INTRODUCTION KAAS 1

URBAN

PUBLIC

SPACE

A GUIDETO ANALYSE AND ENHANCE URBAN OPEN SPACES IN ESTONIA

Aarhus School of ArchitectureMaster thesis project / January-June 2013

Urmo Mets

Supervisor Tom Nielsen

2 INTRODUCTION

Master studies and the thesis projectsupported by: The Cultural Endowment of EstoniaThe Archimedes Foundation and the Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia

INTRODUCTION 3

Introduction

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4 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5

I would like to thank my tutor Tom Nielsen for his guidance and trustduring the process , when I chose a challenging topic and mademodifications on the way. I am thankful to all the people with whom Ihave discussed the thesis project in Estonia : Toomas Paaver , Teele Pehk,Marten Kaevats, Anna-Liisa Unt, Tõnis Arjus , Hendrik Mänd, Kaja Pae,Kaur Talpsep, Lauri Eltermaa. Thank you for your help : Priit Rohtmets ,Tõnu Runnel and Tiit Sild .

I would like to thank The Cultural Endowment of Estonia , ArchimedesFoundation and the Ministry of Education and Research in Estonia whomade it possible to focus on my studies . Janek Veeber, for yoursupport.

And finally , I am especially grateful to my family . Kristel - for supportingmy studies by moving to Denmark for almost two years together withour kids: only a 4-month-old Teodor and 3-year-old Sonja. Sonja andTeodor, thank you for your joy and energy .

Acknowledgements

6 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION ABSTRACT 7

The thesis project "Urban Public Space, a Guide to Analyseand Enhance Urban Open Spaces in Estonia " is intendedas the first draft of a guide to be later revised andpublished in Estonia .

The topic has recently become broadly discussed inEstonia and a guide would be useful for many addressees .In absense of local reference material some municipalityarchitects and community members are pointing out the"Manual for Streets " (The Department of Transport , UK2007), "Street Design Manual of New York" (TheDepartment of Transportation , NY 2009) and the EU project"Shared Space" documents. What comes closest in Estoniais the "Guide for Participatory Planning " (Kadri Tillermann,Regina Viljasaar , Tallinn 2012). The guide introduces amethod of participation for urban planning and does notfocus on the specific issues of urban public space .

The thesis project aims to deliver the first draft of acomprehensive guide for urban public spaces . It is at firstdirected to local municipalities and district communities asan informative material and an analyse tool . The main taskof the guide regarding local municipalities is to conveynowadays expectations in urban public space and providean analyse method to help prepare better master planassignments when the discussed area constitutes greaterpublic interest. The main task of the guide regardingdistrict communities is to provide know-how about publicspaces to be more successful when envisioning theirneighbourhood future and participating in a master planprocess.

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Public life in public spaces includes multiple disciplines andis therefore complex . Yet the guide lies on the assumptionthat in today’s European democratic context the frameworkof urban public space (UPS) has many universalcharacteristics. Jan Gehl, one of the spokesman of publicspace, divides activities in public space into necessary andoptional activities . A walk on the street to get from home towork is a necessary activity . A spontaneous walk in a parkon a sunny day is an optional activity . According to Gehloptional activities depend to a great deal on the qualitativecharacteristics of the space.1 The measure is a humanbeing, his sensations and social behaviour , his basic urbanbehaviour. In urban context his basic expectations arecertain spatial and aesthetic qualities and access to thesurrounding functions. The argument of the project is thatthese characteristics and basic needs can be described inevery urban setting .

The guide consists of three main parts . The first partprovides an insight to the main aspects , possibilities andrestrictions embedded in the phenomenon of UPS. Due tothe complexity of the subject and relatively late discussionof UPS in Estonia , the vocabulary and understanding ofUPS is currently deficient . The project seeks to put forwardan educational role and fill the gap by providingcomprehensive overview of the main issues .

The second part of the work suggests a universal model ofUPS and an analyse tool . The tool is a table of pointingquestions that are considered essential and should beasked when the guide is used to analyse a certain site . Thestructural model of UPS provides additional understandingabout the subject by systematic visual organisation , andhelps to organise questions asked for each sub-category ofthe system. The proposed structure intends to followsimple logic, there are as many categories as foundnecessary and as few as possible .

The table of questions heads to unveil the characteristicsof a place and point to spatial situations that should beavoided. Questions about actors, users, functions andqualities of UPS are asked . The guide aims to cover allimportant aspects and yet avoid making an encirclingsystem and being too suggestive . The reader is urged toask questions that may be missing but are relevant inspecific cases. The guide has a pointing nature and doesnot suggest concrete solutions .

It has been considered that some aspects of UPS are not"designable" by a municipality or a community and areincluded only in the informing part of the work as anecessary background. Directing political activity or solvingbroader social problems is not the ambition of the guide .

The third part of the project holds three case studies inorder to test the second part of the work - the model andthe questions . To be more comprehensive , sites of adifferent nature were selected . Feedback of the casestudies was used to supplement second part of the work .Case studies also demonstrate what kind of data can befound and how it could be used .

1 Jan Gehl (2011) "Life Between Buildings ." Island Press, London (p9)

Abstract

8 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION CONTENTS 9

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSABSTRACTCONTENTSBACKGROUND OF THE PROJECTMETHODOLOGYTHE GUIDE, FOR WHOM IS IT AND HOW TO USE IT

TIME ASPECT:INTRODUCTIONSEASONS AND CLIMATEPUBLIC LIFE AND THE RHYTHMS OF USEURBAN PUBLIC SPACE AND TEMPORARY USE

A MODEL OF URBAN PUBLIC SPACEA TABLE OF QUESTIONS

A SUBURB IN VIIMSITHE TARTU NEW CENTERVANA-KALAMAJA STREET

PROJECT PROCESSREFERENCES

SPATIAL ASPECT: IMPORTANCE FREEDOM TO MOVEHUMAN BEHAVIOUREQUAL SPATIAL RIGHTS FORPEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES

SOCIAL ASPECT: IMPORTANCETHE INCLUSIVE ROLESAFETY ISSUESPROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING

POLITICAL ASPECT:INTRODUCTIONTHE POWER OF PUBLIC SPACEDEMOCRATISATION OF URBAN SPACESURBAN PUBLIC SPACE AND POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

PARTICIPATORY PLANNING

ECONOMIC ASPECT:IMPORTANCEECONOMIC BENEFITSSMALL BUSINESSES VS HYPERMARKETSEXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC FORCES. THE MEDIEVAL TALLINN,SOLD OUT!

LEGAL ASPECT:INTRODUCTIONOWNERSHIP: PUBLIC AND PRIVATESEMI-PUBLIC AND SEMI-PRIVATEPUBLIC-PRIVATE-PARTNERSHIP

Introduction00

01Informing part.

Embedded aspects of urban public space

02Analyse

03Testing Part 2 - Case studies

00Endnotes

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Contents

10 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT 11

Street is a central unit in urban public space . In the Estoniaof 2013 the street is still regarded as a technologicalinfrastructure and not a 21st century social space .Hundreds of kilometres of city streets are reconstructedaccording to outdated regulations . Vehicle tracks haveexcessive width, the scarce space left for pedestrians isseparated by wasteful steel barriers with no regard to thespecifics of the area. Cluttered street signs, double- andtriple paired traffic lights on the crossings are signs of anover-regulation. Development plans for the light trafficroads, street furniture design , public park refreshments areoften prepared separately , without a vision and withoutpublic debate. Besides municipalities , the main subscribersof road projects , also the general public is not aware of thealternative possibilities and therefore does not speak out.

With the emergence of the citizen society , organisednetworks of people are thriving for a change . The will tospeak for the developments of the ones in theneighbourhood is on the rise. Some district communitieslike Supilinna Selts in Tartu, Uus-Maailm and Telliskivi inTallinn have already been established and are makingprogress in envisioning their neighbourhood 's future .

As communities are usually run by a few people who haveknowledge in city planning and jurisdiction , and are able toconvey local interests , there is still a lot to do in informingcommunity members, local authorities and investors aboutthe possibilities of urban public space and the benefits ofparticipatory planning.

As the new expectations rise, there is a lack of clarity aboutthe phenomenon of public space . What exactly is publicspace, where does it start and where does it end, how doesit influence everyone’s life, is it self -organising or can we"design" public life? The current thesis project aims toprovide a basis for the subject and an analyse tool to seekanswers.

Around 2005, I noticed a certain tendency in "magazinearchitecture" worldwide. Public stairs and rampsincorporated into architectural form, sloping up and down,these spectacular architectural crescendos were breakingout from the inside of the buildings . Since the proposals ofarchitectural competitions started to follow this trend inEstonia, I have questioned myself , what is thisphenomenon? Soon I realised this trend being part of abroader popularisation of urban public space, in this caseincorporated into architectural language .

My recognition was supported by simultaneous discussionsthat popped up more and more frequently in the Estonianprofessional periodicals dealing with urbanity . Thesediscussions were initiated mostly by architects , planners,urbanists and landscape architects . In recent years thesediscussions have entered into the wider public debate ,greatly in hand with the development of citizen society . Myconclusion is that the debate in Estonia hence has bothglobal and local reasons .

The local backdrop goes back to 1991, when Estoniaregained it’s independence . The following decadeschanged urban life rapidly . The process of privatizationand steady economic growth significantly influenced thecityscape. New layers of buildings and infrastructuretransformed the spatial qualities of it’s cities . A jump intocapitalism and liberal politics quickly set private interestahead of public . Everyday life became very car-centered,many development sites in the cities strategic positionsmoved into private hands where quick -profit was expected .Professionals working with urbanity have been worriedabout the disproportional attention to the development ofpublic domain. The development of urban space has beentoo investor -centered, planning processes include publicvoice only in a very formal way. The local municipality isstill criticised for insufficient protection of the publicinterest, the public space .

Backgroundof the project

12 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY 13

Urban public space (UPS) is a subject of many researchprojects in multiple disciplines . As there is a lot of materialavailable, I asked myself about the main aspectsembedded in the subject to frame my research . I ended upwith six main aspects : spatial, social, economic, political,legal and time aspect . Throughout the studies , I firstavoided looking into the schemes proposing a frameworkof UPS. Based on my readings I designed my own versionof a framework for UPS and then looked up the existingmaterials to find approval or alternatives . The materials Ifound helped me to rethink and alter my main diagrams -the structured model of UPS. Based on the createdcategories I wrote a list of questions about the factors thatdetermine the character of public space . These questionsand categories were tested during the case studies in thethree very different sites (see Project Process ).

The second part of the thesis project - a structured modelof UPS was designed with two methods in mind . In anacademic respect these two can be called methods withreservations, but need to be pointed out as directinfluences.

Just as writing is a tool to shape and arrange thoughts ,drawing too is a tool to shape and arrange spatialthoughts. When facing complexity of a work , a systematicvisual approach can be helpful .

Alexander Osterwalders "Business Model Canvas" is astrategic management template for developing a new ordocumenting the existing business models .1 It is a visualchart with elements describing a firm's value proposition ,infrastructure, customers and finances . It assists firms inaligning their activities by illustrating potential trade-offs.Basically a tool to analyse business , it uses visualorganisation of carefully chosen priority categories toprovide understanding of a firm and its aims .

1 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Model_Canvas), accessed 18.05.20132 Michael A.McAdams (no data) "Complexity Theory and Urban Planning ."Fatih University , Istanbul (p10)3 Ibid. (p9)

A structured model of UPS proposed in the project uses thesame principle , in addition to the questions it provides anunderstanding about the subject by systematic visualorganisation. Such categorisation was also helpful whenworking out the list of questions , specific questions arederived from sub-categories. The other method is based on the Complexity Theoryand it’s use in urban planning . In his work "ComplexityTheory and Urban Planning ", Dr. Michael A. McAdamscriticises the linear aspect and the static nature of longrange planning , static zoning and traditional top-downplanning that are in direct opposition to the dynamic natureof urbanisation .2 The theory suggests methods for urbanplanning. One of them is an agent or actor based planning ,it includes individuals , organisations and phenomenon’sthat influence real-time urban developments . In a way itdescribes a type of dynamic participatory planning :

"Urban planning can easily be framed within the context ofcomplexity metaphors. There are agents , be theypoliticians, urban planners , developers, citizens,government officials etc. Agents could also force eithernatural or man-made such as technology , weather, buttechnology is not divorced from humans , as they arehuman creations. Likewise, they may be framed asenvironments depending on the jurisdictional constraints ."3

The analyse part of the thesis project questioned what arethe determinant variables that could be addressed andmanaged by a municipality or a community when makingurban plans. The project included the metaphor of actors ,a field abstract enough to be given different meaningsrelevant in a specific case . It became clear to me that whenplanning a change in a public context , interests of involvedactors are of a high priority when these plans are facingrealisation. The importance of these actors and theirmutual collaboration needs to be emphasised .

Methodology

14 INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION THE GUIDE , FOR WHOM IS IT AND HOW TO USE IT 15

The guide is at first directed to municipalities and districtcommunities in Estonia to be used as an informativematerial and an analysing tool of an area.

The main task of the guide regarding district communitiesis to provide them with know-how about public spaces , sothat they can be more successful when envisioning thefuture of their neighbourhood and participating in a masterplan process. The guide offers a method to map theexisting values and deficiencies of their neighbourhood , ithelps to envision and enhance their everyday environment .Referring to reoccurring spatial inconveniences andavailable spatial potentials , it encourages creative micro-scale intervention . The guide calls to discuss about thearea's connectivity to important public indoor functions .Information about the desired neighbourhood functionscan be addressed to the local municipality to beconsidered in a master plans process and when handingout business licences . With such information strongcommunities could also start to attract investors or agreeto make collective investments together .

Directed also to municipalities , the guide aims to bring upthe importance of urban public spaces and provide anupdate of today’s expectations for urban open space .

It is a task of a municipality to envision futuredevelopments by making strategies and other planningdocuments. In the situation where many Estonianmunicipalities make spatial decisions without aprofessional architect among the personnel , the task ofpreparing master plans is delegated to planners chosen byinvestors, and public debates are inclusive only formally , itis important to stress public interests by independentparties and cultivate participatory planning .

The architecture and planning department of a municipalitycan use the guide and its analyse method to map areasand deliver more rigorous assignments for other partiescomposing master plans. The information provided canalso help to assess submitted master plans and influentialbuilding projects. For example , the new Tartu centrepresented in the third part of the thesis project is wellknown for it`s "broken" public space. Realisations of recentmaster plans have proved the planners inability to improvethe quality of open public space and the municipalitiesinsufficient assessment of the proposed solutions .

A contemporary street standard needs to be addressed tothe transportation department of a municipality . Currentlyprevailing car-centrist culture needs to be balanced byimproving conditions for pedestrians , cyclists and publictransportation. Until the old standards are used , it isimportant to stress finer mutual collaboration betweendifferent departments of a municipality .

The guide, for whom it isand how to use it

16 PART 1

PART 1 17

Informing part. Embedded aspects of urban public space.

Part 01

Urban public space is a space inbetween buildings physically accessiblefor everyone .

"At their best , public spaces act like a self -organising public service ; just as hospitalsand schools provide a shared resource toimprove people’s quality of life, public spacesform a shared spatial resource from whichexperiences and value are created in waysthat are not possible in our private livesalone."

Melissa Mean, Charlie Tims (2005) "People Make Spaces : Growingthe Public Life of Cities ." Demos, London (p9)

18 SPATIAL ASPECT PART 1

IMPORTANCE

FREEDOM TO MOVE

WALKING

A modernist dream - a lot ofspace filled with air

Tightenedpublic space

1 Jan Gehl (2011) "Life Between Buildings ." Island Press, London (p31)2 Ibid. (p133)3 Ibid. (p137)4 Ibid. (p141)

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OBSTRUCTIONS

SPATIALA S P E C T

Cluttered street inventory

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A great public space is easy to access and move through.

Dull and long facades lacking details make the walk feel unattractive,whereas narrow facades with many windows and doors narrate our pass

making the scenery lively.

The extent and character of activities taking place in urban public space (UPS) are greatly influenced by physicalplanning. Spatial decisions are directly related to user-friendliness and use patterns of an area. Better or worse conditionsfor outdoor events result in more or less lively urban environment.1

User-friendliness is not only physical and aesthetic conditions. In any given urban situation: walking on a street, lookingfor a place to sit down and rest, or standing on the corner of a building and talking to a friend, we share common humanbehaviour as social beings. For successful planning decisions we have to consider our psychology. The field of operationis socio-spatial. Senses shape our urban experience: how we see and hear, in what spatial conditions we feel comfortable and safe.Senses also shape behaviour - what distances we are willing to walk in everyday situations, have the spatial decisionsconsidered climatic conditions - sun, rain and snow. These issues can be described as basic needs - freedom to move,human scale environment and equal spatial rights concerning traffic. The reason why it is so difficult to plan great UPS is the multiple origin of these decisions. Urban reality is a sum ofmany decisions made by street engineers, city designers, a number of local municipality departments, property owners,architects and landscape designers, etc. To create successful urban places we need to develop better wide-basedplanning practice and cultivate decisive participation on the level of real users. As streets are central in UPS discussion,many of these issues should be addressed in a street design guide. In Estonia street planning is officially still regulatednarrowly in technical terms - it is regarded as a technical planning not as a welcoming-card of the city, a space of socialurban experience.

The rights to use public space and have a sense of control within it are basic and overarching requirements. A great urbanpublic space is easy to access and move through for the young and elderly, people with walking disabilities, for peoplewith baby prams and cyclists. Vehicle and pedestrian traffic has to be planned in a democratic way with an insight to theweaker side - the pedestrian. Convenient use of cityscape also means good access to, and thoroughly planned publictransport system. UPS should be accessible both visually and physically, from a distance and up close.

