“Dubravka Sekulic argues that it’s precisely nationalisation that made this possible, meaning that “space was a resource whose development should bring equality, not the basis for profit making”.” – Soviet squares: how public space is disappearing in post-communist cities
public space
“Oleksandr Burlaka claims that the most valuable feature of communist urban spaces lies in their “spatial freedom”, which is “sometimes naive, but a clear urban logic without over-regulation”. As an example, he singles out the Rusanivka district in Kiev, where standard prefab towers of the 1970s are integrated with canals and embankments. Although the built-in water fountains were broken years ago, “it’s still the place for walking, bathing, meeting, with open-air barbecues even in winter”.” – Soviet squares: how public space is disappearing in post-communist cities
“Puvendra Akkiah, a planner for the city of Durban. “There are no viable public spaces without communities, and no viable communities without public space: public space is a generator of democratic cities.”” – Right to the city: can this growing social movement win over city officials?
technical innovations and deficiencies (3.5)
Why and how to address the disparity in a park system when financial and technical innovations have helped support an era of new and improved public parks. more
“Central Park is now a gleaming jewel thanks to $700 million in private investments, and two years ago a hedge fund manager — who lives in a mansion steps from the park — gave $100 million to shine it further. Private money now covers 75 percent of the park’s annual operating budget” – The Billionaires’ Park – NYTimes.com
“A declining public sector, burdened by budget cuts, creates a vacuum for imaginative civic leadership that is being filled by a new class of Medicis. Things are going to get a lot worse, too. Nondefense discretionary federal spending will fall to its lowest level in modern history by 2017, leaving Washington less able to finance projects like new parks and infrastructure.” – The Billionaires’ Park – NYTimes.com
“I get criticized about: ‘What are you going after graffiti for? We’ve got kids killing each other.’ ” Mr. Bratton said. “It’s just this sense of, in public spaces, who’s in control?” – Bratton Still Sees Challenges in a New York He Made Safer
“The architectural historian Iain Borden says the emergence of hostile architecture has its roots in 1990s urban design and public-space management. The emergence, he said, “suggested we are only republic citizens to the degree that we are either working or consuming goods directly.” – Anti-homeless spikes are part of a wider phenomenon of ‘hostile architecture’
“Why should these teens lament the commercialization of public spaces when these are the only spaces that they feel actually allow them to be authentic?” – ‘Selling Out’ Is Meaningless — Medium
“Today’s teens are desperate for any form of freedom. In a world where they have limited physical mobility and few places to go, they’re deeply appreciative of any space that will accept them. Because we’ve pretty much obliterated all public spaces for youth to gather in, they find their freedom in commercial spaces, especially online.” – ‘Selling Out’ Is Meaningless — Medium
“Commons are an exception within present systems of legal ownership that rely fully on private property. A Common is a piece of land that may be owned by one or several persons, but over which other people can exercise certain traditional rights “to take or use some portion of that which another man’s soil naturally produces,” indefinitely.5 Common land is not public (nor does it, like most parks and open spaces in London or other British cities, necessarily belong to the Crown or aristocracy) and has quite a unique jurisdictional status based on the rights of use: it is land to be used “in common.” Commons therefore cannot be developed or built upon by the owner(s), nor can they be used speculatively or sold without those rights.” – Life Always Escapes : Céline Condorelli