Valeda, Christian Joseph M.

AR451 - ARCH41S5 - Planning 2: Fundamentals of Urban Design and

Community Architecture
October 20, 2021
Instructor: AR. Eduardo Bober Jr.

Response to Viewing Activity (TED talks: Amanda Burden: How Public

Spaces Make Cities Work)

What makes a public space work?

A public space should be able to accommodate the people of the neighborhood
and have a beneficial influence on their way of life. It should put people at ease
and make them feel calm, not alienated or like a trespasser. In our province, for
example, there is a public area in front of the municipal hall in Cabanatuan City,
Nueva Ecija, where you may wander about or sit on the grass and have a picnic
with your family or friends. That the public space functions well, that it
accommodates community members, that it makes them feel comfortable and
calm, and that it does not isolate them.

What attracts people to successful public spaces?

People are drawn to successful public spaces for three reasons, in my opinion.
The first are the people, because a decent public space must serve and benefit
the public. People are drawn to it because it makes them feel safe and not alone,
as shown in the video. Second, successful public space planning is important; a
little element might distract from our body's perception of the place, resulting in a
public space's failure. A railing, for example, might obstruct your eyesight when
you're sitting. Last but not least, the comfort and scenery of the public spaces.
Most public spaces today promote business booths above aesthetics, making the
place unpleasant for people to enjoy, despite the fact that trees and other flora
give comfort and relaxation. A good public space should be about more than just
how it looks; it should also be about the unique experiences of those who
frequent it. It is a success if the location makes people feel at ease, peaceful, and
secure.

What is it about unsuccessful (public) spaces that keeps people away?

People are turned off by failed public spaces because of bad space design, such
as when seating is limited and members of the community cannot be
accommodated. When a little detail detracts from people's pleasure of their
surroundings and causes them to feel uncomfortable. For example, in our
neighborhood, the park is devoid of benches, and the green space is encircled by
fence, making it difficult to access and giving the impression that we are not
permitted to enter.