ABSTRACT
Aside from its physical and sensory qualities, the experience of public space depends on myriad socio-cultural factors as well as the biases each individual or group brings to a setting. For decades, the creation of the experience of space and its qualities were considered esoteric and “qualitative”—assigned exclusively to the domain of art. The European Prize for Urban Public Space was established in 1999 by the Centre of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona as a biennial “observatory of European cities.” The purpose of the Prize has been to recognize the emergence of a pan-European civic realm and the ability of designers and planners to represent it and visualize it by configuring the emancipatory potential of public spaces. The Internet, social media platforms, and all aspects of cyberspace have altered the experience of publicness and public space. Social media has enabled and strengthened cyberspace as the virtual public space for effortless and instant contacts and exchange that transcends dichotomy of local-global space.
