ABSTRACT
In public open space, urbanites pursue a broad range of activities. Based on long-term field research in Oslo, Norway, this chapter presents a comprehensive system for classifying those activities. There exist numerous ways to classify characteristics of public space, but those focusing on types of use tend to be incomplete or not sufficiently detailed. As a recording tool, the proposed classification system can facilitate the identification and documentation of the full range of activities taking place in specific public spaces. As an analytical tool, it can be employed to compare public space use across various settings, thus contributing to a more informed, empirically based analysis of shifting features of urban public spaces, as well as to help bridge discussions across different scholarly disciplines and fields of practice. Although the classification system is based on a Northern European urban setting, the authors argue that it has a more general relevance.
