SomeFrequentlyAskedQuestions
‘Placemakingisaphilosophyandan iterative,collaborativeprocessforcreating publicspacesthatpeopleloveandfeel connectedto'.
Whatisplacemaking?
Placesareimportant.Theyshapeouridentity,physical andmentalhealth,lifeexpectancy,employment prospects,wealthandhappiness.
Wecanalsoshapeandimproveplaces.Withtheright principlesandapproaches,wecancreatebetterplaces, whichwillleadtobettersocial,economicand environmentaloutcomes.
Placemakingbringsdifferentpeople,organisationsand disciplinestogethertocreatepositivechangesinaplace orarea.Thisalsoincludesimprovingexistingspacesto makethemmorecomfortable,accessible,activeand attractive.
Itisagrowingglobalmovementthataimstoimprovenot onlythephysicalelementsofaspace,butalsotheway peoplethinkandfeelabouttheworldaroundthem.It’sa practical,cost-effectiveandimplementableapproach thatcanbetailoredforeachcontext,placeand community.
Town Team Movement
Placemakingintegratesand buildsontheexpertiseofarange ofdisciplines,including:
Community development
Urbandesign andplanning
Economic development
Arts,culture andactivation
Engineering& Infrastructure
Sustainability &caringfor place
Collaboratingacrossdisciplinesand organisationscreatesbetterideas andmoreholisticoutcomes
Placemakingis
Aboutcreatingplacesthatpeoplelove
Amindsetandprocess
Peopleandplacefocused
Visionary,butalsopractical
Inclusiveandcollaborative
Ongoing,flexibleandadaptable
Lettinggoandsharingresponsibility
Justaboutthevisibleoutcomes
Projectorpolicyfocused
Aplanorinfrastructurealone
Donebyonepersonorteam
Finished.It’snotone-offeventsorart
Top-downcontrolofoutcomes
‘Placemakingisliketurningahouseintoahome.'
David Engwicht
Isn’titjustafad?
Placemakingissometimesstigmatisedasjustabout pop-ups,paintandparties.Whatmorepeopleare realisingisthatitisoneofthemostimportant approacheswecanuseasprofessionalsandascitizens tocreatehappierandhealthierpeopleandplaces. It’saboutcreating‘humanhabitats’.Justlikeeveryother animalandplantspecies,weneedcertainconditionsand environmentstobeabletothrive.Manypartsofmodern citiesdon’tallowforthis.Theyaresoulless,cardominated,lonely,unsafeordisconnected.
Placemakinghasveryancientroots,takinginspiration fromthecustodianshipthattraditionalcultureshaveover theirlandsandcommunities.Itencouragesustothink likegardeners.Howcouldweplanttherightseeds,inthe rightplacestoencouragesocialconnections,economic activityandabetterenvironment?
‘Ininclusiveandequitableplaces,citizens feel(first)thattheyarewelcome,and (second)thatitiswithintheirpowerto changethoseplacesthroughtheirown actions.’
Project for Public Spaces
Whocandoit?
Everyonecancontributetocreatinggreatplacesand strongercommunities.It'sanexcellentwaytomeet people,buildnewskillsandmakeadifference!
Weallwanttolive,work,runabusinessandspendtimein spacesandplacesthatarecomfortable,safe,interesting andwelcoming.Greatplacesdon’tjusthappenby accident.Professionalsworkhardeverydaytomakeit happen,butthrivingplacesalsoneedtheknowledge, careandcontributionsoflocalpeople.
It'snotjust"thelocalauthority’sjob".Evenpickingupa pieceofrubbish(trash)helps!
Givingbackandhelpingyourcommunityisagreatway tocreateabetterplaceforyourselfandyourfamily.
Placemakingchallengestheexistingstructures,cultures andmindsetsofgovernments.Italsoprovides opportunitiesforresidents,landownersandbusinessesto beactivecontributors,ratherthanpassiveconsumers.
Whyisitimportant?
Hereare10keyreasonsforwhyplace-basedapproaches,investinginsocial infrastructureandworkingwith(notjustfor)peoplearesoimportant.
The'epidemicofloneliness’iskillingusandisn'tgoodforindividuals,norsocieties
Trustingovernments,institutionsandbroadersocietyisinseriousdecline
Thegrowthofcomplex,wickedsocial,environmentalandeconomicproblems
TheneedtofindabetterbalancetotherolesoftheStateandcitizens
Thedeclineinformal,traditionalvolunteering
Placemakingasawaytomitigatestrategicandprojectrisks
Greatplacesaregoodforbusiness
Placepartnershipsandteamworkaremorelikelytocreatesuccessfulplaces
Placemakingisacollaborativeinnovationprocess
Afocuson‘place’helpseveryonetoconcentrateonwhat’sreallyimportant
Howmuchdoesitcost?
Placemakingismoreawayofthinkingandacting,rather thanaparticularoutcome.Itusesaspectrumofactivities, fromthetemporaryandtactical,throughtostrategic frameworksandmajorplaceinfrastructureupgrades. Itcostswhateveryoulike.Thereareplentyofthingsyou candoforfree,orwithalowbudget.Andthere’salways thingstospendmoneyonifyouhavelotsofit!
TownTeamMovement’s50QuickWinsGuidecontains50 simple‘recipes’thatyoucoulddotoimproveyourplace, rangingfromthefreetothelow-cost.
Placeimprovementcanhappenatalllevels
Placeimprovementismosteffectiveandimpactfulwhensmaller-scale quickwinsandmajorstrategicinitiativescomplementeachother.
Community -ledactions
Examplesinclude:
Socialevents
Jane’sWalks
Streettradingand outdoordining
Festivalsand markets
Vergegardens
Micrograntprojects
Artworks
Environmental projects
Tactical urbanism Creative andcultural Economic development
Examplesinclude:
Streetscape improvementtrials
Trafficcalming
Moveablepicnic
tablesorseats
BetterBlocks
Temporary artworks
PlayStreets
Pop-upevents
Parklets
Examplesinclude: Murals-including wall,roadand pavementartwork
Culturalgatherings &events
Culturalorheritage walks
Publicart
Musicevents
Porchfests
Examplesinclude: Encouragingstreet trading Policyandprocess improvements
Permissions-based approaches ‘Yesif...”agreements
Night-time activations
Traderengagement
Placemarketingand promotions
Place strategy
Examplesinclude: Placemaking Framework Major redevelopments
PlacePlans
Streetscape improvementplans
Placegovernance
Capitalworks programs
Spaceupgrades
Placemaking training
Ifyouplanfor,fundanddeliver moreroadsandcarparking, you’llgetmoretraffic (notplacesforpeople).
Ifyouplanfor,fundandsupport activepeopleandthrivingplaces, you’llgetactivepeopleand thrivingplaces.
"Wedonotneed,and indeedneverwillhave,all theanswersbeforewe act...Itisoftenthrough takingactionthatwecan discoversomeofthem”. Contactusanytime!
Website: www.placemaking.education
Email: hello@placemaking.education
Charlotte Bunch