Spaces and people : an architectural study of people's experiences in public spaces

Abstract

For centuries, public urban spaces, have been regarded as core elements of human settlements. Urban open spaces are settings where social and economic exchanges take place, where friends meet and cultures come together. The research undertaken in this dissertation represents an inquiry into the nature of a public open space. Taking Pjazza Sant' Anna, as a case study, it analyses the concept of publicness in a public space. The observations in this research indicated that physical and visual access, human scale, enclosure and transparency are determining in attracting multiple users to this space. Through qualitative interviews with diverse users, it was noted that there is not just a singular experience of public open space but a wide diversity of responses to the physical and social contexts. lt was analysed that the elements associated with nature are valued by users due to their therapeutic value. Additionally, this study showed that users enjoy the opportunities offered by the pjazza both for socialisation and for spending time on one's own. This study also examined the temporal dimension. It was discovered that memories of the past rekindle nostalgia for the users, particularly the more elderly ones, which furthermore enable them to appreciate and enjoy Pjazza Sant' Anna. With the use of paste-ups, this study explored the views of users with respect to possible modifications to the pjazza, and found that most users would prefer the space as restored. This study therefore highlights the important values perceived by multiple users of a public open space.