"Walking is first and foremost a type of transportation, a way to get around, but it also provides an informal anduncomplicated possibility for being present in the public environment. ...The act of walking is often a necessary act butcan also merely be an excuse for being present - 'I will just walk by." 2

It is well known that whenever people walk, they prefer direct routes and short-cuts. Only very great obstacles, likedangerous traffic, extensive barriers, and so on, are able to interrupt this pattern. This behaviour is supported bynumerous surveys that have resulted in theories like Space Syntax Analysis. According to numerous surveys, theacceptable walking distance for most people in ordinary daily situations has been found to be around 400 to 500 meters.For children, old people and disabled people, it is often considerably less. Acceptable walking distances are an interplaybetween the length of the street and the quality of the route, both with regard to protection and stimulation. Theacceptable walking distance is an important factor in planning the distribution of both indoor functions and open spaceactivities.3

"One of the most important demands on a well-functioning pedestrian system is to organize pedestrian movement tofollow the shortest distance between the natural destinations within an area. When the problems of the main traffic layoutare solved, however, it becomes important to place and design the individual links in the network so that the entire systembecomes highly attractive." 4

Studies on human behaviour in urban spaces also point out the importance of spatial sequences that happen during aroute. Dull and long facades lacking details make the walk feel unattractive, whereas narrow facades with many windowsand doors narrate our pass making the scenery lively.Sequences and contrasts between small and large refine our spatial experience. The experience of town hall square inmany medieval cities is so powerful due to the fact that the streets leading there are usually very narrow.

When analysing an existing urban space, we should not only focus on the building masses but also on the small-scalespatial elements that fill our streets, squares and parks. Street lights and signs, trash bins, fences and other barriers,benches, bushes, trees etc. These are all necessary elements but we should always question the way they are organised.All these utilities we encounter moving through cityscape can also be potential obstructions that cause annoying detours.In a city centre we have all experienced cluttered street inventory that makes our walk rather like a hurdle race. Almostevery city has inconsiderate situations like narrow side-walks split by street lighting posts.

PART 1 SPATIAL ASPECT 19

LEVEL DIFFERENCES

HUMAN BEHAVIOURSTAYING 6

5 Jan Gehl (2011) "Life Between Buildings ." Island Press, London (pp98,167)6 Ibid. (p147)7 Christopher Alexander (1977) "A Pattern Language " (p600)8 Jan Gehl (2011) "Life Between Buildings ." Island Press, London (pp155-162)

SITTING 8

The edge effect - the edges are preferred zones for staying, while the openplains are not used until the edge zones are occupied.

Urban seats that offer a good micro-climate and encourage socialcontacts.

Sitting is of a particular importance for public space because it allows stays of any duration. The existence of goodopportunities for sitting enables multiple activities: eating, reading, playing, sunbathing, watching people, talking etc.According to Jan Gehl a simple mean to improve quality of outdoor spaces is to create more and better opportunities forsitting. Sitting activities in general take place only when climatic, spatial, and other essential conditions are favourable. Sittinglocations are chosen far more carefully than are locations for standing. Places for sitting along facades and spacialboundaries are preferred to sitting areas in the middle of a space. Sitting places in niches, at the end of benches, or atother well-defined spots where ones back is protected are preferred to less precisely defined places. Choosing a right place for seating must be thoroughly planned, both spatial and functional qualities of the location haveto be considered. Observations have proved that people prefer seats with an individual local quality such as a good-viewor a good micro-climate. Psychological comfort is important and therefore a niche, a corner, or a place that protects one’sback are popular. The placement of seats allows to programme the social scene, seats can be separated for privacy or becombined to encourage dialogue.

Seeing, hearing and talking seem to be arbitrary when discussing the framework of public space, still these sensoryabilities determine our active field of space. These communicative senses work within a range of distance. It is thereforeoften appropriate to dimension large public spaces so that the borders of the space correspond to the limits of the socialfield of vision. Jan Gehl`s book "Life Between Buildings" provides a comprehensive overview of human senses and spatialcontext: "One can see others and perceive that they are people at distance from 0,5-1 kilometre, depending on factors such asbackground and lighting. At approximately 100 meters, figures that can be seen at greater distances become humanindividuals. It is hardly a coincidence that the length and width of of most Southern European medieval city squares arenear to or below this figure. At a distance of between 70 and 100 meters, it begins to be possible to determine withreasonable certainty a person’s sex, approximate age, and what the person is doing. At a distance of approximately 30meters, facial features, hairstyle, and age can be seen and people met only infrequently can be recognised. When thedistance is reduced to 20 to 25 meters, most people can perceive relatively clearly the feeling and moods of others.

SEEING

As social beings people like to observe others,street sight lines play a role.

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Visually and physically detached functions mostly fail.

Stroller trouble on stairs.

SPATIALA S P E C T

Urban landscape like any other landscape is not flat; bumps and hills, streets that go up and down can equally enrich anddegrade our urban experience. Level differences are both interesting possibilities and physiological obstacles. When leveldifference occurs, we have to consider all possible users from children to people with walking disabilities, or people usingbikes. When stairs are used it should be considered that a link in the network of places will not be cut off for some users.Excluding baby prams, cyclists and elderly because of missing or uncomfortable connection can result in keeping asignificant user segment away from a larger territory. The moral is not that ramps are better than stairs or every stairshould be coupled with a ramp, but in the big picture of a concrete area the connective network should be inclusive. A typical street has pedestrian side-walks that are raised higher for safety reasons. Raised side-walks are not oftenlowered at street crossings because of out-of-date street planning, making it complicated and annoying to pass with a babypram, on a bicycle or wheelchair. It can again result in a situation where specific users start to avoid these poor streets.When enhancing street design, an elementary first step to do is lowering the side-walks where other paths depart orstreets cross. In areas of low traffic rate an increasingly popular shared street concept can be considered. Another level difference issue is related to our ability to create social contacts. Such ability has clear spatial limitation.This issue is relevant mostly in the phase of city planning but also when deciding to add or rearrange functions of a street.According to Jan Gehl studies, the vertical meaningful contact field is between ground level and five stories (3-meterstorey). A level difference up to two stories (6-meters) provides a good social contact with the surrounding events, overthree stories this ability decreases. Above fifth floor the connection with ground level and the street are definitely out oftouch. In principle activities should not be assembled above one another on different levels. According to Jan Gehl studies,functions located 50 to 100 meters from one another along a street interrelate more readily than functions placed just 3meters over or under one another.5

Standing demonstrates very clearly some important behavioural patterns characteristic to a large number of stationaryactivities in public spaces. It is important, naturally, to be able to stand in public spaces, but the key word is staying. Whena stop lasts longer, people start to demand a certain quality from a place to stand. A Dutch sociologist Derk De Jonge has pinned the term "edge effect". Edge effect happens when people are positioningthemselves in a concrete space, a thumb-rule is that they prefer places around the epicentre of a space. The edges oftrees, buildings or other clearings are preferred zones for staying, while open plains are not used until the edge zones areoccupied. The reasons for this are to keep psychologically safe distance from others and to have the best opportunity forsurveying the epicentre of the space and other users. The edge effect is best seen in city squares, where people tend tooccupy the edges of the buildings and other spacial units that shape the square. In a book "A Pattern Language",Christopher Alexander summarizes the experiences regarding the edge effect and edge zones in public spaces: "If theedge fails, then the space never becomes lively."7

20 SPATIAL ASPECT PART 1

9 Jan Gehl (2011) "Life Between Buildings ." Island Press, London (pp63-65,163-167)10 Ibid. (p64)11 Ibid. (p166-167)12 CABE Space (2004) "The Value of Public Space ." CABE Space, London (p14)13 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_space), accessed 17.05.2013

...Possibilities for seeing are also a question of overview and field of vision withoutobstructions. These questions include the adequate light on the areas or objects to be seen.Where public spaces have to function in periods of darkness, lighting is crucial. Lighting ofthe socially relevant subjects is particularly important: lighting of people and faces. Better lighting does not necessarily mean brighter light. It means an adequately brightlevel of lighting directed or reflected toward the vertical surfaces - faces, walls, street signs,mailboxes, and so forth - in contrast to the lighting of traffic streets. Better light also meanswarm and friendly light. Today led-technologies offer us the possibility to freely play with thecolour of light, it offers an opportunity for variation but should be considered thoroughly - itcan easily result in visual noise." 9

To be able to plan sociable urban environment, basic knowledge about the functional range of hearing is necessary. JanGehl points to the following principles. "Within distances of up to 7 meters, the ear is quite effective. It is possible to hold conversations with relatively littledifficulty up to this distance. At distances up to approximately 35 meters, it is still possible to hear others speaking andestablish a question-answer situation, but it is not possible to engage in actual conversations. Beyond 35 meters, theability to hear others is greatly reduced. It is possible to hear people who shout loudly but difficult to hear what is beingshouted." 10

Depending on the concrete street layout and its usage, the noise levels on a pedestrian-only street are usually steadilyaround 50 decibels, ranging from 40 to 60 decibels. Around 50-60 decibels it is possible to hold conversations, even lowerlevels - around 45-50 allow to hear soft sounds. On a mixed vehicle-pedestrian city street the average is around 65decibels, the noise level is dynamic and ranges from 50 to 80 decibels. In this situation it is nearly impossible to haveordinary conversations even in a personal distance.11

HEARING

Often pedestrian and traffic roads are lit by 12+ meter heigh light posts.Human scale lights do make a difference for pedestrians.

Saying hello to the street caretaker used to be a norm. Unfortunately manyare willing to trade the social aspect for efficiency and noise.

EQUAL SPATIAL RIGHTS FOR PEDESTRIANS AND VEHICLES

Street-life in London in 1906 and around 1970. The social role of the street isreplaced with narrow pedestrian paths.

QUESTION"We’re planning to move from a small villageto Tallinn. Please tell me where are the safeareas for children to play in Tallinn? As acriteria of safety first of all I mean thatchildren can play on streets where there isno busy traffic. Thank you."

"Shared Space is a EU-wide urban design approach which seeks to minimise demarcations between vehicle traffic andpedestrians, often by removing features such as curbs, road surface markings, traffic signs, and regulations. The goal of Shared pace is to improve the road safety and vitality of minor roads and junctions within the streethierarchy, particularly ones with high levels of pedestrian traffic by encouraging negotiation of shared areas betweendifferent road users. Shared Space minimises demarcations between vehicles and pedestrians. Thereby, according tosome authorities including the UK Government, reduces the dominance of motor vehicles and enable all users to sharethe space. First proposed in 1991, the term is now strongly associated to the work of Hans Monderman who suggested that anindividuals behaviour in traffic is more positively affected by the built environment of the public space than by conventionaltraffic control devices and regulations. By creating a greater sense of uncertainty and making it unclear who had right ofway, drivers reduce their speed, and everyone reduces their level of risk compensation. The perception of risk may be ameans or even a prerequisite for increasing objective safety. When a situation feels unsafe, people are more alert andthere are fewer accidents. Monderman quotes "When you don't exactly know who has right of way, you tend to seek eye contact with other roadusers. You automatically reduce your speed, you have contact with other people and you take greater care. We're losingour capacity for socially responsible behaviour... The greater the number of prescriptions, the more people's sense ofpersonal responsibility dwindles. The introduction of such schemes has had positive effect on road safety, traffic volume, economic vitality, andcommunity cohesion where a user's behaviour becomes influenced and controlled by natural human interactions ratherthan by artificial regulation. This design method is however bitterly opposed by many organisations representing the blind,partially sighted and deaf who prefer a clear separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Supporters of Shared Spacepropose the use of street furniture, vegetation and a different road cover material to meet their needs." 13

SHARED SPACE 13

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ANSWER"I don’t know from what village you come frombut here in Tallinn streets are for driving.There are playgrounds for children to play!"

A post in a web-forum for families, 2010

One of the fundamental functions of public space is that it allows us to move around - on foot, by bicycle, by car,motorbike or public transport. The pedestrian and vehicle traffic has been for a long time inclined towards the dominanceof vehicle transport. Well-designed streets and public spaces encourage walking and cycling, and have the power to makeour environment a safer one by reducing car speeds and use. A thoroughly planned public transport system is crucial.12

From the second half of 20th century life on streets has degraded due to increased vehicle traffic turnover. Sincethecarbecame a common commodity for everyone, a great majority of street s were customised for cars, roads became wider,recreational lands were turned into parking spaces, and all that was done largely at the expense of pedestrians. Narrowside-walks, noise, polluted air, physical barriers and detours at the service of safety regulations have been norms forpedestrians. For a long time it was considered inevitable but from the 1960`s and onwards there has been a growinginterest to "reclaim" the streets, claim equal spatial rights for cars and pedestrians. The following will introduce street concepts practised occasionally around the world but due to inertia still considerednew. These examples demonstrate the benefits of shared streets for cars and pedestrians. Schemes of similar logic areused in the Netherlands (Woonerf), the United States (Complete Street), the United Kingdom (Home Zone), Australia andNew Zealand (Shared Zone). In Europe the term "Shared Space" is most common.

PART 1 SPATIAL ASPECT 21

"A Home Zone is a living street (or group of streets) as implemented in the United Kingdom, which are designed primarilyto meet the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, children and residents and where the speeds and dominance of the cars isreduced. Home Zone street is not strongly divided into exclusive pedestrian and traffic areas, encouraging children's playand free movement through the spaces. Home Zones have a very good safety record, but are not primarily designed asroad safety schemes. Home Zones are encouraged by the UK Government as part of new residential areas. Residents are consulted by thelocal Traffic Authority on the precise uses that can take place on the street (specified through a 'Use Order') and theappropriate speed of traffic on the street (specified through a 'Speed Order') before the Home Zone can be legallydesignated and signed. Concerns have been expressed over the inability of blind and partially sighted people to use Home Zone streets.Providing a clear route for pedestrians that is kept free of traffic, by using street furniture for example, is one way ofmeeting the needs of the visually impaired. Well-designed Home Zones often include features such as benches, tablesand play equipment to encourage social interaction. Street trees and areas of planting, ideally maintained by residents,will often feature. On-street parking also forms part of the layout in most schemes. Traffic speeds are kept low - with atypical target speed being around 20 km/h (10-15 mph) - through the overall design of the street and features such assharp changes of direction for traffic and narrowings where only one motor vehicle can pass at a time. Traditional trafficcalming features such as road humps can also be used, but should be integrated into the design rather than being addedas an engineered afterthought. Examples of UK practice include Staiths South Bank in Gateshead, which at over 600 homes was the largest new-buildHome Zone development in the UK at the time it received planning consent. Most contemporary UK schemes haveinvolved public realm works to existing streets in older Victorian housing areas, often to meet regeneration or trafficcalming objectives."

In 2007 a German town Bohmte decided to transform the streets according to the shared space idea. Officials wanted totest the theory that the 13,000 drivers who use the town every day would take extra care and show each other greaterconsideration if they were not told what to do. They secured a 2,1 million Euro grant from the European Unionto set up the scheme. The town banned traffic lights and warning signs, including those instructing drivers to give way or stop. Only two rulesremained – drivers cannot go above 30 km/h, the German speed limit for city driving, and everyone has to yield to theright, regardless of whether it is a car, a bike or a mother with a pushchair. Since shared space was started the town of Bohmte is saving near 6000 Euros a month replacing and repairing signsdamaged through normal wear and tear or by vandals. Comparing the total number of traffic accidents 3 years before and after the scheme, there is a 46% decrease. Theproportion of accidents including personal damage have decreased to 8,7%.

Shared space approach has been applied also to busierroads. Exhibition Road in Kensington , London.

A SHARED SPACE TOWN IN GERMANY 14

HOME ZONE 15

"A Woonerf (literally translates as 'living yard') is a living street where pedestrians and cyclists have legal priority overmotorists as implemented in the Netherlands and in Flanders. Techniques include shared space, traffic calming, and lowspeed limits. Under Article 44 of the Dutch traffic code, motorised traffic in a Woonerf or 'recreation area' is restricted towalking pace. Woonerf streets started to appear in the Netherlands already in the 1970s. "In 1999 the Netherlands had over 6000Woonerfs. In 2006 it was reported that people of Hesselterbrink were disillusioned about how the Woonerf principle hadbecome another traffic engineering measure that 'entailed precious little more than signs and uniform standards'. Theyhave now encompassed the shared space principles as a way of rethinking the Woonerf. They are reported to 'now knowthat car drivers should become residents. Eye contact and human interaction are more effective means to achieve andmaintain attractive and safe areas than signs and rules. Today around 2 million Dutch people are living in Woonerfs. The benefits of the Woonerf are promoted by'Woonerfgoed', a network of professionals and residents."

Shared Space in the town of Bohmte.

WOONERF 16

14 Wolfgang Bode (2009) "Verkehrsuntersuchung in der Gemeinde Bohmte unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Wirkungen des Shared Space Bereiches ." Auftraggeber: Gemeinde Bohmte. Osnabrück15 CABE Space (2004) "The Value of Public Space ." CABE Space, London (p14)16 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_space), accessed 17.05.2013

Home Zone residential street in England.

The Dutch Woonerf.

