Safdie, Moshe

From CollabLandWiki

Safdie, M. 1997. The Making of Public Space In The City after the Automobile – An Architects Vision, 39-54. New York: Basicbooks.

This paper enters into what makes a space public in the light of our current situation of public vs private development of public space. The effects of malls, super block commercial towers and parking on the urban design of the city is discussed, down to street condition. The negative effects on existing public spaces by the installation of these new urban giants (mainly interior shopping malls) are outlined but it is also discussed how they could be introduced to the city in a positive manner and could contribute to the urban design of a city centre. A new type of public place is required and elements of it are discussed including connection issues and integration of major urban and civic elements. The private shopping mall is discussed as a public space that isn't consistant with promoting democracy. The private investor wants returns and urban issue, even the exterior of major shopping mall developments are irrelevant as it does not concern the exchange of money. The mall attracts the right person, not the entire public so to speak. The reading opens up the debate of the risk of entrusting our public spaces entirely to the good graces of the private sector – whose incentive, of course, is to achieve maximum value on any investment.

Points

• what is this 'new public space' as suggested above? Continue to add to the list of attributes this space needs to be and/or able to perform.
• how can the negative urban effects of existing interior malls (both within the CBD and out in the suburbs) be dealt with.
• what can make a private party interested enough to care about urban issues of the city?
• what effects does creating this new space have on the existing interior malls? this cannot be a battle of creating supreme public space.
• be aware of past elements of public space (linking civic and true public spaces) and how they were positive. Re-evaluate these in context of todays social needs towards this 'new public space' .