The social aspect of public open spaces in an urban environment

Abstract

The significance and value of public open spaces as social arenas have evolved through time. Open Spaces in an urban environment have responded to man's changing needs. Public Spaces are the places where social activities take place; the place where politics evolve which leads to debate. They are the places where people celebrate and protest. It is also the place where business is carried out and where people meet and socialise. Public spaces give an identity to the settlement and this influences people's perception of the place and their feeling of belonging. They also help imageability. It is a place where people want to be because they want to be with other people to socialise. However nowadays this cannot be taken as fact any longer. More and more people are resorting to on-line socialisation. The physical activity involved in meeting and socialising with people can be almost replaced entirely by a virtual counterpart. One may argue that this has its disadvantages, which it probably does. However the wish to belong remains one of man's needs - Maslow's need for affiliation. In view of this changing lifestyle it is important that one seeks to understand the elements which would help to entice people to once again seek outdoor success for recreation and socialisation. For this to happen, the public realm has to be designed in a way that puts man back at the centre of attention of Urban Design.