CHAPTER 5: INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDIES OF GREEN SPACE PLANNING AND APPROACHES
5.2 International lively place planning: Approach analysis
5.2.2 International case studies: Lively place planning and place-making
Chapter 5: International case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 149
Table 23: Evaluation tool for lively place planning and place-making THEORETICAL CONCEPT ASPECTS AS MEASUREMENTS PUBLIC
1. People/ Inhabitants included 2. Lived experience/ Interaction
„PLACE‟
3. Accessible 4. Unique identity 5. Visibility
6. Maintenance and Management 7. Attractions
LIVELY
8. Meets the needs of people 9. Integrative
10. Diverse activities 11. Versatile functions Source: Own creation (2013)
Chapter 5: International case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 150
Table 24: Approach analysis: Success and failure in terms of international lively place planning APPROACH TO
LIVELY PLACE PLANNING
SUCCESS OR FAILURE IN TERMS OF MEASUREMENTS
- Checklist
DISCUSSION
TORONTO‟S CREATIVE CITY PLANNING FRAMEWORK
Cross reference to theoretical introduction and discussion of following approaches:
Chapter 3, subsection 3.2.2.1 (a) Includes programmes
such as the Toronto Culture Plan guiding cultural development and Imagine Toronto for economic enhancement through social
opportunity and creative assets.
PUBLIC Successful
People/
Inhabitants included Lived experience/
Interaction X
„PLACE‟
Accessible Unique identity
X
Visibility Maintenance and
Management X
Attractions X LIVELY
Meet the needs of people
X
Integrative Diverse activities Versatile functions
Successful in terms of providing various cultural buildings for cultural purposes (music, ballet, art, etc.).
Even though ―opportunity for all‖
(Toronto, 2008:8) was identified as an underlying principle, the execution seems focused on one aspect (culture) and fails to deliver diverse and versatile functions for people not enlightened by cultural activities. The absence of including the public in creating these functions also enhances the failure to create a successful lively place as the concepts of ‗public‘ and ‗lively‘ (to some extent) are somewhat excluded.
PROJECT FOR PUBLIC SPACES
Cross reference: Chapter 3, subsection 3.2.2.1 (b) Informal development
(e.g. local markets)
PUBLIC
People/ X
In terms of including the ‗public‘ this project is extremely successful with
Chapter 5: International case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 151
through community presence and
participation as means to create vibrant and lively places attracting residents and visitors.
Inhabitants included Lived experience/
Interaction X
„PLACE‟
Accessible Unique identity
X
Visibility Maintenance and
Management Attractions X LIVELY
Meet the needs of people
Integrative X Diverse
activities
X
Versatile functions
X
―local entrepreneurship and the local intuitive‖ (Philips, 2010:23) as catalyst for citizen-driven place-making.
Therefore also fairly successful in terms of ‗place‘ (creating a unique identity based on local innovations and produce) and ‗lively‘ IF these markets provide a variety of diverse and versatile functions and activities for all as they aim – ―spaces... that everyone can use and enjoy...‖
(Project for Public Spaces, 2008:3).
CITY REPAIR PROJECT; includes:
- Portland Public Place Master Plan;
- Community Visioning - Village Building Convergence
Cross reference: Chapter 3, subsection 3.2.2.1 (c) Participation as key in
creating lively places when converting a street intersection into a neighbourhood public square by allowing residents to paint and
PUBLIC
People/ Inhabitants included
X
Lived experience/
Interaction
X
„PLACE‟
Accessible X
Referring to the previous definition of a ‗lively place‘ this approach seems extremely successful in terms of enabling the community and residents to create a space based on their own unique combined ideas and needs. It holds a small variety of functions for
Chapter 5: International case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 152
construct in the right of way including functions like a bulletin board, tea serving station and a playhouse.
Unique identity X
Visibility X
Maintenance and Management
X
Attractions X
LIVELY
Meet the needs of people
X
Integrative X
Diverse activities Versatile functions X
different ages (tea, playhouse) but more varieties may be beneficial.
Overall it can be regarded as very successful in terms of community participation, lively and inviting activities and functions for all managed and maintained by the community themselves. The provision of workshops and convergences contributes to the ensuring of quality, legally and practically possible places, functions and activities.
REGENERATION
Cross reference: Chapter 3, subsection 3.2.2.1 (d) Legibility, design and
development of
environment addressing crime and creating lively places – includes redelineating private and public spaces, closure of areas by a tree-lined avenue, restoring to grid layout, redesigning layout factors for better safety.
PUBLIC
People/ Inhabitants included
X
Lived experience/
Interaction
„PLACE‟
Accessible X
Unique identity
Visibility X
Maintenance and Management
X
Attractions LIVELY
Meet the needs of people
X
Integrative X
Diverse activities Versatile functions
Although the overall strategy aims at improving spaces and especially the security of those places, the lack of community input and participation is evident and can only be seen in terms of creating security agents preventing crime and identifying site damages for maintenance purposes. Upgrading or clear defining of different activities or functions is improved but there is no reference or inclusion of planning diverse and versatile functions within one space. Therefore, overall, this initiative rather focuses on upgrading physical aspects and issues
experienced rather than transforming spaces into lively places.
Chapter 5: International case studies of green space planning and approaches to lively place planning Page 153
UPGRADING TRANSPORT SYSTEMS
Cross reference: Chapter 3, subsection 3.2.2.1 (e) Cleaner and more
efficient transport systems and
surrounding environment to catalyse economic and social development;
also includes the introduction of bicycle schemes in cities –
―cycle culture‖ (Philips, 2010:12) and Bus Rapid Transit (Philips,
2010:13).
PUBLIC
People/ Inhabitants included
X
Lived experience/
Interaction
„PLACE‟
Accessible X
Unique identity
Visibility X
Maintenance and Management Attractions LIVELY
Meet the needs of people
X
Integrative X
Diverse activities Versatile functions
As with the previous regeneration strategy, the upgrading of transport poses potential benefits for a mere aspect of lively places (as discussed in Chapter 3) i.e. accessibility. The definite lack or exclusion of ‗public‘
and ‗place‘ is evident and therefore the success of this approach in terms of creating lively places is limited or failing.
It includes the public in terms of providing for (only) their travelling needs, therefore providing integration between different communities, shops and houses, employment, etc. by promoting better tools for transport and access.
Source: Own creation (2013).
The table analyses the approaches discussed in previous chapters. It identifies which of these international approaches were successful (or failed) in terms of the issues of measurement, obtained from the theoretical investigations (Chapter 3) regarding the planning and provision of lively places.