Convivial Urban Spaces: Creating Effective Public Places

161 Pages·2008·13.452 MB·English

by  Henry Shaftoe

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Convivial
Urban Spaces
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Convivial
Urban Spaces
Creating Effective Public Places
Henry Shaftoe
London • Sterling,VA
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First published by Earthscan in the UK and USA in 2008
Copyright © Henry Shaftoe,2008
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-1-84407-388-7
Typeset by Fish Books
Printed and bound in the UK by Cromwell Press,Trowbridge
Cover design by Rob Watts
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Shaftoe,Henry.
Convivial urban spaces :creating effective public places / Henry Shaftoe.
p.cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-84407-388-7 (hardback)
1.Public spaces.2.City planning—Social aspects.3.Architecture—Human factors.I.Title.
NA9053.S6S53 2008
711’.4—dc22
2008001743
The paper used for this book is FSC-certified and
elemental chlorine-free.FSC (the Forest Stewardship
Council) is an international network to promote
responsible management of the world’s forests.
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Contents
1 Introduction.......................................................................................................1
■ Overview.................................................................................................................................................................1
■ Discussion................................................................................................................................................................4
■ Defining Convivial Spaces..............................................................................................................................6
2 Public Spaces – Why Have Them and Who Are They For?.........................11
■ Why Have Public Space and Who Is It For?....................................................................................11
■ Securing an Inclusive or Exclusive Urban Realm...........................................................................16
■ Children and Public Space..........................................................................................................................33
■ Addressing the Use of Public Space by Young People...............................................................39
3 What Makes a Space Convivial?....................................................................47
■ Principles and Underpinnings....................................................................................................................47
■ The Psychology of Public Space..............................................................................................................51
■ Aesthetics – Sensing the Character of an Area.............................................................................56
■ Important Influences on the Use of Public Space........................................................................64
■ Size,Shapes and Types of Public Space...............................................................................................73
4 How Can One Create and Sustain Successful Public Spaces?...................81
■ Designed or Evolved?....................................................................................................................................81
■ Case Study:Ciutat Vella,Barcelona............................................................................................................88
■ Comfort.................................................................................................................................................................92
■ Case Study:Berlin............................................................................................................................................107
■ Joy...........................................................................................................................................................................111
■ Case Study:Bristol...........................................................................................................................................122
■ Managing and Maintaining Public Spaces.........................................................................................125
■ Case Study:Padua...........................................................................................................................................130
■ Case Study:York................................................................................................................................................134
Conclusion:The Constituents of Conviviality.............................................139
References and Bibliography........................................................................145
Index...............................................................................................................151
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vi
Acknowledgements
All photographs are by the author,unless otherwise acknowledged.
I would like to thank the following people who have helped,in various ways,with the research
and production of this book:Tamsine O’Riordan,Michele Lavelle,Francesc Guillen,Clara
Quintana,Lorenzo Segato and Jamie Roxburgh.
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CHAPTER ONE
Introduction
This is not just an urban design book, nor is it a social policy book or
management guide – in fact it is a bit of all three plus some more.The
challenge in creating and maintaining successful public spaces is to achieve
an integrated approach, which includes design and management set within
the broader context of urban policy. Many books have been written about
public space from a design (usually visual) point of view and some books
have been written from a policy viewpoint. I have undertaken the rather
daunting task of straddling several disciplines, because I feel that only by
taking this multifaceted approach will we succeed in producing more
convivial spaces.As Ken Worpole, one of the most prolific and perceptive
writers about public space, observes:‘Given the deep social and economic
nature of the circumstances that underpin or undermine a vibrant
community and public space culture, it is clear that design or architecture
alone cannot solve these problems, though in many places there is still a
pretence that they can’ (quoted in Gallacher 2005 p11).
Overview What kind of public spaces do people prefer
to be in? This book aims to tease out what
Why,when we have more overall wealth
gives some places ‘personality’and
with which to potentially enrich spaces and
‘conviviality’,so that we can learn from the
places for citizens to enjoy,have we often
past and present to design,maintain and
produced built environments that are bland
manage better quality built environments in
or ill-conceived for public use and,in some
future.
cases,positively unpleasant?
1
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2 Convivial Urban Spaces
Drawing on theory,research and illustrated Many studies of the urban fabric (including a
case studies,this book identifies the factors number written by this author) start with an
that draw people to certain places.In the analysis of what is wrong,but this book will
1960s and 70s there was considerable also look at what is right and see if there are
published discussion about what any replicable formulas for successful public
differentiates livable urban environments spaces and places.
from unpleasant (and subsequently
problematic) ones (see for example Jacobs
1961,Cullen 1961,Rapoport 1977).This
important debate about the form and nature
of successful spaces and places appears to
have been superseded by narrower technical
discussions about physical sustainability,
security,management and aesthetics.
Figure 1Unconvivial:Dublin docks area
redevelopment
Figure 2Unconvivial:Causewayside,Edinburgh
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Introduction 3
Figure 3Convivial:Freiburg,Southern Germany
Figure 4Convivial:Camden Lock,London