UTC: Public space in the new urban agenda

UTC

01

Public Space in the New Urban Agenda The Future of Places Forum 29 June – 1 July, 2015 Stockholm, Sweden

2 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication pages do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries regarding its economic system or degree of development. Excerpts may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-Habitat, the United Nations and its member states.

3 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Table of Contents: Urban Thinkers Campus in figures ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction to UTC .................................................................................................................................................................... 5 The City We Need principle(s) addressed ................................................................................................................................. 6 Matrix of linkages - TCWN 1.0 vs. new recommendations ...................................................................................................... 6 Key outcomes of the UTC .......................................................................................................................................................... 8 Key recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................... 8 Key actors .................................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Outstanding issues .................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Urban solutions ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Speakers .................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

4 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Urban Thinkers Campus in figures

64

COUNTRIES REPRESENTED

443

PARTICIPANTS

300

ORGANIZATIONS

5 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Introduction

Saskia Sassen, Columbia University ©Christoffer Hallbäck

The Urban Thinkers Campus “Public Space in the New Urban Agenda”

The program progressed from the earlier FoP conferences, which were

(also known as the third and final Future of Places conference – FoP III)

focused on developing a public space outcome document aimed at

was hosted by the Future of Places in Stockholm, Sweden from 29 June to

influencing the role of public space in the Habitat III discussion, to developing

1 July 2015.

joint efforts with the World Urban Campaign partners to establish synergies in this joint pursuit.

The campus drew on the earlier experience and knowledge developed throughout the Future of Places forum for public space – FoP I – Stockholm,

The Thinkers’ sessions provided the framework, the labs provided the

2013; FoP II – Buenos Aires, 2014 and selected supporting events.

solutions, and finally the comprehensive discussions led to common principles, recommendations and guidelines to advance the public space

By joining efforts with the World Urban Campaign partners, the aspiration

discussion. A special drafting committee was assembled to compile

was to provide an even wider platform for discussing public space in the

the outcomes of the conferences and create a comprehensive set of key

New Urban Agenda – which will be decided during Habitat III in 2016 –

messages that would influence the policy discussion at Habitat III. The

and other important global processes such as the post-2015 Sustainable

Future of Places was financed and hosted by the Ax:son Johnson Foundation

Development Goals (SDGs).

in collaboration with UN-Habitat, and Project for Public Spaces.

Habitat Philippines @HabitatPhils

4 Sep 2015

“We need to make housing personal to the collective people” #APHF5 #APHousingForum #UrbanThinkers https://twitter.com/habitatphils/status/639728162230927360

6 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

The City We Need Principle(s) addressed The Future of Places Urban Thinkers Campus addressed public space issues that covered a wide and diverse spectrum. All of which are appropriately relevant to the identified principles of “The City We Need”: 1. The city we need is socially inclusive; 2. The city we need is well planned, walkable, and transit friendly; 3. The city we need is a regenerative city; 4. The city we need is economically vibrant and inclusive; 5. The city we need has a singular identity and sense of place; 6. The city we need is a safe city; 7. The city we need is a healthy city; 8. The city we need is affordable and equitable; 9. The city we need is managed at the metropolitan level.

Peter Groenendaal, Placemaking Plus ©Christoffer Hallbäck

Matrix of linkages - TCWN 1.0 paired with new recommendations The City We Need:

Public Space For The City We Need Promotes:

The city we need is managed at the metropolitan level

People-centered approach to planning As an arena for public use and social interaction, public spaces are most often developed, managed and maintained by municipal government. If the municipal government adopts a people-centered approach to urban planning, they will more effectively achieve sustainable development. Emphasis needs to be placed on a shared responsibility between community and private entities with regard to the localized planning and maintenance of public space.

The city we need is socially inclusive

Inclusive public space for all, particularly vulnerable groups Attention needs to be given to vulnerable members of the population, including the elderly, the disabled, youth, and low income groups, to ensure their social and political inclusion in the allocation and design of public spaces. Public space has a responsibility to be flexible and open enough to serve a variety of users and uses, ranging from informal to formal settlements. Well-designed public spaces not only contribute to improve the visual and spatial character of a city, but also stimulate and enhance intergenerational, social and economic activities.

The city we need is well planned, walkable,

Public space that respects human scale and behavior

and transit-friendly

All public space needs to be of a human scale and respond to a variety of functions and patterns of use based on an understanding of human behavior, health, needs, sensibilities and aspirations. Spaces are defined by their shape and the quality of their edges. Simple temporary and tactical interventions can test and promote more permanent changes.

