Cultural and economic vitality – the role of place quality

With a focus on the cultural life of public spaces, the research examines how public and private actors can collectively support a broader range of public experiences, interactions and social values. In addition, the study investigates how planning for public space can promote public value through culture. The culture of public space, or what one could refer to as the everyday street scene, is arguably the most visible manifestation of public life: a social barometer for cultural vibrancy and economic health. Once an outcome of economic progress and a symbol of power, the design of cities, including the recomposition of urban space, is now increasingly perceived as an aesthetic means to an economic end. But perversely, the homogenisation of urban landscapes and public space is an issue of contemporary concern for planners, architects, politicians and the everyday person strolling down the street.