Scholarly record
SUSTAINABLE PUBLIC SPACE DESIGN AND SOCIAL INTERACTION IN CITIES
Abstract
Sustainable public space design has become a central concern in contemporary urban planning as cities face increasing pressures from rapid urbanization, social fragmentation, climate change, and demographic transformation. Public spaces, including parks, squares, streets, pedestrian zones, waterfronts, and community gathering areas play a critical role in fostering social interaction, civic engagement, environmental quality, and urban resilience. Their design directly influences the inclusiveness, accessibility, and vitality of urban life, shaping how individuals and communities interact within diverse social and cultural contexts. This study examines the relationship between sustainable public space design and social interaction in cities, focusing on how spatial configuration, environmental quality, and participatory planning contribute to stronger social cohesion and urban well-being. The research investigates key dimensions such as walkability, universal accessibility, green infrastructure, safety, mixed land use, microclimate adaptation, cultural identity, and multifunctional design. Special attention is given to the needs of vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, people with disabilities, migrants, and socially marginalized communities, whose access to high-quality public space often determines broader patterns of urban equity. Using an interdisciplinary research framework that combines systematic literature review, comparative case study analysis, spatial observation, and policy assessment, the study identifies successful models of sustainable public space development in European and global cities. It also explores the contribution of smart city technologies, GIS-based spatial analysis, digital twins, and data-driven urban governance in improving public space management and citizen participation.
Publication details
References14
Jan Gehl (2011) Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Jan Gehl (2010) Cities for People. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Henri Lefebvre (1996) Writings on Cities. Oxford: Blackwell.
David Harvey (2008) 'The Right to the City', New Left Review, 53, pp. 23-40.
Edward W. Soja (2010) Seeking Spatial Justice. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
Susan S. Fainstein (2010) The Just City. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
Tim Beatley (2011) Biophilic Cities. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Peter Newman and Isabella Jennings (2008) Cities as Sustainable Ecosystems. Washington, DC: Island Press.
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (2020) World Cities Report 2020: The Value of Sustainable Urbanization. Nairobi: UN-Habitat.
United Nations (2015) Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations.
European Commission (2021) New European Bauhaus: Beautiful, Sustainable, Together. Brussels: European Commission. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2020) Cities in the World: A New Perspective on Urbanisation. Paris: OECD Publishing.
World Bank (2023) Inclusive Cities Approach Paper. Washington, DC: World Bank. Project for Public Spaces (2018) What Makes a Successful Place?. New York: PPS.
Matthew Carmona (2019) Principles for Public Space Design, Planning to Do Better. London: Routledge.
Ali Madanipour (2013) Public Space and the Challenges of Urban Transformation in Europe. London: Routledge. Setha Low and Neil Smith (2006) The Politics of Public Space. New York: Routledge.