Designing places for people is something I’m passionate about. Successful places are where people want to be. There are a number reasons why people want to visit and enjoy outdoor spaces. Here are some design objectives to consider when activating the public domain.
A welcoming space:
Create a place for many types of people, the elderly, families, different cultures and for people with disabilities.
Openness and passive observation play a part in creating a safe and welcoming space as does good solar access and appropriate lighting.
Creating a sense of Place can also create a welcoming, familiar place. This can be achieved by interpreting the site’s history in a meaning full way.
Cultural heritage means different things to different people. Providing an opportunity for people to interpret a space can foster a mental and/or emotional connection and can evoke a sense of belonging and welcome.
Sitting Opportunities:
‘People sit most where there are places to sit’
Public plazas and civic spaces can be designed to include seating terraces. These outdoor amphitheatres are valuable destinations for local communities, their multifunctional design means that they can be used for small & large seating events, and large standing-only events ........ but......
...... sitting opportunities aren't necessarily seats, they can be incidental seats like low walls, steps, bollards or playful sculptural elements designed for occasional seating.
Comfortable seating spaces:
Creating a sense of enclosure creates a sense of shelter and protection and encourages people to dwell.
As visitors to public spaces we tend to prefer to sit and look inwards rather than sitting in the centre and being observed, so locating seats with a sheltered backdrop responds to our natural instincts.
It also supports the art of people-watching.....to enjoy sitting and watching the world go by.
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