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22 SOCIAL ASPECT PART 1

Social aspect cannot be overestimated when discussing public spaces, sociability is a prerequisite for such phenomenonto take place at all. In the 21st century the role of cities, towns and villages is changing. Urban city centers are no longer the only places forthe exhange of goods, services and information. Decentralised urban developments and Internet allow people to enjoyqualities that were once present only in the centers. Today urban and rural places are expected to fulfil deeper humanneeds, social interaction and the expression of civic beliefs. Sociability is based on peoples need to affirm and interact with others. Such affiliation involves people participating in asupportive social system to receive psychological comfort. Once people satisfy their basic needs, such as survival andsecurity, they feel the need to belong and become member of a group or set of groups, which will provide affection,support and identity for them.2

Shared Space, a European co-operation project that aims to develop public space policy at the European level,describes social implications for public space in the following sections. "Public spaces form the heart of society. They are areas where you stay, where you meet others, where you observe,where you undertake something with or without others, where you relax, where you become familiar and part of the livingenvironment. Staying in a public space enables us to remain up to date with the world and the environment in which we live or stay.Public spaces also enable you to look at what people are saying about themselves - in the way in which they presentthemselves or in the way they design and modify their own spaces, their house or their garden. The layout of the publicspace tells us what society looks like, who forms part of it, how people deal with each other and what they considerimportant. It is a window on and a mirror of society." 3

According to William H. Whyte, a long-term researcher on human behaviour in urban settings, "The social life in publicspaces contributes to the quality of life of individuals and society in a such fundamental way that we have a moralresponsibility to create physical places that facilitate civic engagement and community interaction." 4

“What attracts people most,it would appear , is other people .” 1

William H. Whyte

THE INCLUSIVE ROLE

The project is part of an urban improvement plan coordinated by the City ofCopenhagen in a partnership with private association Realdania. The park isintended to celebrate diversity. Filled with objects from around the globe, it isdesigned as a kind of world exposition for the local inhabitants, covering over50 nationalities, who have been able to contribute their own ideas andartefacts to the project.6

Superkilen (2012) Nørrebro, CopenhagenAuthors - Superflex, BIG, Topotek1

1 William H. Whyte (1980) "The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces ." (p19)2 Jon Lang (1994) "Urban Design: The American Experience ." John Wiley & Sons, New York (p252)3 Shared Space, A European co-operation project (2005) "Shared Space: Room for Everyone : A New Vision for Public Spaces ." (p9)4 William H. Whyte (www.pps.org/reference/wwhyte/), accessed 22.05.20135 William H. Whyte (1988) "City: Rediscovering the Center." Doubleday, New York (p335)6 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superkilen), accessed 17.05.2013

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In European context we understand inclusion in a democratic way - a call for everyone regardless of ethnic origin, age orgender, social or economic position. For everyday users who form the local community, public spaces function as a social hub. Whether chatting over thegarden fence, meeting in the local market, park or playground, these situations create an opportunity for small, personalinteractions that reveal the local tendencies. These tendencies sooner or later become established as a local identity. The same happens on a larger scale. In a city, icounty, or a state, public spaces can bring people from different agesand cultures together and help to create a sense of local identity. Public spaces are a medium where cultural codes arepractised and established. In these spaces we see a variety of behaviours and we render the norms of tolerance in thesociety. To follow the true democratic idea of inclusion, public spaces also have an adopting role. These spaces shouldencourage people with different backgrounds to blend in to the society and help them to find self-expression in the openpublic spaces. Different cultural groups might have different patterns in the ways they use parks and other public land.Depending on their ethnic or cultural background, they might have a radically different way of observing nature and usinga park. The ideas of adoption also apply to the "problematic" segment of people who happen to be hanging around in publicspaces because they have nowhere else in particular to go. It is quite possible to engage with such people to help themmeet their underlying needs or resolve their difficulties, thus diverting them from crime and antisocial behaviour. Besidesthe elementary homeless shelters for dining and accommodation, several successful projects across Europe have beendelivered. In Britain the magazine "Big Issue" is sold by homeless people as an alternative to begging, a project inRotterdam, Netherlands, recruited young people who were hanging arond and intimidating shoppers in a central streetand offered them a meeting place, support and activities in an adjacent building. The function of city's public spaces is to permit, and indeed to encourage the greatest possible number of meetings,encounters, challenges between various persons and groups, as it were a stage upon which drama of social life can beenacted, with the actors taking their turn, too, as spectators. William Whyte claims that the increases in private travel andelectronic communication, rather than turning us in on ourselves, have actually stimulated a greater need for face-to-facecontact. "We are, after all, a social and sociable species and we need affirmative interaction with other humans for ourhealth and well-being." 5

PART 1 SOCIAL ASPECT 23

Across Europe, obesity is a growing concern. In 2011 Business Insider International writes: "In recent weeks, Europe hasbegun to panic about a growing obesity problem. Hungary, a country that loves its cakes, has implemented a tax on fattyfood. Even Italy, long an example of the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, has seen a worrying trend amongst its rapidlyfattening youth. Perhaps they're still small fry compared to the US, but they're catching up." 6

There is growing concern about the health of the nation and particularly that of our children and young people.According to 2006 Eurostat statistics obesity rate in Europe is 15,5% of the population, among children 30%. In Estoniathere are 33,8% people overweight and 15% obese. This increase in obesity is linked to ever more motionless lifestylesand a reduction in outdoor activity. Evidence shows that adult patterns of exercise are set early on in life.7

A lack of exercise in childhood can lead to problems in adulthood, diabetes and heart diseases are typical in cases ofexcessive inactivity. Not only a concern of physical health, inactivity influences people`s mental well-being by increasingstess risk. Each year economy loses working hours and days due to stress-related employee absence. These problemsclearly need to be addessed and dealt with. Public open spaces can contribute to better health by encouraging us to walkmore, to play sport, or simply spend more leisure time outdoors. Access to good-quality, well-maintained public spacescan help to improve physical and mental health.8

UPS AND SAFETY ISSUES

`Different` use of urban space, parkour - the art of movement.

Disfavoured behaviour.

Repressive public control.

UPS, PROMOTING HEALTHY LIVING

1 Henry Shaftoe (2008) "Convivial Urban Spaces." Earthscan, London (p20)2 Ibid. (pp19-21)3 Ibid. (p19)4 Ibid. (p21)5 Ibid. (pp19,27)6 Adam Taylor (Business Insider International ) (2011) (http://www.businessinsider.com/fattest-countries-in-europe-obesity2011-9?op=1), accessed 20.04.20137 IASO (2006) "Obesity in the EU27" (www.iaso.org/site_media/uploads/Adult_EU_27_January_2012.pdf), accessed 22.05.20138 CABE Space (2004)"The Value of Public Space ." CABE Space, London (p6)

Attractive urban design encourages peopleto spend more time on foot and bikes.

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The feeling of safety is a factor that can influence the use of urban public spaces to a great deal. Well-designed and -managed places seem safer and people tend to use them more, whereas we have all experienced desolate urban placesthat are so run down that people feel scared to use them. The disintegration of living public spaces and the gradualtransformation of the street areas into an area that is of no real interest to anyone is an important factor contributing tovandalism and crime on the streets. All-inclusive public space is and should be an ideal, in reality it is difficult to realise and we are continuously makingdecisions on behalf of some user groups. It is an ever-actual question of majority and minority. Homeless, drinkingyoungster groups and people exercising extreme urban sports like parkour are often disfavoured by some people. Forsome countries and cities the way to deal with it comprises schemes of various control measures. According to HenfryShaftoe, the outcome of this is a series of exclusionary initiatives ranging from legal controls, such as alcohol bans anddispersal orders, to increased video- and police surveillance. "At worst it can become an intrusive, humiliating andrepressive means for controlling excluded populations." 1 This policy is criticised as it does not deal with the actual causeof problem but with the aftermath. "In reality, there are very few career criminals; people who commit offences often do so out of boredom, frustration,desperation or as a by-product of a personal problem such as addiction, psychopathology or homelessness. ...Many'offenders' are bored young people who would engage in more legitimate pursuits if they were given the chance. Insteadof excluding undesirables and creating, in the process, an environment that is undesirable to everyone, our streets andtown centres could be made more attractive, in the hope that crime and antisocial behaviour will be 'crowded out' by therange of legitimate activities and the behavioural norms of the majority of law-abiding citizens. At the same time, it isimportant to engage with the minority who are displaying unwelcome or desperate behaviour - they may need help,diversion or intensive support." 2

"The argument in favour of inclusive public spaces goes considerably beyond a narrow focus on security to includehealth, well-being and even the very nature of ‘civilization’. Richard Sennett (1986) has argued that "people grow only bythe processes of encountering the unknown" and the best places to encounter difference and the unfamiliar are publicspaces, where all segments of society can cross paths, mingle and be observed. Without this observation andengagement with 'difference', Sennett claims in his book The Uses of Disorder (1973), we are in danger of becomingincreasingly prejudiced and narrow-minded, as we only choose the company of like-minded individuals in our cocooneddaily routines." 3

Henry Shaftoe argues that not all "shadowed" spaces are illegal and intolerable. As human beings, we are often lookingfor privacy also within the public sphere, it is normal that sometimes people do not want to be seen or heard by others.Efforts to sanitize and control every inch of public space risk with eliminating all screened areas. Harmless deviantactivities are valuable as the articulations of resistance to the status quo. The vitality of an urban space requires somedegree of human unpredictability.4

In a democratic society the sustainable way to handle the grey areas is citizens self-regulation. A civilized society istolerant towards homeless people, alcoholics, people receiving "care" in the community, and "tribes" of young people. Aslong as their presence is not causing a real threat to the safety of others, their citizenship and therefore a right to occupypublic spaces should be respected equally with everyone else. "The safest places are well-populated with both users andcasual passers-by who provide more "eyes on the street" to informally police public spaces (Jacobs 1961, Gehl 2003).When a society stops policing itself, it has failed. If everyone in a society can’t enjoy all the public spaces within a townthen it can’t police itself. In order to achieve that, we need a public realm … which is inclusive." 5

24 ECONOMIC ASPECT PART 1

UPS and economic benefits

Properties with good access to desirablepublic spaces are more valuable.

The famous Strøget street in Copenhagen. Since the pedestrianisation of thestreet footfall and business turnovers increased.

In 2006 the New Economics Foundation conducted a report in LondonQueens indoor/outdoor market. According to the report every 10 pounds($19) spent at the market generates an additional 25 pounds ($48) ineconomic activity. This compares with only an additional 14 pounds ($26.50)generated by a traditional supermarket. It also revealed that the local marketcreates twice as many jobs per square foot of retail space as nearbysupermarkets do.8

1 CABE Space (2004)"The Value of Public Space ." CABE Space, London (pp4-5)2 Ibid. (pp4-5)3 City of Toronto (1999) "Economic Benefits of Pedestrianisation for Toronto"4 Jan Gehl, Lars Gemzøe (1996) "Public Space-Public Life."Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts , Copenhagen (p51)5 CABE Space (2004)"The Value of Public Space ." CABE Space, London (pp4-5)6 Anna Semlyen (www.cuttingyourcaruse.co.uk/carbust37a.htm), accessed 20.05.20137 Ibid.8 Project for Public Spaces (www.pps.org/reference/measuring-the-impact-of-public-markets-and-farmers-markets-on-local-economies/), accessed 22.05.2013

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A S P E C TGenerally speaking, economic aspects influence the realmof UPS mainly in two ways. Firstly, overall national andregional economic capacity determines the financialpossibilities for UPS management and development, theliving standards of a society are projected to the urbanfabric. The financial ability is linked to the qualities present inbetween buildings: the condition of streets and buildings, theextent and quality of the physical elements concerned. Secondly, the effect that business-driven functions haveon public transit in a given area. Whether the services areused as a necessity or for leisure, these functions act asattractors that animate urban open spaces. Far from beingthe only and the most important factor, (business) functionsplay a role in generating activity in between buildings. Forexample, a dominant business area has vital public spacesbut in an extreme case it might also have additional effects,it becomes too mono-functional and exclusive, dispellingmore intimate social activity and excluding some usergroups. In case of a quiet residential district, basic publicfunctions are essential for the residents' well-being. Agrocery, a cafe or a hair-dresser inearby has an influentialeffect on the use of public spaces, open spaces are usedmore frequently and periodically. When the basic functionsare far away, the urban set favours commuter life-style andmakes it more challenging to have lively public spaces.

According to CABE, thegovernment’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space in England, a high-qualitypublic environment can have a significant impact on the economic life of urban centres, whether big or small, and istherefore an essential part of any successful regeneration strategy. As towns increasingly compete with each other toattract investment and to increase tax revenue, the existence of good parks, squares, gardens and other public spacesbecomes a vital business and marketing tool: companies are attracted to locations that offer well-designed, well-managedpublic places and these in turn attract customers, employees and services.1

In a booklet "The Value of Public Space" CABE states: "Redevelopment of high-quality public spaces aids theregeneration of an area, with commercial property prices increasing in those locations. Well-planned, well-managed publicspace has a positive impact on the price of nearby domestic properties. According to a study in Berlin in 2000, proximityto playgrounds in residential areas was found to increase land values by up to 16 per cent. In the same study, a highnumber of street trees resulted in an increase of 17 per cent in land values. In the towns of Emmen, Appledoorn andLeiden in the Netherlands, it has been shown that a gardens bordering water or proximity to water can boost the landprice approximately 10%." 2

The City of Toronto's report "Economic Benefits of Pedestrianisation Toronto" found out that pedestrian-orientated retailstreets can provide significant environmental improvements and increase local retail sales. Pedestrian traffic, otherwiseknown as "footfall", tends to increase dramatically after a pedestrian friendly area is created.3

When Strøget street in Copenhagen in Denmark was converted to pedestrian-only street in 1962, the following yearsproved pedestrian traffic increase 20-40%. The local business owners who in the beginning were sceptical about theconversion , had remarkably increased turnovers and some of them even started to claim the idea being theirs from thefirst place.4 According to CABE, local trade of the town of Coventry in England also benefited after transforming thecentre. The centre became much more attractive and footfall rose when pedestrianisation was improved, a new civicsquare was built, clearer signage and enhanced placement of street furniture was introduced.5

Successful regeneration projects world-wide explain such economic success with pleasant shopping experience, safety,improved air quality and low noise levels. According to Anna Semlyen far more pedestrianisation schemes have had apositive effect on retail turnover (49%) than a negative (2%).6 Based on Peter Newman she concludes: "Around the world,cities where people mostly walk, cycle or use public transit, have greater wealth (gross regional product per capita) thancities with heavy car use. Newman attributes the negative impact of heavy car use on city wealth to: (1) greater roadexpenditure, (2) greater percentage of wealth spent on commuting, (3) reduced transit cost recovery, (4) increasedtransportation deaths, and (5) increased pollution from vehicle emissions." 7

PART 1 ECONOMIC ASPECT 25

EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC FORCES. MEDIEVAL TALLINN - SOLD OUT!

SMALL BUSINESSES VS HYPERMARKETS

An experiment by city activist Kadri Klementi in 2009.Chairs, free to use and place.

9 Kadri Klementi , Martin Allik, Teele Pehk (2011) (www.epl.ee/news/kultuur/vana-linn-tahab-koju.d?id=51297955), accessed 23.05.201310 Kadri Klementi (2010) "The Street . The Present and Future of Tallinn Street -scape."Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn (p31)11 Tallinn Municipality (2013) "Tallinn in numbers 2012" (p155)

A typical hypermarket in Tallinn.

Public life on an ordinary day in Kalamaja 1972. The building to the left is asmall grocery shop. The same place in 2010. After a long struggle the shopto the left shut down.

The most prominent place of old Tallinn - the town hall square is a placewithout a single unpaid seat. To sit and rest one has to be a customer in oneof many cafes.

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Public life in open urban spaces needs users, functions and qualities. Among all possible functions, access to basic goodsand services is crucial. 22 years ago, when Estonia gained independence again and took off towards the possibilities of capitalism long dreamtof, the streets of Estonian city centres were quite lively dispersed with a variety of little businesses: groceries, shops fordairy products, clothing retails, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, hairdressers etc. Over the 22-year transformation, one of thetendencies has been the clusterisation of basic business functions. Suburban sprawl and increased car-use have easedthe development of super- and hypermarkets which have grown in size and number. The dominance that these centreshave due to the market forces crowded in numerous occasions off small businesses from the city centres and localdistricts. With less footfall in those areas, small businesses have been slowly disappearing. For example in Kalamaja, in asmall intact district of Tallinn, the emergence of rather peripheral supermarkets and car-centered life-style have pushedout once well-distributed small grocery stores. The same has happened in the historical centres of Tallinn and Tartu, thegrocery stores and retails are almost completely gone making the centres less valuable and usable for nearby residents. From the UPS point of view, these changes are controversial. Today there are far more activities happening in betweenbuildings, higher living standards have to some extent transferred to the spatial and aesthetic qualities present in urbanenvironment. At the same time the indoor economic functions have accumulated to fewer attractive places, leaving someareas with poor public life on the streets. The negative impacts of suburbanisation, car-centered life and clusterisation of some basic business functions are well-known. It is also well known that these problems were acknowledged already half a century ago in America and lateracross Europe. It is understandable that in the beginning of 1990`s a young nation like Estonia had other priorities thanpublic life, but with reason the Estonians can claim that there was a failure in inadequate socio-spatial and economicanalysis. Those issues should have been predicted and addressed. Today the business function clusterisation can be dealt with stricter planning rules. For example, Sweden practiceslimitations for both hypermarket location and floor area in relation to regional user pattern. To help small down-townbusinesses flourish again they need to adjust to new market needs, appropriate economic and spatial conditions.

