What Are the Differences and Similarities of Public Squares and What Effect Do They Have On the Urban Design

by

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible

DECLARATION

I [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University

Signed __________________ Date _________________

ABSTRACT

During different periods of historic development of an urban tissue, the built-up areas as urban blocks were interchanging with open spaces that were mostly used for different types of social interaction, which corresponded to the type of socio-political and economic system of a particular time period. How and when certain public areas were used is determined by the ways citizens interact or as promoted by authorities. As political-economic systems were changing in evolutionary or revolutionary ways, so - ether smoothly or dramatically - was the social life on the very same public spaces. The diverse changes ranged from periods of neglect and complete abandonment to redevelopment for housing, commerce or other practical functions, and assignment for various infrastructural needs such as streets, crossings, parking lots or urban landscapes and recreation facilities. The whole dissertation has been divided into 5 chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and background of the study. Chapter 2 provides a review of the literature. Chapter 3 provides the methodology used to generate results for this study. Chapter 4 provides the discussion and analysis of those results. Finally, Chapter 5 presents the conclusion for this study.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT1

DECLARATION2

ABSTRACT3

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION5

Background of the Study5

Aim of the research6

Significance of the Research6

Research Questions6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

Public Spaces7

Historical Aspect in Identification of Public Spaces in Urban Areas7

Differences and Similarities of Public Squares10

Effect of Public Squares on the Urban Design12

Social Interaction in Analysed Public Spaces12

The spatial forms of gathering14

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY15

Confidentiality17

Reliability17

Research Validity18

Ethical Considerations18

CHAPTER 4: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS20

Spatial Concepts for Empowering Public Spaces - Examples of Case Studies in Vilnius and Weimar20

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION27

REFERENCES30

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

For the first time in human history, more than half of the human population inhabits urban environments, and this now presents itself as 'second nature' to humans. The urban context is of a very complex nature and is composed by a multitude of different networks, infrastructures and volumes. The city has become the dominant 'scenery' for everyday life. As such it presents still greater design challenges for an improved urban spatial performance, and it creates more inspiring, efficient and stimulating public spaces. One must acknowledge that urban spaces are sites of movement and interaction that contain under-utilized potential (Lefebvre, 2001, Pp 20). If we can understand when the 'stages' are used in terms of human movement and occupancy, we can generate site-specific maps, which present a basis for new understandings of the dynamics of the different systems that can ...