10 Principles for Productive Public Spaces

Mackenzie Keast surveys the ten fundamental principles for placemaking identified by New York-based Project for Public Spaces (PPS) in their newly released handbook Placemaking and the Future of Cities.

1 minute read

September 20, 2012, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


A "best practices guide for those wishing to
improve the economic, environmental and social health of their
communities through the power of successful public space," is how Mackenzie Keast describes the intended application of the new publication [PDF] out from PPS. Produced under the auspices of the UN-HABITAT Sustainable Urban Development Network (SUD-Net), Placemaking and the Future of Cities outlines 10 best practices for successful public space projects and incorporates case studies "describing the impact of the Placemaking process in nearly a dozen cities throughout the Global South." Practices include: improving streets as public spaces, building local economies through markets, and linking public health agendas to public space agendas. 

Although oriented towards the challenges of creating and sustaining public spaces in the developing world, the practices outlined in the draft handbook would serve anyone looking to build inclusive, healthy, functional, and productive cities.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 in Urban Times

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