ABSTRACT

Is it truly the "end" of public space? This handbook presents evidence that the answer is "no". In cities in different parts of the world, people still use public space to pursue activities of their choice.

The book is divided into seven sections. The first section presents three emerging types of public space. Each of the subsequent five sections focuses on a type of activity: recreation, commerce, protest, living and celebration. These sections are international in scope, presenting cases of activities in Brazil, China, Colombia, DR Congo, Egypt, Finland, Germany, Libya, Taiwan, Turkey and the U.S. The closing section, composed of three chapters, presents research methods for studying public space.

Graduate students, faculty members and researchers in social science, architecture, landscape architecture, geography and urban design will find the book useful for understanding, studying and designing urban public space.

chapter 1|22 pages

Introduction

The Use, Design and Management of Urban Public Space

part I|43 pages

Emerging Types of Public Spaces

chapter 2|14 pages

Ecological Restoration Parks

An Emerging Type of Public Space in China

chapter 3|15 pages

City Beaches

Enlivening Marginal Spaces in Germany

chapter 4|12 pages

Pedestrian Plazas

A New Type of Neighborhood Space in New York City

part II|58 pages

Recreation

chapter 6|14 pages

Cruising in Urban Parks

Gay Intimacy in New York and Boston

chapter 7|12 pages

Private Sound Environments in Urban Public Space

Headphone Use in Parks in New York

chapter 8|14 pages

Parkour

Loosening Public Urban Space in Finland

part III|67 pages

Commerce

chapter 9|14 pages

What Commerce Can Do

The Case of Streets in the US

chapter 10|12 pages

Little Damascus

A Thriving Commercial Passageway in Sixth of October City, Egypt

chapter 11|13 pages

Using and Negotiating Public Space

Street Vending in Taiwan

chapter 12|13 pages

Getting a Spot on the Street

Street Vendors' Access to Public Space in Bogotá, Colombia

chapter 13|13 pages

Food Truck Rallies

Communal Eating in Public Space in the U.S.

part IV|42 pages

Protest

chapter 14|13 pages

The Life and Death of Tahrir Square

From Protest Platform to Roundabout

chapter 15|14 pages

City of Protest

From Exterior to Interior Public Space in Hong Kong

chapter 16|13 pages

Displaying and Contesting State Power

The Story of Taksim Square and Gezi Park, Istanbul

part VI|48 pages

Celebration

chapter 20|18 pages

Parades in Manhattan

Transforming Public Space

chapter 21|13 pages

Space and Sound

Celebrating and Protesting in Berlin

part VII|52 pages

Research Methods for Studying Public Space