For a long time the medieval part of Tallinn has been the centre of the city and the main orientation point. Listed in theUNESCO world heritage list, the old-Tallinn is a trademark of Estonia. Adorable architecture, human scale streets andbuildings, pedestrian-priviledged traffic and a green belt around the town make it a perfect setting for a lively public space.Every inhabitant of Tallinn is proud to present the old town to visitors but at the same time has mixed-feelings about it. With the beginning of the development of vigorous tourism, the locals have started to see the old town not as a perfectplace to go out and enjoy various activities but rather as an exclusive museum sold out for tourists. The famous quote"show me your city and I'll tell you who you are" is not relevant any more, the Old Town has long lost it’s meaning as amirror of local public life and is managed as straight- forward business model. Even though active tourist season lasts forhalf a year, the inertia of the (under)development tendencies has impoverished everyday public life. Souvenir shops,jewellery, entertainment, high-end bars and restaurants form the majority of functions the town has to offer. Even thoughthere are some cultural institutions and parks, the Old Town does not invite a greater variety of local users. A 1984 conference "The Old Town as a living environment" was engaged in controversial debate about what could thetown offer for children, how to manage the dictation of entertainment business, how to lessen the segment of unculturedtownspeople and visitors and how to encourage sport activities. Seems like these issues are as relevant as 30 years ago.A number of problems have sustained the "exclusive" image of the Old Town.9

Firstly, there has been an overall lack of political and local will to make a change. Secondly, the absence of truly publicplaces to sit down and enjoy the medieval settings. The Old Town operates exactly like a shopping-mall, there are just afew public seats available to attract only paying customers. The main plaza of the Old Town - the Town Hall Square hasnot a single public bench to sit down and enjoy the scenery. In 2009 an urbanist Kadri Klementi organised two experiments on the Town Hall Square, 9-10 simple coloured chairswere put out for people to place and use them as they wish. The chairs were popular and the experiment clearlyaddressed the lack of seats available.10

Thirdly, as the 1984.-year-conference stated, the functions and activities available cover a rather poor spectrum. This islinked to the fact that the number of local residents is very low, out of 3868 registered residents only a fragment is activelyliving there.11

Proposals to deal with these problems include support for local community, shared-space streets without raised narrowside-walk areas, city subsidies to support the new desired functions, more seats and active places for local families,licences for souvenir shops that currently sell items without local origin and therefore harm the true local identity. Thesemeasures will not endanger the beneficial tourism in any way and help to balance commercial and public interests.

26 LEGAL ASPECT PART 1

INTRODUCTION

SEMI-PUBLIC / SEMI-PRIVATE

In the public space discussion in general, the legal aspect is a concern that often includes conflicting interests. Questionsarise around the land ownership, the proportion of public property in a municipal unit, the private interests of the landowner vs public interests, the conflicting grey shades between the public and the private, both written and unwritten rightsand restrictions in the use of public spaces. Most of these concerns are broader discussions in the field of philosophy,politics, planning discourse, social sciences and law. This chapter focuses on illustrating types of ownership, the greyshades between the public and the private, and examplifies the benefits of public-private partnership.

OWNERSHIP: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE

1 Kadri Klementi (2010) "The Street . The Present and Future of Tallinn Street -scape."Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn (p4)2 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_space), accessed 17.05.2013

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L E G A LA S P E C T

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There are 3 general types of ownership: collective, private and common. Urban public spaces are mostly dependent oncollective, public form of ownership. By popular definition public property is a property dedicated to the use of the public, asubset of state property. The street-scape is a typical embodiment of public property. For example in Tallinn, there are 13km2 of streets, thatmakes 8% of the whole city area. These figures allow us to imagine the impact of such spatial category in our everydaylives. In Tallinn public land forms 23% of the city area, it is not much compared with Amsterdam and Helsinki where themajority of land is in municipal hands.1 Nevertheless it does not necessarily mean that a direct link can be drawn betweenthe city owned land and the potentials of urban public space. The land itself does not provide us with pleasant places, itis rather a task of design and usage management, co-operation and the other created by the users themselves. But whenthere is a lack of public owned land the local municipality has to acknowledge a challenging work in leading the localplanning processes to find a balance between the private and public interests. A premise of this balance is thoroughplanning law, transparent and inclusive planning process. From the perspective of public space, a knowledge about the factors that generate the quality of urban environment aremore important than the laws regulating the private property. When there is a demand for quality-UPS, many situations ofpotential conflict might be solved in a self-regulatory way. Let's imagine for instance a city street girded by front yards ofprivate houses. The way that these front yards are arranged, facades of the buildings coloured, vegetation and fencesorganized, also influences the way we perceive the street-scape as a whole. The private edge overlaps with the public.The local municipality, local communities and other urban environment institutions should put forward an educational role.These situations should be questioned in a regeneration process.

The transition from private to public does not happen suddenly, for these transitions, the terms of semi-public and semi-private are used. A cafe, a cinema and a shopping mall are examples of semi-public spaces. They are defined as publicspaces with some clear limitations for entrance. When the main function is the economic one, everyone is welcome aslong as he/she pays for it. In a shopping mall everybody can enter and look around without obligation to buy, but activitiesunrelated to the purpose of the shop are not unlimitedly permitted. For a semi-public space stricter rules may be appliedthan are outside, e.g. regarding dress code, trading, begging, advertising, photography, propaganda, riding roller-skates,skateboards, etc.2

As cafes, restaurants, cinemas etc. are part of public life, these functions act as a necessary component in the structureof public spaces. It is important how these functions are distributed in and how they communicate with outdoor spaces.Yet, some of these semi-public functions are a potential threat for the vitality of outdoor public spaces. Offering a greatvariety of attractive services as a decoy, they convey different user groups from the streets with a democratic ambition tothe interior that cleverly serves business interests. Creating an illusion of a freedom to choose, these environmentsimpoverish the multitude of social and cultural exchange present on the streets. Semi-private spaces are private spaces that spatially and visually communicate with public spaces. Semi-private spacescan be all kinds of private land between the private building and the street or paths surrounding the territory. Usually thesespaces are used for an access, i.e gardens and strips of vegetation. For example, a front yard of a house facing the streetis perceived as an extension of the street-scape. When the inhabitants of the house are using their front yard, they createpossibilities for social contacts with neighbours and people passing by. For this reason semi-private spaces contribute to

PART 1 LEGAL ASPECT 27

"In 2002, various international architects and artists wereinvited to deal with bridges in the context of connectingelements in cities. Instead of creating a bridge over theSpree, the Badeschiff team proposed a bridge to theSpree. Following a tradition of public bathing in the river atthe turn of the century, the project encouraged a closerconnection between the city and its river by floating a poolon it. A 30 year old barge was modified in a nearby dockyard.It was reduced to its shell and filled with pre-heated andchlorinated water to form a 32m long pool complementedwith a wooden bridge and a sun terrace. All technicalinstallations are concealed in the edge profile and yetallow an unobstructed view across the river whenswimming. During the winter, a three-part membrane structuredivides the Badeschiff (bathing ship) and its jetty into threeseparate areas: a lounge, sauna and the pool ship itself.These areas are connected via additional boxes containingtechnical and service functions. A two-layered membraneis spanned over elliptical wooden trusses maintaining acombination of translucent and transparent surfaces. Thespace between the membranes is filled with air to optimiseinsulation and guarantee a comfortable interiortemperature of 25°C even when it is extremely coldoutside." 4

UPS AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP

The two massive sculptures appeared on the banks of"Lasnamäe Channel" (i.e. the Laagna Road cutting) aspart of the Tallinn 2011 - European Capital of Cultureprogramme. An open competition was held to choose theinstallations. Detectors drew attention to the 'ordinary' of a city,attention to something that lacks tourist appeal and issimply part of everyday environment for locals. Like manyother residents of Lasnamäe, the author, who used to livethere, claimed his personal experience of Lasnamäe veryboring, the environment did not call up for more thantaking bus routes between the city centre and home. Withdetectors Raul Kalvo attempted to bring out the specialqualities of the place - the limestone bank. The installationinvited both locals and visitors to experience Lasnamäefrom a slightly different angle.

An individual interested in allotment gardening asked thecity municipality if there are available lands for temporaryallotments. The city offered a plot reserved for futureresidential developments. A lease for five years was givento non-profit organisation "Juurikas". Every citizen had achance to apply for a piece of land and make a one yearcontract. The first season brought together 45 participants, a stripof 100m2 of land was given to each. Cultivation includedpotatoes, turnips, beans, pumpkins, zucchini, carrots, ice-lettuce, rucola, calendula, parsley, mint, basil, broccoli,dill, coriander, black radish and more.

3 Jovis Verlag GmbH (2007) "Urban Pioneers . Temporary use and development in Berlin " Jovis, Berlin (p58)4 Convertible City (www.convertiblecity.de/projekte_projekt29_en.html), accessed 22.05.20135 Tootsi Peenar (www.tootsipeenar.wordpress.com/uudised-blogi/page/2/), accessed 22.05.20136 LIFT 11 (www.lift11.ee/installatsioon/uurijad), accessed 22.05.2013

NAMELOCATIONOWNERTIMEFRAMEINITIATED BYLOCAL AUTHORITYLEGAL FRAMEVISITED BYFINANCE

Badeschiff, baths in river Spree, BerlinArena-Site, Eichenstrasse 4, Treptow

State of BerlinTemporary lease 2005-2010

event promoters, Kulturarenagranted planning permission

lease agreementBerliners and tourists

Capital Culture Foundation and TIP (city listings magazine) together

covered 25% of total costs, rest financed byKulturarena from bar, catering and door receipts.

BADESCHIFF, BATHS IN RIVER SPREE, BERLIN 3 DETECTORS, AN URBAN INSTALLATION 6

NAMELOCATIONINITIATED BYDEVELOPMENT TIMEFRAMELAND OWNERLOCAL AUTHORITYTARGET GROUPFINANCE

Detectors, installations by Raul KalvoLasnamäe, Tallinn

MTÜ Kaos /Kaos Architects(Aug-Oct.) 2011

Municipality of TallinnGranted planning permission

Local people, people passing byTallinn 2011 European Capital of

Culture programme + festival sponsors.

NAMELOCATIONINITIATED BYDEVELOPMENT TIMEFRAMELAND OWNERLOCAL AUTHORITYLEGAL FRAME

TARGET GROUP

FINANCE

TootsipeenarRõõmu street, Tartu

Avo Rosenvald2011-2016

Municipality of TartuGranted free use of land

Land lease agreement withnon-profit organisation

Local people interestedin allotment gardening

Private funding for allotments, ploughby Tatoli enterprise

URBAN ALLOTMENTS 5

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the urban public spaces, they function as 'soft-edges' (Jan Gehl). Here the visual and spatial relation to the surroundingpublic spaces is most important. Often front yards are blocked by a fence or spacious vegetation, as a result safe andnice private territory sacrifices public look, communications are cut off. Even in areas with seemingly low potential for suchsocial exchange, it is worth to keep in mind that places change in time. Functions, users and use patterns change and inplanning situations soft-edge possibilities should be considered, they have the ability to self-generate activity.

For an urban planner it is well known that in most cases there is a gap between what is useful for the area and for the city,and what are the realistic possibilities regarding the constraints of the plot borders and property owners. In such casespublic-private-partnership (PPP) can be a tool to overcome difficulties of legal restrictions. The municipally owned land is not the only way to create lively urban environment. From the mid-1990-s and onward,public-private-partnership (PPP) has become a more often used form of co-operation around the world. A typical PPPinvolves a contract between a public sector authority and a private party. The reasons for using PPP are many. A need toshare the financial burden of large projects or a situation of private land and public interest or vice versa; temporary usageof both private and public spaces without current function. The following three examples give an idea of temporary usagein different situations.

28 POLITICAL ASPECT PART 1

The headquarters of Estonian Communist Party, built in 1968. The architectsinitial idea was to design the first glass-facade in Tallinn. The CommunistParty declined the idea and "proposed" a clear background for the Leninstatue.

"Public spaces is the living room of the young, the old, the rich and the poor, it is an advertisement of a city's image. Intoday’s democratic society we manifest it as belonging to "everyone". Yet throughout history, besides their practicalfunction, these spaces have been arenas for the ruling powers to demonstrate and exercise their power. Whoevercontrols public space sets the "program" for representing society." 1

Occupy Wall Street protest, New York 2011.

ACTA protest, Tallinn 2012.

Winston Churchill wavingto the crowd . Speaking to the

people from heights is a gesture of powerthat is rare in today `s democratic society

1 Sharon Zukin (1998) (http://www.publicspace.org/es/texto-biblioteca/eng/2 Dan Lockton (2011) (www.architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2011/09/12/architecture-urbanism-design-and-behaviour-a-brief-review/), accessed 21.05.20133 Tom Nielsen (2013) )"Informal co-existence and amenities for all. Democratic urban spaces in the Nordic countries ." Arhus University , Arhus (p171)

In urban planning Barcelona soon became known as ‘the Barcelona model‘of urban transformation.

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POLITICALA S P E C T

INTRODUCTION

THE POWER OF PUBLIC SPACE

DEMOCRATISATION OF URBAN SPACES

Urban public space is where political ideas are expressed in public, it is a place for the emergence of freedom, expressionand identity. It is where local lifestyles and activities happen and take many shapes, it is a scenery for public life tohappen. Public life again, is one of our most democratic rights, it contributes to the progress of free society and publicresolve.

The shaping of urban environment can be politically instrumentalized. Planning decisions have an economic anddemographic impact, architecture itself can serve as a regulatory force to control human behaviour. These decisions canimplement symbolic meanings. To a large extent city tourism is fed on the public art and architecture of the past societies.Notorious historic monuments, decorations and sculptures are often politically ideological. Streets named after rulers,squares used for symbolic national celebrations, these acts represent and affirm the historic and ideological meanings. Even city layouts can be used strategically. It has been argued that the remodelling of Paris in the second half of 19thcentury was not intended to deal only with the poor conditioned slum in the city center. In he’s book "Militant Modernism",Owen Hatherley calls Baron Geoges-Eugene Hausmann`s new city plans for Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte as 'militaristicallyplanned'. The true goal was argued to be securing the city against the Civil War, making the erection of barricades inParis impossible for all time. The streets were widened to make the erection of barricades impossible, and new streetswere to furnish the shortest route between the barracks and the workers districts. The Haussmann project also involvedthe planning of straight avenues as a method of crowd control, so that artillery could fire down them at barricadedmasses.2

Sharon Zukin

Along with the governing forces, the power of urban spaces is continually exercised by the public in form of politicalactivity. Political activity is manifested in several ways, for example statements, happenings, street art, debates anddemonstrations. On the streets individuals and groups can make active statements by simply having a speech orperforming a certain conceptual act or passively, by wearing polemising message of political, economical, societal,cultural or any other issue. Street art can take many forms by using posters, stickers, sculptural or installational mediums.These messages lay around us in everyday situations constituting a collective forum of information. The most influential form of political activity is still considered demonstrations. Today " the third power" - the media is inunprecedented status, the emergence of Internet media such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter etc. has made the spreading ofinformation easy and quick. Symbolic meetings and protests can be organized literally in no time. It is heatedly discussedweather these new possibilities lessen the need for physical stage of discussion but the recent examples around the worldseem to disprove these opinions. Recent street demonstrations against ACTA restrictions (intellectual property laws forInternet media) in Estonia and around the world, the Occupy Wall Street movement argue, that the new media just makesit easier to organize people to stand for common concerns. Quite naturally, the physical presence still seems to be themost transparent, direct and convincing method of political and any type of communication.

The predecessors of public space are believed to be the Agora of ancient Greek and the Roman Forum. Both the settingsof open spaces surrounded by civic buildings, they are still surprisingly valid archetypes of today’s urban public spaceswith regard to creating contacts, functional arrangements and spatial qualities. Though ancient Greek democracy is oftendiscussed as exemplary in many ways, the major difference with contemporary urban public space is the understanding ofinclusion. In ancient Greek the majority of population were not really considered citizens. Immigrants, slaves, women andchildren had limited rights and privileges. For example women had a restricted right to walk around in public and werevery segregated from men. Whereas today In the European context we regard urban public space in a democratic way - itis a call for everyone regardless of his ethnic origin, age or gender, social or economic position. Every age has it’s societalideal and these norms are in constant adjustment, this process can be called - the democratisation of public spaces. TomNielsen discusses democratic urban spaces in the following excerpt: "From Antiquity to the Baroque, urban spaces, beyond their practical function, primarily were arenas for the powers thatbe to demonstrate and exercise their power. With Modernism and the big industrial cities arose the idea of the democraticurban space. The idea is generally attributed to the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and 19th-centuryAmerica. Olmsted was interested in how planning and landscape architecture could be used to support the democraticexperiment that was the young United States. He developed the idea of the modern city park – New York’s Central Park inis his best known project – which he saw as a democratic space. A democratic space had three important functions: itshould create a point of identification that the city’s inhabitants could be proud of and unite around; it should edify people’scharacter and morals by putting city dwellers in touch with nature (or, more accurately, natural materials cultivated byhumans); and, most important, it should create a space in the dense and class-stratified industrial cities with free andequal access for everyone, where everyone could meet, or at least pass by one another, regardless of social class orrace. The city park functioned as a kind of pressure release valve in cities with big differences between rich and poor." 3

After the modernist re-development that followed the World War II, the criticism of urban environments was found on anew level. The experience of separation of functions across the city and dramatically increased traffic turnovers helped torecognise the degradation of life on the streets. The critique was addressed towards urban planning and vehicle trafficcausing the obstruction on streets. This can be seen as the starting point for upcoming interest towards the revival ofstreets and public life on streets, for demanding equal democratic rights both pedestrians. About the same time ideasabout democratic (participatory) planning started to gain more popularity. "In Barcelona, an urban-space project from the late 1970s was central in reformulating the city after industrializationand, not least, the fall of the Franco dictatorship. Founded on the idea of the democratic space, the project became areference for the development of urban spaces in many other places in the world. The project played a central role in

PART 1 POLITICAL ASPECT 29

4 Tom Nielsen (2013) )"Informal co-existence and amenities for all. Democratic urban spaces in the Nordic countries ." Arhus University , Arhus (pp171-173)5 The Economic Times (2009) Globalisation and the urban space .6 Tom Nielsen (2013) )"Informal co-existence and amenities for all. Democratic urban spaces in the Nordic countries ." Arhus University , Arhus (p178)7 Ibid. (p178)

A skate park and an urban dog walking area - "narrowly defined units" ofpublic space.

