passive and active recreation.
• Creating a ‘transitionary zone’ between the retail venues
and the public realm helps increase the active frontage
• Effective pedestrian circulation and stall groupings.
CIVIC SPACES
• Civic spaces are an essential component of the city’s
suite of open spaces and broader public realm.
• They help characterise the city or town’s history, and
acts as vital spaces for people to interact with political
leaders.
• Distinguishing characteristics:
• A forecourt to civic buildings, often with at least one
frontage addressing the main entrance or façade.
• A setting for monuments, statues and other memorials or
public art installations.
• Designed for pedestrians and adaptable to cater for civic
events and meetings.
• High quality materials & finishes.
• Grand, symbolic and of national and local significance
CIVIC SPACES