Uncommon Land

Reclaiming public space for a better public life

return to journal

There is no doubt a high-quality public realm can enable improved well-being and quality of life. This has become evident over the last couple of decades and more apparent through and after the COVID pandemic. But how do we go about pushing for public space interventions in car centric places or cities where there isn’t the understanding of the benefits of accessible and quality public spaces.

Uncommon Land’s exposure to diverse urban spaces and their systems, tests our landscape architects and urban designers. Balancing the prioritisation of the human experience and people-centric placemaking can be complex, especially when navigating different environments. Prioritising pedestrians over automobiles requires careful consideration and adaptation to each client and city’s specific context. Collaborating with clients, local communities, and other key stakeholders is crucial to advocate for the transformation and reclamation of public spaces.

Opportunity to reclaim

Existing public spaces hold stories about a city’s identity, history, and cultural fabric. By studying and understanding these spaces, landscape architects and urban designers can unveil opportunities for improvement and reimagination. Each city has its unique challenges and potential, and engaging with local stakeholders is essential to finding solutions aligned with their goals and aspirations.

Successful examples from around the world, such as Copenhagen, provide inspiration for innovative approaches in reshaping cities and reclaiming public space. Learning from these examples can inform strategies that prioritise walkability, initiate opportunity for new green infrastructure, provide a connection to nature and people, and encourage alternative modes of transportation, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents.

When dealing with retail environments, it’s essential to rethink the relationship between streets, parking, and shops. Design interventions that demonstrate good walkability, are functional, comfortable and appealing as places can enhance patronage and create vibrant retail experiences.

Winning back public space

Winning back public space involves reclaiming areas that are neglected, forgotten about or dominated by the automobile; transforming them into vibrant, inclusive, and accessible spaces for people. Strategies include pedestrianization, greening and placemaking, tactical urbanism, participatory design, and complete streets.

Great examples of reclaiming neglected public spaces include the High Line in New York City and the Goods Line in Sydney, which highlight the opportunity of transforming abandoned rail infrastructure into vibrant public parks. They also highlight the power of linear spaces and connectivity through parts of a city.

Tactical urbanism and pop-up interventions such as temporary installations, pop-up parks, and street furniture can help test and demonstrate the potential of reclaiming public space. These low-cost, short-term interventions allow communities to experience the benefits firsthand and gather feedback before implementing permanent changes. The annual “Park(ing) Day” event, where parking spaces are temporarily transformed into mini-parks, exemplifies this approach.

The Copenhagen urban design case study

Copenhagen is often recognised as a global leader in urban design and sustainable city planning. The city’s approach focuses on creating livable, people-centred environments that prioritise walking, cycling, and public transportation. Key aspects include bicycle-friendly infrastructure, pedestrian-friendly streets, green spaces and parks, waterfront revitalization, and climate resilience. Copenhagen's success serves as a model for cities seeking to improve their urban environments and prioritize the well-being of their residents.

Types of cities and their past

Uncommon Land truly works on a global scale and in a vast array of contexts and geographies. A look at different cities and cultural patterns in countries where communications, market places and transportation have undergone radical changes in the last century gives a varied picture of the current uses of public spaces and the conditions for the use of the city as a public space. We continually research, define and problem solve how we can navigate new ideas to come up with a well resolved new public space.

Using a good measure of simplification, at this point in history it is possible to observe and describe four very different types of cities;

The traditional city - where meeting place, market place and traffic continue to coexist in balance, more or less. Examples include Venice, Cordoba, Barcelona and Lyon.

The invaded city - where a single use, usually car traffic, has usurped territory at the expense of the other uses of city space. Examples include Prague, Riyadh and Istanbul

The abandoned city - where public space and public life have disappeared. Examples include Atlanta and Silicone Valley.

The reconquered city - where strong efforts are being made to find a new, workable balance between the uses of the city as meeting place, market place and traffic space. Examples include Stockholm, Seattle, Arhus and Portland.

Summary

To revitalise public spaces, successful placemaking strategies prioritise people over cars, emphasizing community engagement, sustainability, and inclusivity. By shifting focus from vehicular dominance to resident well-being, cities can transform neglected areas into vibrant, active, and people-centric spaces. Embracing sustainable elements not only enhances environmental quality but also contributes to a higher quality of life for residents. Inclusive design ensures that public spaces cater to diverse needs, fostering a sense of belonging and community. By implementing these strategies, cities can create dynamic urban environments that promote social interaction, well-being, and overall livability.

Times Square, New York City; a classic example of reclaiming public space and potentially the most visited public space in the world. Times Square was redesigned in 2012-16 and the intent was to reclaim the space, restrict traffic, and make it a true pedestrian orientated public space for socialising, and entertainment. Image Source; Snohetta
Times Square, New York City; a classic example of reclaiming public space and potentially the most visited public space in the world. Times Square was redesigned in 2012-16 and the intent was to reclaim the space, restrict traffic, and make it a true pedestrian orientated public space for socialising and entertainment. Image Source; Snøhetta
La Rambla, Barcelona; a 1.2km car free public space that connects adjacent neighbourhoods, La Rambla has a very heavy flow of pedestrians, who largely use the wide central pedestrianised area.
La Rambla, Barcelona; a 1.2km car free public space that connects adjacent neighbourhoods, La Rambla has a very heavy flow of pedestrians, who largely use the wide central pedestrianised area.
The High Line, New York City; one of the worlds most known public spaces, the High Line exemplifies how abandoned infrastructure networks can be reimagined as linear spaces where experiences can be shared. Due to its success, globally many abandoned infrastructure networks have been repurposed including the Underline in Miami, The Goods Line, Sydney and the Camden Line in London.
The High Line, New York City; one of the worlds most known public spaces, the High Line exemplifies how abandoned infrastructure networks can be reimagined as linear spaces where experiences can be shared. Due to its success, many abandoned infrastructure networks globally have been repurposed including the Underline in Miami, The Goods Line, Sydney and the Camden Line in London.
Strøtget, Copenhagen; with other parts of the city’s main street, this space was pedestrianised in 1962, marking the start of what was to become an extensive public realm change in Copenhagen. This popular tourist attraction in the centre of town is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe.
Strøtget, Copenhagen; with other parts of the city’s main street, this space was pedestrianised in 1962, marking the start of what was to become an extensive public realm change. This popular tourist attraction in the centre of town is one of the longest pedestrian shopping streets in Europe.
return to top