7 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

The City We Need:

Public Space For The City We Need Promotes:

The city we need is well planned,

A citywide network of connected streets and public spaces

walkable, and transit-friendly

A holistic, evidence-based approach to the city is necessary with attention focused not only on the space itself, but its form, function and connectivity. Streets should serve as multimodal networks of social and economic exchange, forming the urban framework of interconnected public space. Walkability, social interaction, multimodal mobility and accessibility should be supported by a fine-grained block and street network lined with buildings providing amenities and services with a mix of uses and sizes.

The city we need is economically vibrant and inclusive

Economic productivity of public space Investing in public space can have powerful social, economic, cultural and health benefits. If people are committed to their future in a specific place, they invest more time and capital in that place, which has a positive impact on the local economy and creates a virtuous cycle of economic growth. Public space stimulates the small scale, local and informal economy, as well as generates tax revenue.

The city we need is socially inclusive

Access to public space – public and private spheres In many places there has been a reduction of urban public space, a lack of clear boundaries between the public and private spheres and diminished freedom of expression and movement. The market alone cannot always provide a variety of public and private open spaces. A more nuanced range that provides a variety of open places, including semi-public and semi-private space is needed.

The city we need is a regenerative city

Sustainable public spaces that are healthy, safe, resilient,

The city we need is a safe city

energy-conserving and resource efficient

The city we need is a healthy city

Public space and the buildings that surround and define it need to be socially, economically and

The city we need is affordable and equitable

environmentally sustainable. Social sustainability requires security, equity and justice; economic sustainability benefits from affordable capital and operating budgets; environmental sustainability addresses ecological and health issues. These include clean air, water and soil, green micro-climates and the mitigation and adaptation to the Urban Heat Island Effect and Climate Change. Effective use should be made of green technologies and systems. Architecture and urban design that is adaptable and appreciated is cared for and sustained for a longer time.

The city we need has a singular identity and

Culture and context of public space

sense of place

Public space is made unique through cultural and contextual elements that complement and enrich its identity. Spaces should be flexible and respond to the geography, climate, culture and heritage specific to its locality. Public arts can be an effective method for celebrating community identity and belonging in open spaces.

8 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Key outcomes of the UTC The main outcome of the Public Space Campus was the contribution to “The City We Need” declaration – “Public Space for the City We Need”.

These recommendations summarize all sessions, labs, drafting sessions and debates highlighting why and how public space should be a part of the New Urban Agenda. The campus decided to adopt the previous 9 principles but proposed the addition of seven new principles:

Public space for The City We Need values: 1. A people-centered approach to planning 2. Inclusive public space for all, particularly vulnerable groups 3. Public space that respects human scale and behavior 4. A citywide network of connected streets and public spaces 5. Economic productivity of public space 6. Access to public space – public and private spheres 7. Sustainable public spaces that are healthy, safe, resilient, energyconserving, and resource efficient

Peter Elmlund, Ax:son Johnson Foundation and Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Mayor of

8. Culture and context of public space

Seberang Perai ©Christoffer Hallbäck

Key recommendations The following recommendations, in no particular order, reflect the challenges identified and addressed by the Future of Places:

1. People-centered approach to planning

3. Public space that respects human scale and behavior

As an arena for public use and social interaction, public spaces are most

All public space needs to be of a human scale and respond to a variety

often developed, managed and maintained by municipal government. If

of functions and patterns of use based on an understanding of human

the municipal government adopts a people-centered approach to urban

behavior, health, needs, sensibilities and aspirations. Spaces are defined

planning, they will more effectively achieve sustainable development.

by their shape and the quality of their edges. Simple temporary and

Emphasis needs to be placed on a shared responsibility between

tactical interventions can test and promote more permanent changes.

community and private entities with regard to the localized planning and maintenance of public space.

2. Inclusive public space for all, particularly vulnerable groups

4. A citywide network of connected streets and public spaces A holistic, evidence-based approach to the city is necessary with attention focused not only on the space itself, but its form, function and

Attention needs to be given to vulnerable members of the population,

connectivity. Streets should serve as multimodal networks of social and

including the elderly, the disabled, youth, and low income groups, to

economic exchange, forming the urban framework of interconnected

ensure their social and political inclusion in the allocation and design of

public space. Walkability, social interaction, multimodal mobility and

public spaces. Public space has a responsibility to be flexible and open

accessibility should be supported by a fine-grained block and street

enough to serve a variety of users and uses, ranging from informal to

network lined with buildings providing amenities and services with a

formal settlements. Well-designed public spaces not only contribute to

mix of uses and sizes.

improve the visual and spatial character of a city, but also stimulate and enhance intergenerational, social and economic activities.

