Small urban open spaces: criteria for design

Abstract

The historical development of public spaces in the urban environment and their role in human behaviour was researched to develop criteria for design of open urban spaces in modern society. Seven open spaces within the Wellington Central Business District were chosen for the development and testing of ideas relating to the design of urban spaces for the specific purpose of creating better places for human social activity. Three basic methods were adopted - Observation of actual use - a measure of the use of the spaces at intervals during the day, against which the relevance of the criteria could be compared. Visual check of Physical Attributes - this involved the identification of the criteria for the physical design of the spaces based on the culmination of work by researchers in North America. Graphic Analysis of Formative Ideas - to identify the similarities in the generation of design of small urban open spaces, and to acknowledge the more significant ideas which have a positive effect. From this, basic guidelines have been established which assist in the development of public places within cities.