The new Tallinn TownHall by BIG is anexample of ademocratic ambition inarchitecture. The publicground floor and ahuge indoor mirror,projecting the dailywork to the outside,symbolise transparentgoverning.

People reclaiming the street for pedestrians.

BIG

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POLITICALA S P E C T

UPS AND POLITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

BIG

building new faith in the political system and in democracy as a fair and attractive societal form. As the 1980s wore on, astring of market places, squares, and city parks of very high quality were established or renovated all over the cityfollowing an extensive process of public inclusion. This inclusion of the users was a new thing in terms of understandingthe democratic space, and it was quite central to the process of democratization that was the objective. Parks and plazaswere seen as an important medium for having people meet again and freely discuss their lives and maybe even politicaland societal developments, too. The dictatorship had strictly controlled the use of urban spaces, with the result thatpeople stopped using them for anything other than rudimentary activities. The initiative helped create a whole new identityfor the city, serving both as a frame of identification for the citizens and as a signal point for tourists and visitors. Theurban spaces became a central part of the city and its life." 4

In the 21st century the democratisation of urban public space (UPS) is increasingly influenced by the features ofglobalisation - integration of national economies with the global systems of production, consumption, and distribution; andspace-time contraction that is the effect of technological advances in transport, communication, and computertechnology.5 The internet is revolutionary in the exchange of ideas, cultural and political activities taking place in the UPSare quickly spreading across countries. Architecture and design are influenced more by global trends than local customs.In the next section Nielsen elaborates on the global features. "Urban spaces today play a significant role in helping people to understand and live positively with the variety of culturaland political positions that characterize today’s globalized society. It can help to constructively and positively express theexperience of ‘multiplicity’ (Gilles Deleuze, Ash Amin) and of ‘thrown-togetherness’ (Doreen Massey) in cities with peoplewho are total strangers and very different from oneself, which is characteristic for urbanities today. While the Industrialand Modernist city were characterized by the separation of functions, people, and urban life, today’s globalization societyis characterized by the segmentation of everything and everyone into cultural and social subgroups. While Industrialismwas defined by a logic of control and the idea that the city should be ordered and optimized on a general level,globalization is defined by market logic in which we try to adapt products and urban spaces to increasingly narrowlydefined units." 6

Nielsen speaks of "narrowly defined units" as public spaces being designed for increasingly specific segment of thesociety.7 A change is apparent when urban public life at the times of Soviet Estonia is juxtaposed to public life inindependent Estonia. When the idealistic image of a proper Soviet fellow citizen or "comrade" had to be just like everyoneelse, then urban space was designed to support and sustain uniformity. Today more and more specific urban designs canbe observed, e.g. skate parks for mainly teenagers and dog walking gardens for pet owners. To conclude, urban public spaces in Estonia are increasingly reflecting democratic ideas. Active district communitiesexpecting to be accepted as equal partners in neighbourhood planning and specifically targeted urban activities areheading for public resolve. Though from the ironical point of view, the concept of the free world without borders is slowlyheading towards global uniformity, the will to decide locally within narrowly defined units promises to create and protectlocal identities.

Urban public space (UPS) as an integral part of broader urban environment is in constant flux of change, influenced by amultitude of decisions in spatial, economic and social categories. These local, global and technological variables thatshape our urban reality are a matter of political choice. It is clearly difficult, if not impossible, to politically address an interdisciplinary set of demands to the whole spectre ofurban development policy but it should be a political challenge to develop our planning reality towards a more sustainablefuture, to move from the modernist planning heritage, which is claimed static and hierarchy powered, to a more flexibleand dynamic planning with regard to the complexity of the world that is in constant flux. Looking at the big picture it meansto have thorough spatial policy and state institutions able to follow the principles of state-wide importance. The spatialdecisions that influence the future of Estonia are made in 7 different state institution departments and in 15 countyplanning departments that lack mutual collaboration. The Union of Estonian Architects suggest introducing acommunicative institution - the state architect. Whether the state architect is a solution or not, more rigorous collaborationof state institutions has to be politically addressed. According to numerous research and analyse documents a premise of successful UPS is the participation of peopledirectly influenced by the planning decisions. On a micro level the political challenge is to foster the development of citizensociety, to call local municipalities for a more inclusive participation when public interests are involved. In a currentsituation local municipalities too often mistake public initiative in planning discussions as oppositional action. Futurecustoms are in the hands of the electorate and of the political will of the local government.

30 TIME ASPECT PART 1

"It is our sense of time, our sense of ritual, which in the long run creates our sense of place, and of community. In oururban environment, which is con-stantly undergoing irreversible changes, a cyclical sense of time, the regular recurrenceof events and celebrations, is what gives us reassurance and a sense of unity and continuity." 1

1 John Brinckerhoff Jackson (1995) (http://newcities.ku.edu/media/pdf/SenseOfPlaceSenseOfTime-JBJackson.pdf), accessed 22.04.20132 Jan Gehl, Lars Gemzøe (1996) "Public Space-Public Life" Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts , Copenhagen (p11)3 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/SnowCastle_of_Kemi), accessed 17.05.2013

Snow Castle in Kemi, Finland is rebuilt every winter with a differentarchitecture. In 1996 the first snow castle drew 300,000 visitors. The castlehosts a hotel and a restaurant, an adventure land for children, a theatre andice art exhibitions.3

A light installation in winter.

Temporary snow-city in Tartu Estonia.

A winter shelter with a chimney and kitchen.

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T I M EA S P E C T

INTRODUCTION

SEASONS AND CLIMATE

PUBLIC LIFE AND THE RHYTHMS OF USE

UPS AND TEMPORARY USE

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Many types of public spaces are accessible only in a certain time-frame. Playgroundsand parks may have a limited time-window when the gates are open. Same goes for theindoor functions, in the night-time the street-life can disappear totally or transform itsnature radically. Festivals and happenings act as acupuncture activating certain places atcertain time. In Estonia the Nordic climate means a dramatic change from winter tosummer, the time spent outdoor varies greatly. For urban public space managing timeaspect is both a restraint and a possibility.

When the Strøget street was converted to a pedestrian street in Copenhagen in 1962, there was a lot of scepticism. Itwas argued that pedestrian streets in Denmark would never work. Newspapers made statements like "We are Danes, notItalians", and "Using public space is contrary to Nordic mentality".2 Though the debates were aggressive, the new car-free environment from the very first day proved extremely popular among the people of Copenhagen. Today Denmark isknown for its spectacular bike culture and progressive urban design. For Estonia Copenhagen is a role-model and a proofthat developing urban public space in Nordic climate is worth a try. In Estonian climate the main challenge is to encourage outdoor activities in cold and dark period from late October toearly April, and especially during snowy period. One of the main snow-period issues is how to manage snow . On the roads snow is piled up on the roadsides, bothside-walks and traffic lanes get narrower. In vehicle traffic this experience proves that narrower lanes are not a problem inmeans of sustaining traffic turnover. The situation on side-walks is more problematic, with piles of snow the side-walks areoften too narrow to allow a free pass. Due to poor visibility such piles also increase the accident risk on the streets. Whensnow stays on the side-walks for a long time it transforms into a thick layer of ice hard to remove and very tricky to walkon. In spring it takes time to melt on the shadowy sides of the roads and extends the inconvenient period. These everydayissues ask for a better snow management strategy, in a more active citizen society public-private co-operation programscan be discussed. In winter period a typical Estonian desires to travel abroad to spend there a sunny and warm vacation. In order to avoidstress and lack of physical activity, new urban possibilities should be explored and dared to test out. Positive pilots arealready part of our winter life: light festivals, ice-skating and cross-country skying in urban situations, also ice- and snow-sculptures and playgrounds. A step forward would be creating mix-use winter shelters, place them strategically in urbantissue and allow a variety of activities to pop-up. There is still a lot to improve. The main challenge is how to encouragepeople to spend more time outdoors. In winter period it is not so much up to physical urban conditions but rather aquestion of altering everyday outdoor behaviour patterns.

There are distinct rhythms and patterns related to the use of public spaces, depending on the time of a day, day of a weekand a season. On weekdays It is typical that older people spend their shopping time often at the beginning of a day, thereare more teenagers out at the end of a school day, at night young adults dominate the town centre. On weekends againthe number of people going out is usually higher than on weekdays. Streets are busy in the beginning and at the end ofthe a day. For example in the city of Tartu, in Estonia, about 20% of the registered residents are either students orworking for the University, the city has a totally different flux in summertime when the majority of students are gone.Clearly the specific usage trend depends on a particular place and particular time. The complexity present in urbanenvironment is to be seen as a poly-rhythmic field of usage. When planning changes in UPS, the ability to understandthese fluctuations allows us to make modifications.

John Brinckerhoff Jackson

Temporary use of urban spaces is a renowned method for generating attention and activity in concrete places and inlarger areas. An elementary example is a festival held in a quiet and easy-going district, it gathers local and distantpeople, creating a vibe that differs greatly from the areas' everyday rhythm. The event creates attention and helps thecitizens to sustain awareness about the district and its character, the people who participated. Occurring activitiescontribute to the overall vitality and attractiveness of the place. When the place is in use, it has a greater value, there ismore care, it is easier to maintain and renew it when necessary. Besides temporary events that take place only in a certain time-frame, another influential tool for interventions istemporary public art. Super-graphics, posters and installations draw attention and make a place more attractive whileallowing a group of people to find self-expression. As many forms of street-art are practised unauthorised and without toocareful location-planning, the overall artistic quality is often poor, hence the broader public opinion often discredits it. Atthe same time such discontentment only illustrates how influential urban art is. Urban public space management offers amajor difference from self-emerging art, a possibility to find an specific output for public art. In carefully chosen officiallocations super-graphics can aesthetically improve the urban experience and site-specific installations comment on urbanor social content. The idea of temporality gets more interesting when the use of currently unused property is discussed (also see LegalAspect). In a much similar way than described above it is possible to use temporary activity as a tool to catalyse newactivity in currently neglected places, abandoned buildings or areas that have a slow development process. The principleis sustainability - instead of wasting space without an output, make use of its potential. Temporary usage can be anadvantageous tool for communities, subcultural groups, municipalities and real-estate developers.

PART 1 TIME ASPECT 31

A) MUNICIPALITIES:

make there own real estate available for temporary use stand security for temporary users toward owners provide benefits for owners who support temporary users (e.g. planning gain) integrate the different sectors of administration to an one-stop-office dealing with all aspects of temporary use (permissions, initiation, etc.) founding of a round table with all relevant stake holders, a new alliance for urban development in European cities

B) OWNERS:

realistic evaluation of there real estate and its marketability taking in to account non-monetary values in relationship to temporary use courage for new solutions and innovative ways of marketing and development taking responsibility for the development of neighbourhoods beyond the own property, foundation of a pool for free available spaces generating of new uses to create new demands for real estate

4 Studio Urban Catalysts (2003) "Strategies for temporary uses - potential for development of urban residual areas in European metropolises" Berlin (p7)5 Ibid. (pp5-6)6 Ibid. (p23)7 Ibid. (p23)8 Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copenhagen_Harbour_Baths), accessed 17.05.2013

Sometimes a temporary use becomes established. Kaabelitehdas, Helsinki.The building is recycled for a cluster of cultural entrepreneurs.

Copenhagen Harbour Baths. An example of development catalyst. Theharbour area is undergoing a transformation from an industrial and trans-portation junction into the cultural and social centre of the city.8

The Straw Theatre was built for 6 months to celebrate The European Capitalof Culture - Tallinn 2011. The location is a forgotten park right by the medi-eval town. The project stresses the importance of the place that once used tobe part of the old town fortifications and is an unused urban hotspot.

A temporary theatre "Jellyfish" in London. The spontaneous building is calledjunkitecture.

Temporary urban design - tree knitting.

Temporary (pop-up) greenery.

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C) TEMPORARY USERS:

forming of collisions, which ensure the liability for potential partners communication of developed know-how to others

D) LEGISLATOR:

new planning laws should accelerate development permits, enable temporary use and allow for reduce standards for temporary use developing a low of property, which reduces the rights and duties connected to property: Real estate, which is vacant for more than a year, should be available for the general public. In the same time the liability of the owner should be reduced to ease temporary use.

All over Europe there are numerous examples of abandoned or unused buildings taken over by initiative group who hasan idea and who is willing to invest time and work to refurbish the place with a minimum budget. The backdrop of theinitiative is usually some form of start-up. The premise in such case is usually a partnership with the property ownerand/or local authority. Ideally a win-win situation, the owner gets a free maintenance service and the initiative group getsthe space for free. In addition to that, the neighbourhood benefits from the new emerging activities created by the initiativegroup. "Even though temporary uses start often as niches, they are still connected to the economic sphere - for instance in thatthey have better chances to evolve in urban areas with lower economic pressure. However, the non-monetary characterof temporary uses rather suggests, that these uses put forward alternative economies. These are especially economiesbased on barter, on social capital, and on recycling of existing value. Such forms of value production can often betranslated into monetary value. Many of the temporary uses mix these economies and try to establish a self-containingenterprise, which sooner or later should be able to move out of the temporary niche. Examples for this would be arts anddesign galleries that start off in recycled abandoned buildings, but develop a professional standing, which allows them tostay in the market even when the residual space gets developed." 4

Another possibility for temporary usage are sites with long-span development plans. If a site becomes vacant, it isexpected to be re-planned, build over and used as soon as possible. These processes, though, can take years to planand realise, in case of large-scale development the time-span can be 5-10 years or even longer. Especially in newdevelopment areas without an existing public life or a poor one, it becomes useful to support the genesis of public activityby creating temporary uses. It depends on the site context and the targeted user group upon which the temporary functionis to be decided. For a real-estate developer it should be of a clear interest to get the place on the map, for people toacknowledge its presence and have some kind of attractor to sustain the public curiosity. An example could be atemporary cafe, a park or a playground, why not a public centre for creative workshops. In short, public-privatepartnership is a way to overcome legal difficulties. In 2003 a research project "Urban Catalyst" made an in-depth study of existing clusters of temporary use in Berlin,Helsinki, Amsterdam, Vienna and Naples.5 The project proved that temporary uses can become extremely successful,inclusive and innovative part of contemporary urban culture. The detailed case-studies of spontaneous and unplanneduses revealed patterns and mechanisms. Temporary uses do not emerge accidentally but are guided by different factorsand rules. Temporary users are urban players that act deliberately and follow certain visions. The research team came tothe following conclusions:

"1. Citizens become temporary users in order to follow different aims. Temporary users are motivated by the aim to claimvacant spaces as breeding grounds for the development of ideas, as niches or as a parallel universe in relation to theregulated urban environment. 2. Specific vacant sites attract specific temporary uses. While choosing certain sites orbuildings, temporary users follow precise spatial criteria such as retreat, exposure or niche. 3. Temporary uses canflourish with a minimum of investment. Temporary uses can recycle and appropriate existing structures and spaces withminimal interventions – "urbanism light". 4. Temporary uses are mostly organised in networks and use clusters. Thetemporary use clusters are characterised by distinguished use profiles. A cluster is sustained by complex internalnetworks, which generate synergy effects. Initial temporary programs often attract similar uses to the same or a nearbysite. 5. Temporary uses are initiated through agents. In many cases, temporary uses only become possible through thedetermined action of key agents, who bridge the gap between the different milieus of the users, the site owner andmunicipal authorities and therefore create a protective umbrella which allows for the flourishing of temporary use. Theagents are mostly unpaid individuals without institutional associations, following an idealistic agenda, or sometimes highlymotivated "submarines" within the municipal bureaucracies. 6. Temporary uses are a laboratory for new cultures andeconomies. Temporary uses can create a unique environment of experiment, where ideas can mature in time, leading tothe foundation of may start-up companies." 6

The project also suggests tips for implementation.7

32 PARTICIPATORY PLANNING PART 1

PARTICIPATORYP L A N N I N G

PARTICIPATORY PLANNING

"The public sector includes local municipalities, county governments and different state institutions (ministries, EstonianRescue Service, National Heritage Board etc.) These institutions share a common objective to organise a functionalsociety and stand for the public interests. At the same time the interests within the public sector might conflict. Accordingto the EU directives, constitution law and laws regulating local government, the local municipality has the full rights inplanning decision made in the local territory. Therefore the local municipality is also responsible for the lawful executionand the relevance of the planning decisions.

The private sector, land owners and investors, influence local life directly. Usually the private sector is a driver of planningprocesses and heads to re-evaluate the land. Realisation of the plans usually influence public space and it’s socio-economic nature. According to the constitution law everyone has the right to use their property when public interests arenot harmed.

The general public is the most complicated party as it includes practically everyone.A master plan process should regard neighbours of the planned area, local residents, value-based citizen communities,district communities, disorganised value-based groups and other interest groups. Different groups and different individualsmight have different interests and values but together they formulate the public interest that should balance privateinterests and be considered in a planning process.

The planner is an independent consultant commissioned by the private sector to design master plans and by the publicsector when general-, county- or state plans are compiled. The planners' task is to analyse the existing situations basedon professional knowledge, to centralise and balance the opinions of the parties involved and to propose a qualitativespatial solution based on the former. As an ideal the planner synthesises information and negotiates in a comprehensivemanner to provide the local municipality sufficient information to make broad-based decisions." 2

For a small low-density country like Estonia, lack of space is not a concern. Even the building boom of 2000-2008 did notsucceed in filling all the spatial gaps in the major city centres. Due to spatial reserve and the historic background there areand will be numerous planning cases that influence urban public space to a great deal.

