ABSTRACT
Based on a synthesis of research and ideas on the use and design of public space, Carr et al. (1992) argued that, as well as being ‘meaningful’ (i.e. allowing people to make strong connections between the place, their personal lives, and the larger world) (see Chapter 5), and being ‘democratic’ (i.e. protecting the rights of user groups, being accessible to all groups and providing for freedom of action) (see Chapter 6), public spaces should also be ‘responsive’ – that is, designed and managed to serve the needs of their users. They identify five primary needs that people seek to satisfy in public space: ‘comfort’; ‘relaxation’; ‘passive engagement with the environment’; ‘active engagement with the environment’; and ‘discovery’. Good places frequently serve more than one purpose.
