9 Cities - 9 Public Space Strategies: Introduction

barcelona lyon strasbourg freiburg copenhagen portland curitiba cordoba melbourne

9 cities - 9 public space strategies: Introduction

In most cases when existing public space is renovated or new public spaces established, designs are made for individual projects. Numerous very interesting designs have resulted from these efforts, and several such examples are presented later in this book.
With this in mind, special interest must be given to cities where efforts have been made to develop unified public space policies and to see the individual public space projects in a larger context.
Naturally, the goals, priorities and extent of measures taken vary from city to city, just as different elements are emphasised: architectural unity, conditions for pedestrian traffic, recreational opportunities or the desire to improve the traffic situation generally, for example.
Most interesting of all are the visions that constitutes a combined strategy aimed at improving overall urban quality by including social, functional, and ecological aspects as well as traffic concerns and architectural considerations.
In order to illustrate various ways of working with comprehensive policies for public spaces, nine cities from different parts of the world have been selected.
They span a wide range of goals and priorities. Public space strategy in some of the cities comprises only one or two elements, while other cities have taken on imaginative and extensive combinations of sectors in their work to develop a unified public space policy.
Within this wide category, emphasis has been placed on cities with versatile, co-ordinated public space policies including guidelines for public space, public life, traffic policies and architectural treatment. Cities successful in improving the conditions for public life and thus the function of the city as meeting place have been of special interest in connection with the emphasis of this book.
In making the selection, priority was also given to cities concerned with sustainability issues as evidenced by programs for limiting private car traffic and encouraging energy-saving forms of transport. It is interesting that there is often a close connection between these aims. Cities with strategies to reduce car traffic or to promote architectural quality or sustainability often prove to be cities that offer the best conditions for pedestrians and public life.
A comparison of the nine cities shows considerable differences with respect to the strategies adopted.
Work on specific points throughout the city as opposed to larger concentrated areas represents two very different starting points. In the first case localities of special importance are selected and public spaces throughout the city are renovated successfully to become attractive oases in the cityscape. In many ways, the public space strategy followed in Barcelona represents this strategy.
In other cases, the city aims at broader treatment of large connected urban areas, dealing with many aspects together. The renovation of the public spaces in the centre of Copenhagen is an example of this strategy. The issue of city centre versus peripheral areas is another important aspect illustrated in the selected examples. In some cities, urban policy narrowly targets only the inner city, while other cities take a broader view of the inner city as well as many urban neighbourhoods outside the city centre.
Seen together the nine cities presented on the following pages may serve to provide an overview of current thinking about public space strategies and public space visions.

The structure in each of the nine cities is illustrated by a map in a scale of 1:20,000. The map shows a 2.2 x 2.2 kilometre section of the city centre, and describes dimensions and patterns. Selected elements characteristic of the public space strategy of the individual cities are marked.

	Barcelona Large southern European city that adopted targeted measures to establish fine public spaces for recreational and social activities in all parts of the city. Innovative architecture is the hallmark of the many projects.
	Lyon Medium-size European city that concentrated its resources to breathe new life into a large number of city spaces in the inner city as well as outlying quarters. Precise urban design guidelines for managing the architectural elements is key.
	Strasbourg A new political role inspired the implementation of a combined traffic and public space policy. City life, pedestrians, bicyclists and public transport are strengthened and car traffic limited.
	Freiburg For decades, this small European city has ahad a targeted policy to improve conditions for pedestrians, bicyclists and public transport. Carefully considered architectural elements connect the various city spaces.
	Copenhagen Better public spaces, more life in the city, more bicyclists and less car traffic - implemented over four decades. Systematic studies show a dramatic development in urban life.
	Portland A comprehensive city policy benefitted pedestrians with wide sidewalks, good public spaces and parks and new forms of public transport in this North American city.
	Curitiba For three decades this Brazilian city has made impressive strides to reinforce the development of a sustainable city with good conditions for public transport and life in public spaces.
	Cordoba Argentine city with a traditional grid street pattern. The pedestrian streets, squares and parks in he heart of the city have been treated on the basis of a unified, imaginative architechural vision.
	Melbourne Australian city with a traditional grid street pattern attesting to its colonial past. Major efforts were made to maintain and strengthen pedestrian traffic and the vitality of the streets of the inner city.

The nine cities presented in the following work with strategies that often involve initiatives and projects in several sectors. Rather than present the cities according to the content and elements of their strategies, we decided on a regional breakdown staarting with Barcelona and the other European cities fron south to north, followed by cities in North and South America and then Australia.