Almost every urban planning process is a clash of different interests and a challenge to find a balanced result. The mainparties involved in the process are the public sector, the private sector, the general public and the planner. Though thepublic sector has lawful responsibility to protect public interest, the current planning practice involves public voice onlyformally and has resulted in growing public discontentment.

Today the first successful steps in establishing a civil society have signalled new expectations for a more transparent andinclusive planning management - participatory planning. Principles for participatory planning have recently been publishedin a booklet "A Guide for Participatory Planning." 1 The authors Kadri Tillermann (OÜ Vesterra) and Regina Viljasaar (MTÜLinnalabor) have compiled a comprehensive guide about the planning process, the roles of different parties, the legalbackground and the methods of participation. Hereby this document is recommended as exemplary, the followingprovides excerpts from the guide.

THE PARTIES OF A PLANNING PROCESS

"In current planning practice inclusion often means the delivery of information by the local municipality. In simpler casessuch minimal informing might be justified, but when complex and often controversial planning dilemmas arise, informativeinclusion is not sufficient and participatory planning should precede decision making. participatory planning lies at first onthe premise that every segment of the society has the right and option to speak for the developments that influence them.And secondly, every segment of a society is capable to do so. That embraces all the participants making decisions thatshape the plan and everyone being able to argument and/or contribute to the realisation of the decision. The final decisionand validation is still in the hands of the local municipality, but everyone has a chance to contribute. Participatory planningdoes not work out when parties do not have equal possibilities in the process and when some parties are not willing to beresponsible for their decisions.

The following principles are important in the attitude and action of all parties, the local municipality, the representatives ofpublic and the investors, regardless of whether simple informing or participatory planning is used. Principles like trust,respect, equality of treatment, shared responsibility, openness and transparency, diversity and comprehension are allcommon sense definitions that can be summarised as two columns of civil society - every opinion counts and all partiesact in good deeds and for the best result. The essence of planning is negotiation and finding the best among manyoptions. When principles described here are followed, it is more likely to happen that the decided solutions are best ingiven time and space. The result of open process goes further, there is more trust between the parties, local identity getsstronger, and the realised planning outcome is more personal; the local residents and communities get a betterunderstanding of the municipality and the investor, and their actions are made more legible because of the amount ofinformation considered. For the local municipality it becomes easier to stand for transparent public interest and everydaybureaucratic procedures become less demanding when community groups and individuals are experienced and strongpartners." 3

PRINCIPLES OF PARTICIPATION

1. Kadri Tillermann, Regina Viljasaar (2012) "A Guide for Participatory Planning ." National Foundation of Civil Society , Tallinn2. Ibid. (pp6-7)3. Ibid. (p8)

PART 1 PARTICIPATORY PLANNING 33

KAASAVA PLANEERIMISE JUHENDKoostajad: Tellija:

Kadri Tillemann SA Kodanikuühiskonna Sihtkapital OÜ Vesterra Regina Viljasaar MTÜ Linnalabor Tallinn 2012

1 /

40

PARTICIPATORYP L A N N I N G

34 PART 2

PART 2 35

A model of urban public space and a table of questions.

Part 02

PART 2 A MODEL OF URBAN PUBLIC SPACE 36

URBAN PUBLICSPACE?

WHAT MAKES A SUCCESFUL

D E M A N D

ATTRACT

DEM

AND

ATTRACT

DEM

AND

ATTRACTURBAN PUBLIC SPACE

SPACIAL

LEGAL

SOCIAL

TIMEPOLITICAL

ECONOMIC

OF URBAN PUBLIC SPACE

LOCALPEOPLE

LOCALMUNICIPALITY

DISTANT USERS

LOCAL TRENDSGLOBAL TRENDS

POLITICIANS

ECONOMICSTATE

A SPACE IN BETWEEN BUILDINGS PHYSICALLY ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE

MAIN ASPECTSINFLUENCING THE STATE OF UPS

EXAMPLE OF POSSIBLE 'ACTORS'

F U N C T I O N STHERE ARE NECESSARY AND OPTIONAL

ACTIVITIES IN URBAN PUBLIC SPACE.USABILITY OF THESE SPACES ISINFLUENCED BY THE VARIETY

AND MULTIPLICITY OF IN- A N DOUTDOOR FUNCTIONS .

OUTDOOR SPACES ARE USEDMORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THE

ENVIRONMENT OFFERS A SENSEOF QUALITY: IT HAS A CHARACTER,

IT IS COMFORTABLE, INCLUSIVE,SAFE AND PLEASING

QUALITIESPUBLIC LIFE HAPPENS ONLYTHROUGH USERS AND THEIR

DYNAMIC INTERACTION . VITALITYOF A PLACE AND INCLUSION OF

DIFFERENT USER GROUPSDETERMINE THE

POTENTIALS OF URBANPUBLIC SPACE

U S E R S

PART 2A MODEL OF URBAN PUBLIC SPACE37

U S E R SPUBLIC LIFE HAPPENS ONLYTHROUGH USERS AND THEIR

DYNAMIC INTERACTION . VITALITYOF A PLACE AND INCLUSION OF

DIFFERENT USER GROUPSDETERMINE THE

POTENTIALS OF URBANPUBLIC SPACE

F U N C T I O N S

I N D O O RSPACES

O U T D O O RSPACES

IN TERMS OF HOW ITINFLUENCES UPS

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

PROACTIVER O L E

PASSIVER O L E

N OC U R R E N T

R O L E

EMPTY LOTS

RESIDUAL SPACE

QUALITIESOUTDOOR SPACES ARE USED

MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN THEENVIRONMENT OFFERS A SENSE

OF QUALITY: IT HAS A CHARACTER,IT IS COMFORTABLE, INCLUSIVE,

SAFE AND PLEASING

QUALITY OFO U T D O O R

SPACES

WINDOWS

DOORS

PORTALS

TERRACES

SIGNS

FENCES

ACCESSIBILITY LINKS TOO U T D O O R

I D E N T I T Y ATTRACTIVITY C O N V E N I E N C E S A F E T Y

STREET DESIGN

INVENTORY DESIGN

ACTIVITY PLACE DESIGN

PUBLIC ART

VISUAL EXPERIENCES

VEGETATION

CONDITION OF BUILT

ENVIRONMENT

GROUND LEVELS

GROUND MATERIALS

OBSTUCTIVE BARRIERS

ACCESS TO ACTIVITY

PLACES

LOCAL

CHARACTER

HISTORY

NATURE

CULTURE

ETC...

PEDESTRIAN

CYCLIST

DESIGN

SAFETY

STREET

LIGHTING

CLIMATIC

WIND

RAIN

SNOW

SUN

PEDESTRIANS

STROLLERS

WHEELCHAIRS

CYCLISTS

C L E A N L I N E S S

CLEANLINESS

TRASH BINS

VISUAL NOISE

AUDIBLE

NOISE

AIR QUALITY

IN TERMS OF HOW ITINFLUENCES UPS

PLAZA

PUBLIC SEATING

PARK

MARKETPLACE

OPEN AIR BUSINESS

SPORT ACTIVITY

PLAYGROUND

PUBLIC BEACH

ALLOTMENT

OPEN-AIR CINEMA

... ETC

PRIVATE SPACES

GREENERY

BODY OF WATER

OTHER PLACE OF

NATURE

VEHICLE NETWORK

PEDESTRIAN NETWORK

BICYCLE NETWORK

PUBLIC TRANSP. NETW.

N OC U R R E N T

R O L E

UNUSED SPACESCHOOL

KINDERGARTEN

HOSPITAL

LIBRARY

CITY HALL

COACH STATION

RAILWAY STATION

MUSEUM

CAFE

RESTAURANT

SHOP

CLUB

BATH

CINEMA

THEATER

CONCERT HALL

...ETC

DWELLING

OFFICE

INDUSTRIAL

WAREHOUSE

...ETC

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

THERE ARE NECESSARY AND OPTIONALACTIVITIES IN URBAN PUBLIC SPACE.

USABILITY OF THESE SPACES ISINFLUENCED BY THE VARIETY

AND MULTIPLICITY OF IN- A N DOUTDOOR FUNCTIONS .

I N D O O RSPACES

A m

odel

of U

PS

38 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS PART 2

SCHOOL

KINDERGARTEN

HOSPITAL

LIBRARY

CITY HALL

COACH STATION

RAILWAY STATION

MUSEUM

CAFE

RESTAURANT

SHOP

CLUB

BATH

CINEMA

THEATER

CONCERT HALL

...ETC

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

DWELLING

OFFICE

INDUSTRIAL

WAREHOUSE

...ETC

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

UNUSED

INDOOR SPACE

Buildings or sections of buildings that generate activity in nearby public spaces.

Buildings or sections of buildings that do not generate significant public activity and rather supply users for public spaces.

Indoor spaces that have stayed unused for some resasons. Spaces unused over longertime periods are often deteriorated and might have negative effects on the surrounding public spaces.

1. What are the most extraversive functions generating activity in the area?

2. Is there a demand for new businesses / services? Where and what would you propose?

3. Do you think the area could benefit when extending or cutting the open hours of cafe`s, bars etc?

4. Is the area well connected to extraversive services? What would you change? Try to be objective.

1. Which functions in the area are introvert?

2. Could additional introvert functions support area development by providing more users?

www.weburbanist.com

Julius Jansson

N OC U R R E N T

R O L E

1. Do you know any unused/abandoned buildings or rooms?

2. What functions could suit these spaces? Do they have potential for temporary use?

3. Who might be the "actors" interested in reviving those vacant spaces?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eemeez/7858933828/

Functions - Indoor spacesThere are necessary and optional activities in urban public space. Usability of thesespaces is influenced by the variety and multiplicity of in- and outdoor functions.

www.lively-cities.euErina Zhiteneva

www.apartmenttherapy.com

www.asjadest.blogspot.com

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

PART 2 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS 39

The primary function of streets and paths is the connectivity. Well distributed and connected pedestrian and cycle paths are a matter ofquality, providing well-being in public spaces. Lack of basic connections discourages use in these spaces. Poor connections often result inunoffical paths that ruin lawns and create higher traffic accident risk on steets when pedestrians make shortcuts. Well distributed publictransport stops and sufficient timetables contribute to the use of public spaces, sustainable thinking, healthy living, and help to solve carcongestion problems.

www.flickr.com (vancelester)

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

PROACTIVER O L E

PLAZA

PUBLIC SEATING

PARK

MARKETPLACE

OPEN AIR BUSINESS

SPORT ACTIVITY

PLAYGROUND

PUBLIC BEACH

ALLOTMENT

OPEN-AIR CINEMA

CAFE TERRACES

... ETC

VECHICLE NETWORK

PEDESTRIAN NETWORK

BICYCLE NETWORK

PUBLIC TRANSP. NETW.

www.designscout.dk

Mikael Colville-Andersen www.flickr.com (Amsterdamized) Chip Litherland

Anu Wintschalek www.woohome.com www.flickr.com (rob7812)

www.flickr.com (ocnidius) www.globalpost.com Maria Da Schio Sean Lowcay

1. Which streets are considered main for pedestrians/cyclists/vehicle traffic?

2. Which streets do you mostly use as a pedestrian/cyclist/car driver?

3. Are the public transport stops placed well in the area? Try to think objectively. Would you change stop locations?

4. Have you experienced uncomfortable connections in the area? What would you change?

5. Do you think there could be new useful connecive paths? Where?

1. What are the main outdoor activities in the area and where are they located?2. What are the main outdoor activities for you?3. Would you relocate any existing outdoor activities?4. Do you sometimes preactice spontaneous walks or bike-rides in the area? Where?5. What kind of new outdoor activities would you like to see? Where? Think visionary!6. Do you know any outdoor business or service in the area (cafe terrace, marketplace, seasonal outdoor library etc.)?Could there be more alternatives, permanent or temporary? How to favor such developments?7. Are there enough possibilities for outdoor sports?8. Are there open-air events held in the area? Where? Could there be more event places?9. If there could be more parks and green areas, where would you place them?10. Are there main public meeting places?11. Do you know existing public seats/places that you never use, why? Where and why would you place extra seats?12. Name pleasing outdoor places to sit down and chat with friends?

Proactive role category covers all urban outdoor activities. Outdoor activities are those that invite people to stay outdoor for a longer timeand favor spontaneous optional activities. Open air activities in Estonia are on the rise, recent years have introduced urban gardening,urban chess and ping-pong, special snow tube parks. Trekking, cross country skying, ice-skating, open-air cinema and small localmarketplaces are increasingly popular.

Functions - Outdoor spacesThere are necessary and optional activities in urban public space. Usability of thesespaces is influenced by the variety and multiplicity of in- and outdoor functions.

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

40 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS PART 2

PASSIVER O L E

N OC U R R E N T

R O L E

EMPTY LOTS

RESIDUAL SPACE

www.pathtothepossible.wordpress.com

Passive role category covers all outdoor spaces perceived as public but are without a clear function. Passive role also includes introvertprivate spaces edging public territory. An example of this is a city street girded by fences of private houses. The public territory is cut offshaply and left poorer. In case of public-private mutual interest, these situations have potential to enhance the public sphere.

www.globalsiteplans.com

There are always some empty lots in the city fabric. Depending on the lands development perspective these spaces could temporarilybe used in public interest. As empty land needs security and management these situations can offer mutual benefits for the owner andthe public party when free rent is exchanged for management service. Residual spaces are currently ineffectively used spaces.Oversized roads, parking lots not used in specific times, useless plain lawns are just a few examples.

www.buildmyfence.com

www.patmiddleborn.com www.transportblog.co.nz

PRIVATE SPACES

PASSIVE NATURE

PARKING LOTS

PARKING

MANAGEMENT

1. Do you know private spaces that could contribute to public space? (Closed yards, shared street management etc.)

2. Are there places of nature or elements of nature that could contribute to public space?

3. Are there parking issues in the area? Where? What quick and long-run solutions would you propose?

4. Are there parking management issues? Where? How and who to address these issues?

1. Are there empty lots in the area?

2. What are the future developments of these spaces? Collect information about master plan developments and consider all future proposals.

3. What developments are favored by locals/ other actors?

4. What functions would you propose for undeveloped empty lots?

5. Do you know any underused residual spaces that could contribute to public space?

6. Propose temporary uses for empty lots or residual spaces.

There are necessary and optional activities in urban public space. Usability of these spaces is influenced by the variety and multiplicity of in- and outdoor functions.

Functions - Outdoor spaces

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

PART 2 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS 41

WINDOWS

DOORS

PORTALS

TERRACES

SIGNS

FENCES

PEDESTRIANS

STROLLERS

WHEELCHAIRS

CYCLISTS

LINKS TOO U T D O O R

1. Are extraversive functions like shops, cafes etc. easily noticed on the sreet? Do they communicate on streetlevel (windows, doors, signs)?

Consider other spatial difficulties like blocking fences.

2. Do you know any problematic mute building facades that are not communicating on streetlevel or have

huge blank facades with a negative effect on public space?

3. Are there problematic window commercials or business signs? Name attractive and disturbing examples?

ACCESSIBILITY

Alvin Pastrana

This category focuses on access quality of public indoor functions. People are naturally convenient and prefer public functions on groundlevel to functions high up or underground. Same goes for ground level acess quality, if it is complicated for some reason they prefer otheroptions when alternatives are available. To maximise urban public space activity it is important to provide inclusive conditions also forminority user groups. This category has clearer effect in smaller areas where complicated access to the the few available district shops mightdrive off a segment of people and leave proximity streets clearly less lively.

1. Have you noticed shops, cafe`s or other extraversive indoor functions that are poorly accessible for strollers, elderly, disabled people?

2. Are there problematic places where lack of cycle parking is holding back bike users?

www.brokensidewalk.com

Links to outdoor spaces is about the communicative ability of indoor functions. For a pedestrian , vast spaces with no interesting visualdetails, blank and uncommunicative facades and long boring fences make the pass dull. Frequent users start to prefer better routes whenalternatives are available. For new visitors it is important to naturally "read" what activities the streets and buildings have to offer. Lack ofdoors and windows, reflective glass-facades and hidden entrances are especially important for businesses.

Martin Grüner Larsen www.northlandfencemn.wordpress.com

www.pixelimagebank.photoshelter.com www.weekendnotes.co.uk www.eyestylist.com

Den Nation www.metroparkstacoma.org www.flickr.com/cyclingforpositivity

Public spaces are used more frequently when extraversive publicindoor functions are inclusive for all user groups.

Qualities - Indoor spaces

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

42 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS PART 2

This category collects information about the characteristics and identity of the area.

www.vetmed.vt.edu

Outdoor spaces are used more frequently when the environment offers a sense of quality:it has a character, it is comfortable, inclusive, safe and pleasing.

1. Does the area have an established identity? If yes then describe it.

2. What identifies the area for you?

3. What elements / phenomenas characterise the area and make it special?

4. If there is no clear identity what goal would you propose?

STREET DESIGN

INVENTORY DESIGN

PUBLIC ART

VEGETATION

ACTIVITY PLACE DESIGN

CONDITION OF BUILT

ENVIORNMENTMatt Cheetham

Outdoor activities depend to a great deal on the qualitative characteristics of the space. Attractivity is both about the variety of availableextraversive in- and outdoor functions and the overall image of the area. Attractivity of a specific area should be considered togeher withthe character and identity of the area. For a quiet community district attractivity may not be about the multiplicity of functions but ratherabout the basic spatial qualities.