9 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

5. Economic productivity of public space

Key actors

Investing in public space can have powerful social, economic, cultural

The campus was attended by a variety of constituent groups: local and sub-

and health benefits. If people are committed to their future in a specific

national governments, research and academia, civil society organizations,

place, they invest more time and capital in that place, which has a

grass roots organizations, women groups, children and youth, business and

positive impact on the local economy and creates a virtuous cycle of

industries, foundations and philanthropies, and professionals.

economic growth. Public space stimulates the small scale, local and informal economy, as well as generates tax revenue.

Key stakeholders present were mayors and city planners, leading scholars and mobilized activist and grassroots platforms along with UN agencies

6. Access to public space – public and private spheres

and central government officials. One of the visions of the Future of Places

In many places there has been a reduction of urban public space, a

conference series was to provide a multi-stakeholder arena which could

lack of clear boundaries between the public and private spheres and

assemble a wide variety of actors to come together and discuss the role of

diminished freedom of expression and movement. The market alone

public space in the new urban agenda.

cannot always provide a variety of public and private open spaces. A more nuanced range that provides a variety of open places, including

As a multi-stakeholder forum, the Future of Places emphasizes the

semi-public and semi-private space is needed.

responsibility of collaboration among all stakeholders. Emphasis is placed on local government creating a conducive environment for the role of

7. Sustainable public spaces that are healthy, safe, resilient, energy-conserving and resource efficient

public space in their cities; for professionals and academic groups to bring

Public space and the buildings that surround and define it need

users to create a sense of place through context and collective action; and,

to be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

for private sector to play a role in the financing and delivery of such projects.

knowledge, tools and best practices; for civil society, community groups and

Social sustainability requires security, equity and justice; economic sustainability benefits from affordable capital and operating budgets;

The following action and implementation mechanisms were identified to

environmental sustainability addresses ecological and health issues.

establish, support and protect public spaces and its users. Further details

These include clean air, water and soil, green micro-climates and

can be found in Point 16 - Urban Solutions.

the mitigation and adaptation to the Urban Heat Island Effect and

a) Advocacy and Mobilization

Climate Change. Effective use should be made of green technologies

b) Measurement and Monitoring

and systems. Architecture and urban design that is adaptable and

c) Public Space Financing Solutions

appreciated is cared for and sustained for a longer time.

d) Policies and Legislation for Public Space e) Empowerment of Marginalized Groups

8. Culture and context of public space

f) Tools and Knowledge Management

Public space is made unique through cultural and contextual elements that complement and enrich its identity. Spaces should be flexible and respond to the geography, climate, culture and heritage specific to its locality. Public arts can be an effective method for celebrating community identity and belonging in open spaces.

codesignstudio @codesignstudio

Jun 29

Governance and public space can’t be separated. The way they are planned matters @UNHABITAT #FutureOfPlaces #UrbanThinkers https://twitter.com/codesignstudio/status/615421623617880064

10 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Outstanding issues

d. Policies and Legislation for Public Space

Central to the Future of Places forum for public space – and to this campus

Establish policies, legislation, and regulatory mechanisms for the

in particular – is to contribute to a paradigm shift in urban planning

provision, design, management and use of public spaces. Long-term

emphasizing its benefits for sustainable urban development through a

structures, management mechanisms and partnerships at the national,

“people-centered approach”. Traditionally, the focus of urban development

regional and local level can align governments and other stakeholder’s

has been on the hardware of cities (buildings and infrastructure), instead of

interests. Open feedback and accountability mechanisms can ensure

the software (behavior , needs and access). The Future of Places advocates

two-way discussions among stakeholders.

for a shift in conventional thinking towards a people-centered approach in order to promote sustainable urban development and contribute to building

e. Empowerment of Marginalized Groups

healthier cities. This issue cannot solely be addressed by influencing

Set in place processes for the inclusion of all ages, the vulnerable, and

policy or practice, but instead needs continuous development to promote

the disadvantaged. Establish a legal framework to ensure the inclusion

a paradigm shift. The Future of Places will continue to pursue this issue in

of disadvantaged groups in public space discussion and processes.

all of its endeavors.

Special emphasis should be placed on job creation, livelihoods and quality of life for low-income groups.

Urban solutions

f. Tools and Knowledge Management Establish open-source knowledge management platforms with training

The following action and implementation mechanisms have been identified

workshops, capacity building, tools, best practices, model legislation,

to establish, support and protect public spaces and its users.

statistics, and methodologies for creating and managing public space.

Empirical evidence-based research on the practice and theory of public

a. Advocacy and Mobilization

space needs to be made widely available.

