Public space

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Public art in a public space in Lille, France

1 Definition
- 1.1 Examples
- 1.2 Differences between Public and Private Spaces
2 Rights in Public Space
- 2.1 Controversy around the supposed right of access to all: The Exclusion of certain groups from Public Space
3 'Semi-Public' Spaces
4 References
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Definition

A public space or a public place is a place where anyone has a right to come without being excluded because of economic or social conditions, although this may not always be the case. One of the earliest examples of public spaces are commons. For example, no fees or paid tickets are required for entry, nor are the entrants discriminated based on background. Non-government-owned malls are examples of private space with the appearance of public space. Also, one should be aware that the term Public Space has become something of a touchstone for critical theory in relation to philosophy, (urban) geography, visual art, cultural studies and social studies. Its relevance seems to become more pressing as capital encloses more and more of what were thought of as 'commons' (an idea perhaps best articulated by Marx). The term Public Space is often misconstrued to mean other things such as 'gathering place', which is an element of the larger concept.

[edit] Examples

Central Park in New York City was designed as a democratic public space in the 19th century.

Most streets, including the pavement
Town squares
Parks.
Public libraries

Some parks, malls, waiting rooms, etc. are closed at night.

In Norway, Sweden and Finland, all nature areas are considered public space, due to a law; allemansrätten (everyone's-right).

[edit] Differences between Public and Private Spaces

Typical differences between a public space and a private space are illustrated by comparing sitting on a public bench and sitting on a seat in a pavement café:

The first costs nothing.
There is no time limitation, apart from possible opening hours.
One is allowed to consume brought-along food and drinks (for alcoholic beverages the law prohibits this sometimes; this may even be the case if it is allowed in a pavement café; in some public places alcohol consumption is allowed during the day, but not at night).
A pavement café may have a dress code such as a prohibition of being shirtless, while in a public space only general law applies.

[edit] Rights in Public Space

In the United States, one's presence in a public space may give him or her certain rights not otherwise vested. In a public space, known as a public forum (legal), the government cannot usually limit one's speech beyond what is reasonable (that is, screaming epithets at passers-by can be stopped; proselytizing one's religion probably cannot). In a private -- that is, non-public -- forum, the government can control one's speech to a much greater degree (protesting one's objection to medicare reform will not be tolerated in the Pentagon) (this is not to say that the government can control what you say in your own home or to others; it can only control government property in this way). In some cases, privately owned property can be considered a public forum. England, too, has a tradition of public spaces permitting public speech, at Speakers' Corner, for example.

In general, there is no expectation of privacy in a public space.

Eating and drinking in an outside public place during Ramadan in an Islamic country is sometimes not appreciated.

Public spaces are attractive for budget tourists and homeless people, especially those that are relatively comfortable, e.g. a shopping center that provides shelter and, in a cold climate, is heated (or cooled in a hot climate).

[edit] Controversy around the supposed right of access to all: The Exclusion of certain groups from Public Space

Whilst it is generally considered that everyone has a right to access and use public space, as opposed to private space which may have restrictions, there has been some academic interest in how public spaces are managed to exclude certain groups - specifically homeless^[1] people and young^[2] people.

Measures are taken to make the public space less attractive to them, including the removal or design of benches to restrict their use for sleeping and resting, restricting access to certain times, locking indoor/enclosed areas. Police forces are sometimes involved in moving 'unwanted' members of the public from public spaces.

Also, by not providing suitable access, disabled people are excluded from some spaces.

[edit] 'Semi-Public' Spaces

A broader meaning of public space or place includes also places where everybody can come if they pay, like a café, train, movie theater or brothel. A shop is an example of what is intermediate between the two meanings: everybody can enter and look around without obligation to buy, but activities unrelated to the purpose of the shop are not unlimitedly permitted.

The halls and streets (including skyways) in a shopping center may or may not be declared a public place and may or may not be open when the shops are closed. Similarly for halls, railway platforms and waiting rooms of public transport; sometimes a travelling ticket is required. A public library is also more or less a public place. A rest stop or truck stop is a public space.

For these semi-public spaces stricter rules may apply than outside, e.g. regarding dress code, trading, begging, advertising, propaganda, riding rollerskates, skateboards, a Segway, etc.

[edit] References

^ Illegal to be Homeless. National Coalition for the Homeless (2004).
^ Malone, K. "Children, Youth and Sustainable Cities". Local Environment 6 (1).

3. "Conclusions of the International Seminar on the Planning of Collectively-Used Spaces in Towns", in: Monumentum (Brussels), Vol. 18-19, 1979, pp. 129-135.