Iwan Baan www.archdaily.com www.sxsweco.com

Lucie Crausier www.flickr.com/Necoglyph Katrin Lipp Jae Min Lim

1. Do you think that street layouts in the area are convenient for pedestrians / cyclists? Name good and bad examples.

2. What would you do to make streets more attractive for pedestrians?

3. Could shared-space street concept be considered in some places? (Cars and pedestrians share the street on same level. No intensive traffic regulation).

4. Are you pleased with the area`s street inventory (trash bins, seats, signs etc.) Name good and poor design?

5. Are srteetlights for pedestrians and bikers in human scale? Could street or activity place lighting be more attractive in fall/ winter season?

6. Can you name squares, playgrounds and other activity places with great and poor design? What makes the design poor?

7. Could public art play a bigger role in making the area more attractive? What art formats and could be used and where?

8. Evaluate the quality of parks and green areas. Name ways to make them more pleasing.

9. Is there enough greenery / vegetation that improves aesthetic quality? Where would you make a change?

10. Name a street or place where buildigns are well maintained and form a pleasant environment to walk by. Name a street or place where

buildigns make your pass unpleasant. What could be done to make the overall look better?

I D E N T I T Y

ATTRACTIVITY

Qualities - Outdoor spaces

LOCAL CHARACTER

HISTORY

NATURE

CULTURE

ETC...

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

PART 2 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS 43

GROUND LEVELS

STREET COVERS

OBSTRUCTIVE BARRIERS

ACCESS TO

ACTIVITY PLACES

CLEANLINESS

TRASH BINS

VISUAL NOISE

AUDIBLE NOISE

AIR QUALITY

Outdoor spaces are used more frequently when the environment offers a sense of quality:it has a character, it is comfortable, inclusive, safe and pleasing.

www.llpelling.comwww.thoughtsjoinletters.blogspot.com

www.123rf.comwww.flickr.com/Amsterdamized

www.urbed.coop

Generalised as cleaniness, the category stands for all aesthetically disturbing aspects. Poor trash management,visual and audial noise can ruin potentially great places.

1. Are streets generally convenient for strollers, disabled people, pedestrians, cyclists (road width, barriers, different levels etc)?

2. Raised pedestrian and bike road edges at crossings are inconvenient and may cause problems for some users. Map problematic places?

3. Have you experienced annoying pedestrian detours? Where?

4. Are there annoying ground surfaces?

5. Do you know places that are unconvenient to pass through freely because of obstructive barriers like street inventory,

sidewalk safety barriers, commercial signs, parking etc?

6. Are there problematic fences? (Obstruction, aesthetics, scale).

7. Can you name other problematic visual obstructions? (Overgrown trees etc.)

8. The design of activity places like public squares or playgrounds can sometimes be inconvenient for children, elderly, disabled people.

Do you know places where this is a problem ?

1. How do you evaluate the overall cleaniness of the area? Do you know places that need more care?

2. Are there enough trash bins on the streets? Where would you place an extra one?

3. Are there aesthetic problems? Visible trash containers, unsuitable commercial stands etc.

4. Are there noise issues in public spaces? Where?

5. How do you evaluate the overall quality of air in the area? Do you know places where air pollution is critical and needs intervention?

Dave Bullock

www.vavaveteran.co.uk

A great urban public space is easy to access and move through for young and elderly, people with walking disabilities,for cyclists and people with baby prams. The vehicle and pedestrian traffic has to be planned in a democratic way with theweaker side - the pedestrian in focus.

C L E A N L I N E S S

C O N V E N I E N C E

Qualities - Outdoor spaces

QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS

44 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS PART 2

Outdoor spaces are used more frequently when the environment offers a sense of quality:it has a character, it is comfortable, inclusive, safe and pleasing.

PEDESTRIAN

CYCLIST

DESIGN SAFETY

STREET LIGHTING

SHADOWY PLACES

WIND

RAIN

SNOW

SUN

www.focussion.com

Safety is a quality that influences usability of urban public spaces. Insufficient street lighting, shadowy places, fear of criminality, traffic safetyare all important aspects that should be considered. Pedestrian casualties in traffic accidents often happen due to inconvenient spatialconditions prescribed by traffic regulations, expanding the pallete of practiced solutions by focusing more on particularity of places couldincrease safety.

www.archdaily.com

Climatic category questions spatial design solutions on micro scale. How could the elements within public space be enhanced toprotect us from the climatic difficulties and how to use the positive potentials of different climatic factors. In Estonian climate the mainchallenge is to encourage outdoor activities in cold and dark period from from October to April.

1. Are there places of increased traffic accident risk? What would you change?

2. Are there places of higher criminality risk?

3. Do you know public space designs that lack safety measurements? Level differences and railings, kids safety on playgrounds, waterbodys etc.

4. Sufficient street lighting provides safe walks in dark period. How do you evaluate the overall quality of street lighting in the area? Do you know

frequently used places were lighting is an issue?

5. Are there any other safety issues in the area? (Shadowy places or any other)

6. Is neighbourhood watch practiced in the area? Where could it be beneficial?

1. How could the analysed area encourage outdoor activities in fall/winter season? Is it only about people`s habits or are there

certain requirements to make it happen?

2. Do you know outdoor places that could benefit by having (better) rain/wind shelter? (Bus stops, playgrounds, event places etc.)

3. Are there places where spatial conditions are causing snow or rainwater problems?

4. Can something be done better in winter snow management? (Management agreements, snow sculptures etc.)

5. Are there public activity places that fail because of unsuitable sun orientation?

www.bmwblog.comwww.featureshoot.com

Colin Grover www.genx-cjw.blogspot.com

S A F E T Y

CLIMATIC

Qualities - Outdoor spaces

Q U E S T I O N S

Q U E S T I O N S

PART 2 A TABLE OF QUESTIONS 45

1. Define main user segments of the area (in example local residents, shoppers, daily workers, families, youngsters, tourists).

2. Are the main users local or from a distance ?

3. Is there a pattern for distant users being from concrete neighbouring areas? Where?

4. Is there an average age pattern among local and distant users?

5. Who or what are the main "actors" influencing the state of area ?

In example local residents, community, municipality, real-estate market, specific institutions etc.

6. Is there an active community speaking for the state of the area? If not then why?

7. Is there a user segment activity pattern? (Certain times of day/week/season)

8. What are the main modes of transport used in the area (pedestrians, bicycles, public transport, cars)?

Public life happens only through users and their dynamic interaction. Vitality of a place and inclusionof different user groups determine the potentials of urban public space.

1. What are the keywords that characterise the area?

2. What is the best and the worst thing that comes to your mind about the area?

3. Does the area have an active center?

4. Is the area important for bordering areas?

5. Does the area have physical or cultural phenomenas that need some sort of protection? (spatial, environmental, historic, cultural, or any other issues).

6. What are the local trends that influence the area?

Changes in user group patterns, real-estate or market trends, new influential owners, migration trends, any other.

7. Are global trends influencing the area? Reconstruction trends for energy saving measures, high fuel prices encouraging public transport use or any other.

8. In the broadest sense how could (tehcnological) innovations influence the area? In example innovative parking systems, shared-car consepts,

new digital possibilities in street design, new types of open space activities, the use of social media etc.

9. Usability of urban public spaces is not only about necessary functions and attractive environmental conditions, but also a matter of lifestyle and habits.

What could be done to encourage users in this specific area to spend more time outdoors?

10. What could be the 'other' that makes urban public space 'alive' in this specific area?

Endnote - The collection of questions provided does not apply to be finite and can be cut and / or supplemented when relevant for the particular area

General questions about the specific analysed area.

Users

General questions

Q U E S T I O N S

46 CASE STUDY -1

CASE STUDY -1 47

Testing part 2 - case studies.

Part 03

48 AVAPILT CASE STUDY -148

CASE STUDY -1 AVAPILT 49p h o t o S v e n Z a c e k

49

TEST CASE 1

A S U B U R BIN VIIMSI

50 AERO CASE STUDY -1

AIANDI

SUUR-KAARE

KESK-KAARE

VÄIKE-KAARE

VIIEVELLE

TIIGI

VEHEMA

PÄRNAMÄE WATERRESERV

TO VIIMSICENTER

TO VIIMSICENTER

50

51 AERO CASE STUDY -1

100m 500m

PÄRNAMÄE

VIIMSI BANK

240 PRIVATE HOUSES AND APARTMENTS700 INHABITANTS4,3% OF VIIMSI (17000 IN TOTAL)

51

all maps - www.maaamet .ee

VIIMSI BANK

CASE STUDY -1 ANALYSE52

Site plan

On the plateau a snowpark is opened in 2013Mysterious cavesThe lower and upper Viimsi

Kal

li P

iht

ww

w.e

nvir.

ee

GULF OFHAABNEEME

MI IDURANNAH A R B O U R(TRANSIT)

SOOSEPA BOG

TALLINN CENTER 9k m

VII

MSI

BA

NK

(ALT

0-3

0m)

V I IMSI BANK

(ALT 0-15m )VIIMSIPARISHCENTRE

THE SITE

1km500m

ANALYSE 53CASE STUDY -1

Viimsi is a small bupopulous parish lo-cated North-East ofTallinn centre . His-torically a an areaknown for f ishermanvil lages, the currentcentre was formedin 1950s, whenViimsi was anestablished area ofcollective farmingand fishing industry.The Viimsi land-scape is stronglydetermined by theViimsi plateau thatdivides the centreinto lower and upperpart. The upper part,where the site islocated, used to bea farmland ti l l thenew developmentsappeared in the late1990s and most ofall during the lastdecade when thebui lding boomraised the popu-lat ion from around6000 to almost 17000 inhabitants.

The site in thePärnamäe vi l lage isa typical suburb builtat the times of rapidchange in the so-ciety. At the t imeowning a personalhouse was a dreamfor many and thegeneral public didnot have highdemands for thesurroundinginfrastructure.

The site is surr-ounded by manypicturesque placesof nature: the Viimsibank and the sea;old farm land-scapes, a bog andwoods.

The site and the proximity

Kal

li P

iht

Pee

p K

irbits

Viim

si s

now

park

A lighthouse at the bank plateauThe bank plateau is covered with fully grown trees

The main road of the site - Viievelle tee

Though the pond has been used for swimming it is currently permitted.

A typical street layout. There are no bars nearby

CASE STUDY -1 ANALYSE54

SSALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

S

S

S

SALE

S

1km

Indoor functions and the context

GAS STATION

HOTEL

SPA

RESTAURANT/CAFE

BAR

CONSTRUCTION SHOP

BANK / ATM

MUSEUM

CHURCH

CULTURE HALL

HOSPITAL

PHARMACY

PANSION

MUNICIPAL SCHOOL

MUNICIPAL KINDERGARTEN

LIBRARY

SPORTS HALL

OTHER SHOP OR SERVICE

LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

POST OFFICE

GROCERY

MALL

PRIVATE KINDERG. / DAYCARE

MANOR

MUSIC SCHOOL

NOTES:There are three bus stops and two bus lines in theservice of the area. Timetable is sparse, V4 line isoperating only 3 times a weekday.

Publictransport

V E H E M A

VIIEVELLE TEE

PAEKAARE

TALLINN CENTER 12km

VIIMSIPARISHCENTER

THE SITE

500m

CLOSEST SCHOOL 2,4 KM

CLOSESTGROCERY

MUNICIPALITY 1,9 KM

15min

6min

22min

25min

15min

8min10min

5min

4min

8min

5min

22min

CLOSESTMUNICIPALKINDERGARTEN

SALE

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* In terms of public space and walkable distances, the siteis disconnected from all primary functions.

ANALYSE 55CASE STUDY -1

SINGLE FAMILY HOUSES

ROW-HOUSES, 3-8 APARTMENTS

SOCIAL / BUSINESS LAND

PUBLIC GREENERY

YIELD PROPERTY

AIANDI ST. PÄRNAMÄE ST .

VI IEVELLE ST.

VEHEMA ST .

SUUR-KAARE.

KESK-KAARE

VÄIKE-KAARE

TIIGI

HIKING / TREKKING

STADIUM

SPORT FIELD

PARK

PLAYGROUND

MANOR

BAR

RESTAURANT

BEACH

PANSION GARDEN

SKYING

SNOW TUBE

Outdoor functions and the context

Current landfunction

1km500m

10min

5min

4min

25min

15min

8min

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

PROACTIVER O L E

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* The centre offers a variety of outdooractivities, on the site the only activity takesplace on e light traffic roads.

NOTES:* Only one social / business land function

CASE STUDY -1 ANALYSE56

Site indoor functions, outdooractivity

BIKING

TREKKING / HIKING

JOGGING

ROLLER-SKATING

PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN / DAYCARE

DWELLINGS

BUS STOPS

100m

Future developments of nearbyterritories according to thegeneral plan of Viimsi parish.

Futuredevelopments

INDOOR FUNCTIONS

OUTDOOR FUNCTIONS

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

PROACTIVER O L E

MAINLY DWELLINGS

BUSINESS LAND

MAINLY INDUSTRIAL LAND

PUBLIC GREENERY

MAJOR LIGHT TRAFFIC ROADS

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

N O C U R R E N TR O L E

THECENTRE

THESITE

NOTES:* The site and the surroundings are suitablefor recreational activities like walking, jogging,biking, hiking etc. There are no extraversivefunctions besides the private kindergarten.

NOTES:* Future plans to the North-West of the siteare favorable. New light traffic roads on thebank plateau promise to become popular andencourage outdoor activities.

ANALYSE 57CASE STUDY -1

Users

The site is situated in Viimsi Parish and is part ofPärnamäe Village. Due to the fact that the site hasbeen developed from a pasture land in the last 10years, the village has no sense of belonging. In2013 there are 1300 inhabitants in the village,among them about 700 who live on the site (4,1%of all inhabitants in Viimsi Parish).

Site users are local residents only. To some extentthere are users from the neigbouring areas usingthe benefits of good-conditioned pedestrian andbike roads on street Aiandi and Pärnamäe. In rarecases the main distribution street Lageda is usedby the vechile traffic users bordering in the southof the site.

Majority of local users are young families with kids.Most of the adults are middle-aged, some familieslive together with grandparents.

There is currently no active community on the site.Among the reasons is the short history of the site,after 10 years the site is still not yet fully occupied.Though there is a general trend among Estoniansat the age of 20-35 to become more involved andorganised in their neigbourhood, it has happenedonly in the proximity of city centers and inestablished districts with a character and history.

LOCALRESIDENTS

AIANDI AND PÄRNAMÄELIGHT TRAFFIC USERS

FROM NEIGBOURINGAREAS

SELDOM LAGEDA STREETVECHILE TRANSIT USERS

age 25-45age 0-12

age 60-85

CAR

PUBLIC TRANSPORT WALKINGBIKING

MODE OF TRANSPORTIN VIIMSI

A TYPICAL PUBLIC SPACEACTIVITY PATTERN(ILLUSTRATIVE)

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00WEEKDAYS

WEEKENDS 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00

WORKING-AGE

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00WEEKDAYS

WEEKENDS 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00

KIDS

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00WEEKDAYS

WEEKENDS 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00

PEOPLE STAYING HOME

LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

LOCALRESIDENTS

LOCAL POLITICIANS

"ACTORS" INFLUENCINGTHE STATE OF AREA

USERS

LEAVING HOME ARRIVING

SPORTS

LEAVING HOME ARRIVING BIKING

BIKINGBIKING STROLLING

GARDENING / A WALK WITH BABIES/ SPORTS

GARDENING / A WALK WITH BABIES/ SPORTS

NOTE - The given data is based on personalobservations: field mapping and empiricalknowledge as a frequent user (the author has livedand in the proximity of the site from 1984 to 2004).Field mapping was carried out on two days: 24-25April 2013.

U S E R S

NOTES:* Quite predictablyactivities in a suburb publicspace are rare, most of thepeople use these spacesto arrive or leave. Publicspace is used with somefrequency by cycling kids,mothers with baby prams,and recreational sports.

CASE STUDY -1 ANALYSE58

Attractivity, convenience issues

1 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

1 MISSING SHORTCUTDue to the Viimsi Bank landscape, access to parishcenter takes a long detour. Currently it takesapproximately 22 minutes to walk to Viimsi center. Whena light traffic road would be made over the plateau, itwould shorten the trip to 12 minutes, offering a pleasanttrip through an evironment that shapes Viimsi. Descentfrom the bank can be included in the currently plannedsnowing track in the proximity of school and kindergarten.

2/3/8 AWFUL BUS STOPBus stops are cruicial to access the center and Tallinn.Currently the stops are without a hard road coverage andbus shelter, not speaking of trash bin andaesthetics.These places are unpleasant and unsafelyclose to the vechicle road, discouraging the use of publictransport.

3 RAISED SIDEWALK EDGEBus stops are cruicial to access the center and Tallinn.Currently the stops are without a hard road coverage andbus shelter, not speaking of trash bin andaesthetics.These places are unpleasant and unsafelyclose to the vechicle road, discouraging the use of publictransport.

4 ROAD COVER / ATTRACTIVITYThe Viievelle road acts as the main distribution road,slightly decending to the South-East it offers nice views.Currently the road coverage is rough asphalt, notallowing alternative recreational uses like roller-skatingand roller-skying. Both sides of the road are empty andunwelcoming. Attractivity of this main road plays a role inencouraging the locals to spend more time outdoors.

Both road segments have been in unfinished state over aperiod of time. The reason for that is not known. As thereis a child daycare on Suure-Kaare road, it is important forthe locals to have reasonable access to it by foot, bikesand cars. The lack of municipality kindergartens in Viimsiis an argument to put pressure on the municipality to fixelementary issues.

