Public spaces can foster social connections, promote inclusivity, and nurture a sense of community. In today’s fast-paced world, where technology often replaces face-to-face interaction and individuals retreat into private spaces, designing public areas that encourage connections has become more crucial than ever. Achieving this goal, however, requires a more human-centered approach — one that focuses not just on the physical environment, but also on how individuals experience and interact with the space. Eric Klinenberg’s concept of social infrastructure provides a compelling framework to understand why these spaces are vital for addressing inequality, polarization, and community resilience. 1 2
Social Infrastructure
Klinenberg believes that a healthy community is not only about shared values, but also about shared spaces so he defines social infrastructure as “the physical places and organizations that shape the way people interact.” As mentioned in the previous posts such places include libraries, playgrounds, parks, but also sidewalks or community gardens. Klinenberg states that the social infrastructure is as essential for society as the infrastructure for power or transportation. 1 2
Designing for people not just for purposes
People have diverse needs, given a wide range of demographics, abilities, and social backgrounds, yet surprisingly often, design decisions for public spaces are done either in favor of functionality or aesthetics alone. Designing public spaces needs to address this diversity by prioritizing accessibility, visibility and inclusivity. In the book “Life Between Buildings” Gehl highlights, that a human-centered approach to public spaces creates meaningful social interactions. 3
First life, then spaces, then buildings. The other way around never works. – Jan Gehl
Principles of Human-Centered Public Space Design
Designing public spaces with a focus on people, rather than just on aesthetic or functional objectives, is guided by human-centered principles. These principles aim to meet users’ physical needs while also addressing their emotional, social, and cultural well-being. These are some qualities of human-centered public urban spaces:
Spatial qualities:
Accessible: Public spaces must be accessible to all individuals, regardless of socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity, or ability. Everyone should have equal opportunities to use and benefit from the space and its amenities.
Walkable: Neighborhoods designed with walkable pathways and well-connected bike lanes promote physical activity while decreasing dependence on cars. This is especially important in rural areas, where limited transportation options often make car travel the primary means of getting around.
Safe: Well-lit, open spaces without blind spots enhance safety and make public areas more inviting. Gehl highlights that poor visibility fosters fear and exclusion, while transparent, well-lit environments promote comfort, interaction, and community.
Delightful: Public spaces need to incorporate human-scale design, aesthetics and pleasant microclimate like greenery, clean streets and inviting storefront to turn these areas into destinations that foster social connections.
Comfortable: A comfortable space for spending time and engaging in various activities like walking, standing, sitting, people-watching, and having conversations.
Socio-spatial qualities:
Liveable: Public spaces should be designed with areas for a variety of activities, from quiet reflection to lively social gatherings. This multifunctionality allows individuals to engage with the space in ways that suit their preferences and needs.
Inclusive: Inclusive and welcoming to all, free and open. Urban spaces that foster a diverse range of users and activities.
Sociable: Spaces should be designed to foster social engagement by encouraging natural gatherings. Key elements include thoughtfully arranged seating, pedestrian-friendly walkways, and dedicated areas for social interaction. 1 3 4 5 6
Participation in Urban Planning
While human-centered design provides a strong foundation, its true value lies in practical application that prioritizes community voices. A truly human-centric approach relies on understanding “what people want” by using qualitative tools that assess the social and emotional well-being of residents, including their perceptions, motivations, emotions, ways of living, and values, rather than focusing only on quantitative metrics like the number of blocks or units installed. Tools such as focus groups, workshops, and community-led design sessions help planners shape spaces that align with community needs and wishes while strengthening shared civic identities. However, often the easiest way to gain insights is by talking to the people who are affected by infrastructural proposals. 7
Meaningful public participation becomes increasingly important and is also identified as a core human need. This participation is vital for upholding the principles of participatory democracy, enhancing the effectiveness and quality of the planning process, and improving as well as validating political decision-making. In such a perspective, residents are empowered to have their say in decisions influencing their daily life, ensuring better community involvement. The goal of participatory planning is to incorporate public perspectives into the design of public spaces, recognizing residents not only as stakeholders but as active users, alongside organizations, experts, and professionals. 8
Sources:
[1] E. Klinenberg, Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life, New York, NY: Crown Publishing Group, 2018.
[2] Palaces for the People,” 99% Invisible, Spotify. [Online]. Available: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7fE5rzAYtoCyVMzJnuwf0H?si=b64OVUphRBaOdbErUuyFtg&t=2399. [Accessed: Jan. 13, 2025].
[3] J. Gehl, Life Between Buildings, New York: Van Nostrand-Reinhold, 1987.
[4] M. Almahmood, N. M. Gulsrud, O. Schulze, T. A. Carstensen und G. Jørgensen, „Human-centred public urban space: exploring how the ‘re-humanisation’ of cities as a universal concept has been adopted and is experienced within the socio-cultural context of Riyadh“, Urban Research & Practice, Bd. 15, Nr. 1, S. 1–24, Okt. 2018, doi: 10.1080/17535069.2018.1539512.
[5] “Human-centered design for inclusive urban environments: Building cities that embrace diversity and accessibility,” Buildings. [Online]. Available: https://www.buildings.com/architecture/article/55139034/human-centered-design-for-inclusive-urban-environments-building-cities-that-embrace-diversity-and-accessibility. [Accessed: Jan. 13, 2025].
[6] R. Oldenburg, The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Bookstores, Bars, Hair Salons and Other Hangouts at the Heart of a Community, New York: Marlowe & Company, 1999.
[7] “Making Cities Human-Centric,” One Works. [Online]. Available: https://www.one-works.com/journal/relate/making-cities-human-centric/. [Accessed: Jan. 13, 2025].[8] E. J. Cilliers und W. Timmermans, „The Importance of Creative Participatory Planning in the Public Place-Making Process“, Environment And Planning B Planning And Design, Bd. 41, Nr. 3, S. 413–429, Apr. 2014, doi: 10.1068/b39098.