Public spaces in cities offer a diversity of experiences, as well as the possibility to produce a variety of spaces. In the pursuit of the increased liveability of cities, these spaces are subject to targeted design interventions that are often based on instrumental functions. However, non-instrumental and informal encounters among strangers in urban life account for the dominant type of human social relations and are generally not well understood.
If we as professionals aspire to create liveable or even loveable public spaces, perhaps it is time to learn more about human behaviours that are full of joy and positivity. Arguably, play, as a type of informal and non-instrumental activity, can reveal the full potential held by public spaces. Stevens' (2007) research on 'The Ludic City' provides the theoretical foundation for the urban analysis of public space through play as an activity in comparison to established public life studies (Gehl, 1987; Whyte, 1980; Appleyard, 1972). During the training session the novel PLAY framework will be introduced which allows practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of specific public spaces in urban core areas and assist in identifying effective designs that truly put people first. The PLAY framework is an urban analysis tool to study public life and offers the potential for urban designers to reveals certain qualities and dynamics in public spaces that are produced by play activities.
The framework is easily applicable to various cities by taking context, history and culture into account. Drawing on compelling evidence from case study sites in Canberra, Australia and Potsdam, Germany, the presenter will provide valuable insights into the PLAY framework and compare them to another public space study in Canberra, ...
Hotel Borobudur Jakarta (Banda A) 55th ISOCARP World Planning Congress in Jakarta/Bogor, Indonesia congress@isocarp.orgPublic spaces in cities offer a diversity of experiences, as well as the possibility to produce a variety of spaces. In the pursuit of the increased liveability of cities, these spaces are subject to targeted design interventions that are often based on instrumental functions. However, non-instrumental and informal encounters among strangers in urban life account for the dominant type of human social relations and are generally not well understood.
If we as professionals aspire to create liveable or even loveable public spaces, perhaps it is time to learn more about human behaviours that are full of joy and positivity. Arguably, play, as a type of informal and non-instrumental activity, can reveal the full potential held by public spaces. Stevens' (2007) research on 'The Ludic City' provides the theoretical foundation for the urban analysis of public space through play as an activity in comparison to established public life studies (Gehl, 1987; Whyte, 1980; Appleyard, 1972). During the training session the novel PLAY framework will be introduced which allows practitioners to gain a deeper understanding of specific public spaces in urban core areas and assist in identifying effective designs that truly put people first. The PLAY framework is an urban analysis tool to study public life and offers the potential for urban designers to reveals certain qualities and dynamics in public spaces that are produced by play activities.
The framework is easily applicable to various cities by taking context, history and culture into account. Drawing on compelling evidence from case study sites in Canberra, Australia and Potsdam, Germany, the presenter will provide valuable insights into the PLAY framework and compare them to another public space study in Canberra, which uses established methods without an articulated focus on play. At the end of the training session participants will gain knowledge about the unrealised potential of play in public space analysis as part of public life studies. Further participants will learn about the novel Play- framework and its potential to assist in improving public spaces qualities in city centres around the world. Last but not least the training session might shift in your very own perception of public spaces in your own city.
