Research has shown that successful public spaces are ones that are responsive to the needs of their users, are democratic in their accessibility, and are meaningful for the larger community and society. While considerable research has been done on needs and conflicts in open space, no one document integrates all this knowledge and makes it available to professionals, students, and researchers.
Based on archival research; published case studies; site visits; and interviews with researchers, open space designers, managers, and users, Urban Open Space looks across several seminal studies to glean significant findings and design implications related to user needs and conflicts. It reviews and identifies those critical user needs that must be considered in the planning, design, and management of outdoor spaces, and synthesizes that knowledge into an accessible and useful document.
Contents
Foreword \ L. Susan Everett, Landscape Architecture Foundation
Urban Open Space: Case Study in Land & Community Design
Introduction: Designing for User Needs
Chapter 1. The LAF Case Study Method
Chapter 2. Urban Open Spaces: Why Some Work and Others Don't
Chapter 3. Design, Development, and Decision-Making
Chapter 4. Bryant Park: A Case Study of Designing for User Needs
Chapter 5. Community Participation
Chapter 6. Evaluating the Needs and Limitations of Public Spaces
Chapter 7. Conclusions and Recommendations
Bibliography
Photo Credits
Sources of Information
Index
About the Author
Author Acknowledgments
Landscape Architecture Foundation Acknowledgments