Raise awareness and create movements to mobilize stakeholders in the pursuit to build community. Promotion of discussions, forums, workshops, pop-up projects and public space prizes will further mobilize and increase awareness of and sense of belonging.

b. Measurement and Monitoring

Establish policy and frameworks at the national level for cities to allocate an appropriate percentage of the land to public space. An inventory of public space assets in a city will reveal the availability of public space typologies, allowing city-builders to address shortfalls and encourage a balance of public spaces throughout a city.

c. Public Space Financing Solutions Examination of creative financing solutions such as public land acquisition, conversion of private space to public space or land value capture will be effective in producing greater amounts of economically sustainable public space.

Robert Neuwirth, Journalist and Author ©Christoffer Hallbäck

11 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Speakers Mandres Borthagaray, Director of the Strategic Planning Council in the

Julian Agyeman, Professor of urban and environmental policy and

City of Buenos Aires and Director of the Latin American program of the City

planning at Tufts University in Boston.

on the Move Institute, IVM.

Kajsa B Olofsgård, Deputy Director of International Trade at the Swedish

Arif Hasan, Architect and planner, activist, teacher, social researcher and

Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Post 2015 Ambassador and Sweden’s chief

writer, Karachi University.

negotiator.

Bruce Katz, Vice president and founding director at Brookings Institution

Kate Jones, Policy Advisor at Design Council.

and Founding Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program.

Ludo Campbell-Reid, General Manager of the Auckland Design Office at

Christine Auclair, Project Leader, World Urban Campaign at UN-Habitat.

Auckland Council.

Conny Wahlström, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Housing,

Mike Lydon, Principal of the Street Plans Collaborative.

Urban Development and Information Technology Mehmet Kaplan.

Doug Kelbaugh, Professor of Architecture and Urban Planning in Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning.

Peter Elmlund, Director of Urban City Research at Ax: son Johnson Foundation.

Richard Sennett, Centennial Professor of Sociology at the London School

Eugenie Birch, Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research and

of Economics and University Professor of the Humanities at New York

Education, Chair of the Graduate Group in City and Regional Planning, and

University.

Co-Director of Penn IUR. Eva De Klerk, Urban Activist at NDSM. Fran Tonkiss, Professor of Sociology, and Director of the Cities Programme, London School of Economics.

Robert Neuwirth, Journalist, author, and investigative reporter.

Saskia Sassen, Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology, and Chairs the Committee on Global Thought, Columbia University.

Thomas Melin, Head of the Office of the External Relations Division at

Hans Karssenberg, Partner and founder of Stipo.

UN-Habitat.

Harrison Fraker, Professor of Architecture, former dean of UC Berkeley’s

Vikas Mehta, Associate Professor and the Fruth/Gemini Chair and Ohio

College of Environmental Design.

Eminent Scholar of Urban/Environmental Design at the College of Design,

Jacques Lapouge, French Ambassador to Sweden.

Architecture, Art and Planning at the University of Cincinnati

Jeffrey Fleisher, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Rice University, Houston, Texas.

John Massengale, Architect , the Founding Chair of the local chapter, CNU New York and a former board member of the ICAA (the Institute of Classical Art & Architecture).

choyle57 @choyle57

30 Jun 2015

#UrbanThinkers “We as planners and architects should refuse to help build gated communities.” Richard Sennett https://twitter.com/choyle57/status/615828104767008768

12 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

List of all countries present 1. Afghanistan

23. Iceland

45. Poland

2. Algeria

24. India

46. Portugal

3. Argentina

25. Iran

47. Rwanda

4. Australia

26. Israel

48. Saudi Arabia

5. Austria

27. Italy

49. Serbia

6. Bahrain

28. Jamaica

50. Slovakia

7. Belgium

29. Japan

51. South Africa

8. Brazil

30. Kenya

52. Spain

9. Canada

31. Korea, South

53. Sri Lanka

10. China

32. Kosovo

54. Sudan

11. Colombia

33. Luxembourg

55. Sweden

12. Croatia

34. Malaysia

56. Switzerland

13. Denmark

35. Mexico

57. Syria

14. Ecuador

36. Morocco

58. Tanzania

15. Egypt

37. Nepal

59. Turkey

16. Estonia

38. New Zealand

60. Uganda

17. Finland

39. Nigeria

61. United Kingdom

18. France

40. Norway

62. United States

19. Gambia, The

41. Pakistan

63. Uruguay

20. Germany

42. Palestine

64. Zimbabwe

21. Ghana

43. Paraguay

22. Greece

44. Philippines

13 Urban Thinkers Campus: 01 – Public Space in the New Urban Agenda

Bruce Katz, Brookings Institution ©Christoffer Hallbäck

www.futureofplaces.com

United Nations Human Settlements Programme P.O. Box 30030 Nairobi 00100, Kenya World Urban Campaign Secretariat www.worldurbancampaign.org Email: wuc@unhabitat.org Tel.: +254 20 762 1234

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