6 MISSING PEDESTRIAN LINKVäike-Kaare road currently has a dead end. As thisdirection leads to another private kidergarten onVehema road 6, it would enhance the pedestrianaccess, especially because of the natural landscapesurrounfing the link, reminding the past of the site -agriculture. The land is not agriculturally used anymore and though in private hands, a temporary low-budget pedestrian path could be discussed.

7 WATER ACTIVITIES BANNEDThe master plan of the site has reserved the pondand its south-facing shore for public use. To drive offthe hastle around allowing water activities officially,the municipality has put out a sign that bannesswimming. The pond is potentially a place to go outfor swimming, small hobby boats, fishing, ice-skatingin the winter. To enjoy the environment in general.

10 MISSING ROAD LINKIt is a matter of covenience to have a street networkwith a good connectivity. Pleasant conditionsdetermine how much we spend time outdoors andweakens sociability between people living on thesame street. If a family at the north part of Suur-Kaare street wants to access the child daycare at theother end of the street, today they probably use a carto deal with the detour.

11 MISSING PEDESTRIAN LINKThe site master plan has reserved a narrow piece ofland between the private houses to allow pedestrianand bike connection between Kesk-Kaare road andPärnamäe road. Pärnamäe road offers access tohiking / trakking paths and therefore makes thisconnection important for the local residents. Forsome reason today this link is missing, plus themaster plan has not planned further connection to thesite main road Viievelle. With some houses unbuilt,today there is a possibility to replan this section,whether by the municipality buing a piece of landback from private owners or by agreeing with theowners to allow pedestrian passage.

100m

5/9 ROAD COVER

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N V E N I E N C E

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

7

1

6

4

3

2,3,8

3

ANALYSE 59CASE STUDY -1

Unused / Residual space / Potentials

1

2

3

6

54

7

8

92

1 EMPTY BUILDINGOne of the last recollections of the Viimsi Manoragricultural past, the old hay barn. The building isabandoned and in bad shape.

2 RESIDUAL LANDON THE ROADSIDE OF AIANDI TEESpace around the main light traffic road seems vast andis certainly not in human scale. Currently the territory iscovered mostly by lawn and with some rare bushes.

3 RESIDUAL LAND ON THE ROADSIDESAgain a lot of unused space around the maindistribution road making the spatial experiencedull and inpersonal. Currently the territory iscovered just by lawn. On both sides of the 6mwide road there is 8,5m that could potentially betaken into some form of use.

4/5 PLEASANT PLACESBoth street crossings are pleasant plases because of thespatial arrangement, vegetation, slight topographicchanges and views. On these crossings the fences of theprivate gardens create a square-like feeling, both theroad and the lawn strips included form a 15x20mcrossing space. The sharp edges of the private lotsfacing "squares" are hard to include in private gardeningand are not used. These private edges could potentiallywork as extensions of the "squares".

6 POTENTIAL ACTIVITY PLACEThe master plan of the site has reserved the pondand its south-facing shore for public use. To drive offthe hastle around allowing water activities officially,the municipality has put out a sign that bannesswimming. The pond is potentially a place to go outfor swimming, small hobby boats, fishing, ice-skatingin the winter. To enjoy the environment in general.

7 RESIDUAL EARTH PILESWhen foundations for private houses are built there isa significant quantity of earth that is left over and isfreighted off the site. These piles of earth can easilybe used to make public landscape more personaland playful.

8 UNUSED FUNCTIONAL LOTFor the whole living district the master plan reservedonly one lot for business and social function. Inprivate hands building a business and for examplekindergarten for such a small community is notattractive for investors. The nearest crocery beingwithin 22 minute walk from the site, the use of publicspace and the quality of local life would benefit a lotfrom a small shop that would cover basic needs.Perspectives for social function are supported byfavorable position and good views from the place.

9 EMPTY BUILDINGSThere are two 40-50 years old cow barns that havenot been used for about 5 years. According to Viimsigeneral plan the land is marked for business function.In a broader context of local developments it is highlyprobable that the transformation will not realise before5 years. Has potential for temporary use.

100m

12m 8,5m 5+1m 8,5m 7m

PASSIVER O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

N O C U R R E N TR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

9

1

7

4

3

2

3

SECTION OF THE MAIN ROADVIIEVELLE TEEThe "streetscape"has residual space

THE STREET 23m

NOTES:* There is enough residual space for interventions

CASE STUDY -1 PROPOSAL60

Conclusion

Separate from the Viimsi centre, the quality of the publicspace on the site relies greatly on the interest and activityof local residents. To make a change there has to be anorganised initiative group.

In terms of walkable distances and the the potentialuse of open spaces the site is disconnected from theViimsi centre.

1

Establishing a small community shop and and a simplemeeting place (e.g playground) would be a good firstmove.

5

Quite predictably a typical suburblayout is introverted and does notfavor sociability and the use ofpublic space. In case of localinitiative though, there are spatialpotentials to increase activity inbetween buildings.

In principle the site has enough residual space to developpublic activity.

6

3

4

People spend more time in public spaces when they usepublic transport. The timetable and poor quality bus stopsdiscourage the use of public transport.

2 The spatial layout and the location of the suburb does notfavor sociability, when there are people interested increating it, it is possible to do so by getting organised.

The site and the surroundings are a good setting forrecreational sports.

7

PROPOSAL 61CASE STUDY -1

10 min. walk - a crucial shortcut1

a schematic

Proposal

VIIMSIPARISHCENTER

THE SITE

EXISTING 700M SECTION OFAN OLD GRAVEL ROAD. THEROAD COVER NEEDS TO BECHANGED.

NEW ACCESS TO THECENTRE. THE DISTANCE IS

CUT FROM 2,4KM TO ONLY 900METERS MAKING IT CA 10 MIN.

WALK FROM THE SITE.RAMP AND STAIRS.

1 Proposed identityFuture goal for all nearby villages - exeptional outdoor sport possibilities

A FUTURE GOAL - LIGHTTRAFFIC ROADS FORRECREATIONAL SPORTS.

THE VIIMSI BANK

THE SOOSEPA BOG

CASE STUDY -1 PROPOSAL62

a schematic

Proposal

BUS STOP ENHANCEMENT

SIDEWALK EDGE LOWERED

UNMOWED LAWN VEGETATION

NEW PEDESTRIAN PATH NEW CROSSWALK

NEW ASPHALT COVER,STREET EXTENSION

UNMOWED LAWN VEGETATION

NEW ASPHALT COVER TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN PATH

PROMOTED NEIGHBOURHOOD TRACK FOR SKYING, ROLLER SKATING, BIKING ETC.

SOCIAL / BUSINESS LANDDEVELOPMENT PHASES: 1. PLAYGROUND 2. SHOP 3. KINDERGARTEN

NEW ACTIVITY PLACE ON THE CROSSING

BUS STOP ENHANCEMENT

TEMPORARY USE OF THE ABANDONED BARN. EXPERIENCE SPACE FOR KIDS

THE POND AS AN ACTIVITY PLACE. ENHANCEMENT - A PATH, SEATS AND SMALL BOAT DOCK

1

2

13

3

10

12 14

15

4

6

7

8

9

11

MAIN STREET ENHANCEMENT: NEW SMOOTH ASPHALT, ACTIVITY POCKETS ...

5

PROPOSAL 63CASE STUDY -1

a schematic

Proposal

For a pedestrian many of the street layouts are perceived"empty" and boring, there is too much residual space on theroadsides to feel cosy, a narrower street or a street with moreversatile sequences can enrich the walking experience. Insummertime the lawn could just be left untouched, a grownwild lawn with many different species can better define thespace and offer a difference. These spaces could also bevegetated with desired plants.

Unmowed lawn / Vegetation1

2 Bus stop enhancementThe bus stops need a proper pavement and a shelter. Astandard shelter could be customised in a desired way.

3 Sidewalk edge lowered

4 Unmowed lawn / Vegetation

5 Main street enhancementThe Viievelle road is 23 meters wide (space between gardenfences) and just feels bleak. The rough asphalt cover should be changed in ideal, asmooth cover allows to use already existing good quality lighttraffic roads in circular routes (roller-skating) that run throughthe site. The road has nice views towards the South, the residualspace on roadsides could be enriched with a few social hubs -e.g. small wooden terracces with a public seat or two and ahuman scale street light. The main road could be a neighbour-hood meeting place, a place to rest when taking a walk.

6 New pedestrian path and crosswalkThe missing street link could be realised when the nearbyowners are willing to give a narrow strip of land for the publicuse. When a crosswalk will be added to pass the Pärnamäestreet, it is possible to get to an existing hiking path and alsoget a more sociable street network.

7 New asphalt cover, street extensionThe road is currently without a proper cover, while the closestchild daycare is situated on this street it is essential to providean elementary street quality. The road needs to be extendedto North-West, to eliminate the current detours when theresidents of North-West area want to get to the child daycare.

8 New asphalt coverProvide an elementary steet quality and allow circular sportroutes (roller-skating, trekking, biking).

9 New activity place on the crossingThere are a few places with a nice view and cosy spatiallayout, this is one of them. With good views to four directions,the crossing is a potential meeting place. Adding a small andsimple wooden terrace with a public seat and a human scalestreetlight could make this place a nice social hub for childrento meet and play. The asphalt on the crossing could bepainted (temporarily) and used to play the hoppers game.

10 Temporary pedestrian pathTill there is no other funcion on the old farmland a temporarypedestrian path could be founded. A simple gravel coveredpath would provide the shortest distance from the centre of thesite to the nearby municipal kindergarten. The descendinglandscape allows nice South views.

11 Promoted trackThe central Viievelle road and the boundary roads could bepromoted in the community to be used for differentrecreational sports like roller-skating, trekking, biking etc. Inwinter it is quite easy to create a cross-country skying route, itonly needs a first activist and an agreement with themunicipality, not to destroy the track during the snowmanagement.

12 The pond as an activity placeThough the pond has been used for swimming in the pastthere is currently a sign that prohibits it. Probalby the reasonof the sign is the municipalities wish to be carefree about theuse of the pond. The North shore is a potential activity place, when the localsare interested, it would not be difficult nor costly to create awalkable path, a small terracce with seats and a small boatdock.

14 Social / Business landThough most of the private house plots have now been built,the only plot of land for business and social function is stillvacant. When the locals are willing to collaborate, the plotcould be advanced in phases. First a community playground isestablishe (use the leftover soil brom the building sites to formbumps for snow tube). Then a small shop for simple dailyproducts, that the locals wont have to drive to the Viimsicentre for a botlle of milk or bread. Third, find push themunicipality to build a kindergarten (the existing ones alreadyhave long waiting lines).

15 Temporary use of the abandoned barnFind the owner of the old abandoned barn and discusstemporary use. The old barn is a reminiscence of the pasttimes - the collective farming period. It would be interesting forkids to get to know these times and see how an old barnworked in the old days.

13 Bus stop enhancement

64 AVAPILT CASE STUDY -264

CASE STUDY -2 AVAPILT 65

TEST CASE 2

T H E N E WTARTU

C E N T E R

p h o t o A r n e M a a s i k65

66 AERO CASE STUDY -2

PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE

VÄIKE TURU

OLD TOWN

VÕIDU BRIDGE

KALURI

T U R U

RII

A

SO

OL

A

SA

DA

MA

1

2

3

4

5 6

7

8

9 10

11

12

13

1415

16

17

18

19

66

CASE STUDY -2 AERO 67

THE ANNECHANNEL

TO ANNELINN

RIVER EMAJÕGI

1 OFFICE BUILIDING "PLASKU"2 "TASKU" MALL3 HOTEL DORPAT4 COACH STATION5 GAS STATION6 M C D O N A L D S7 NORDEA BANK8 HOTEL TARTU9 SPORTS CENTER10 WATER CENTER "AURA"11 SCIENCE CENTER "AHHAA"12 RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE "T IGUTORN"13 ESTONIAN MATRITIME ADMINISTRATION14 OFFICES15 O P E N -AIR MARKET16 INDOOR MARKET17 PROJECT-BASED THEATER18 BOAT HARBOUR WAREHOUSE19 LEISURE BOAT HARBOUR20 H O B B Y -BOAT HARBOUR21 ZEPPELIN MALL22 OLD BOILERHOUSE23 OLD RAILSHELTER

20

21

22

23

67

300m

all maps - www.maaamet .ee

100m

CASE STUDY -2 ANALYSE68

Site plan

1k m

The site is situated in the center of Tartucity, Estonia. With its 100 000 inhabitants,the status of the second city in Estonia, theimage of a university city and an easy-goingmood, Tartu has many similarit ies withArhus in Denmark.

The site is situated North-East from the oldcityand is clearly defined by Emajõgi river inthe North and two major connecting streets:Riia street running North-South and Turustreet running East-West . The area used tobe an outskirt before the bombings in early1940`s. From 1960`s to 1990`s theregeneration added only afew functions:the main coach stat ion, outdoor market anda few buildings with minor importance. In1990`s the development accelerated andaround 2000 the area started to be labeledas the new center. Today the area is mainlyknown for the first Tartu high-rise "plasku",residential high-rise "snailtower",commercial mal l "Tasku", Tartu coachstation, popular science center "Ahhaa" andopen-air markerplace. Developments in thearea have lately been under crit icismbecause of planning the area piece bypiece with small master plans while lackingvision. The developments have this farresulted in poor quality open spaces.

1 HISTORIC CITY CENTER2 THE NEW CITY CENTER - THE SITE

12

Mee

lis L

okk

ww

w.ik

odu.

com

Aapo

Haa

pane

nR

ein

Urb

elw

ww

.stu

udio

lege

nd.e

ew

ww

.bal

cone

2012

.ee

A popular museum - Ahhaa Science centre

A hypermarket

The first Tartu high-rise and the main mall

Outdoor marketplace

The city centre promenade

The only residential house on the site - the Snailtower

ANALYSE 69CASE STUDY -2

OFFICE BUILIDING "PLASKU" OFFICESOFFICE BUILIDING "PLASKU" RETAIL

MIX-USE CENTER "TASKU" RETAIL"TASKU" RESTAURANTS"TASKU" CONFERENCE

"TASKU" PHARMACY"TASKU" SUPERMARKET

"TASKU" PIZZA"TASKU" CINEMAHOTEL DORPAT

HOTEL DORPAT RESTAURANTHOTEL DORPAT CONFERENCE

HOTEL DORPAT CASINOCOACH STATION TRAVEL SERVICE

COACH STATION KIOSKCOACH STATION RESTAURANT

COACH STATION CARGO SERVICEGAS STATIONMCDONALDS

NORDEA BANKHOTEL TARTU

HOTEL TARTU CONFERENCEHOTEL TARTU SPA

HOTEL TARTU CAFESPORTS CENTER

WATER CENTER "AURA" POOLSWATER CENTER "AURA" CAFE

SCIENCE CENTER "AHHAA""AHHAA" RENT FOR EVENTS

"AHHAA" RESTAURANTRESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE "TIGUTORN"

"TIGUTORN" PET SHOP"TIGUTORN" AQUALIFE SHOP

ESTONIAN MATRITIME ADMINISTRATIONOFFICES

OPEN-AIR MARKETINDOOR MARKET

PROJECT-BASED THEATERBOAT HARBOUR WAREHOUSE

LEISURE BOAT HARBOURHOBBY-BOAT HARBOUR

ZEPPELIN MALL

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

SCIENCECENTER"AHHAA"

RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE

"TIGUTORN"

WATER-CENTER"AURA" HYPERMARKET

ZEPPELIN

SPORTSCENTER

MCDONALDSRESTAURANT

GAS-STATIONSTATOIL

COACHSTATION

OFFICEBUILDING"PLASKU"

HOTELDORPAT

OPEN-AIRMARKETPLACE

PROJECTBASED

THEATERINDOOR

MARKETPLACE

OFFICES

NORDEABANK

HOTELTARTU OLD

BOILERHOUSE

ESTONIAN MARITIMEADMINISTRATION

OFFICE

BOATHARBOUR

WAREHOUSE

ELECTRICALTERMINAL

OLD RAILSHELTER

VECHICLE ANDPEDESTRIAN

BRIDGE"VÕIDUSILD"

PEDESTRIANBRIDGE

"TURUSILD"LEISURE BOATHARBOUR

HOBBY-BOATHARBOUR

MIX-USECENTER"TASKU"

RIVEREMAJÕGI

CANAL ANNE

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

ON DEMAND

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 067 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06ONLY SPECIFIC TIMES ONLY SPECIFIC TIMES

WEEKDAYS WEEKENDS

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 02 03 04 05 06

Site functions / Users

100m

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

U S E R S

NOTES:* Due to malls and hypermarkets with introvert ground

floor, the open spaces lack evening activity.There could be many more

bars and cafes open till late hours.* There is only one apartment building, the site needs

more local residents

CASE STUDY -2 ANALYSE70

S

SALE

SALESALE

SALE

SALE

S

S

GAS STATION

HOTEL

SPA

RESTAURANT/CAFE

BAR

BANK / ATM

EVENT PLACE

SPORTS HALL

OTHER SHOP OR SERVICE

POST SERVICE

MALL

COACH STATION

WATER CENTER

MARKETPLACE

Extraversive indoor functions

Outdoor activity OPEN-AIR MARKETPLACE

PUBLIC "SQUARE"

FISHING

RESTAURANT TERRACE

HOBBY BOATS / LEISURE BOAT

SKYING

BIKING

BUS STOP

ROLLER SKATING

Estonian Environmental Research Centre (2008)

100m

100m

Prevailing winds

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

PROACTIVER O L E

NOTES:* Though a great variety of assembled functions theopen spaces lack active ground floors

NOTES:* The icons represent possibilities for oudoor activity,in reality many of the places are underused

ANALYSE 71CASE STUDY -2

C O M M E R C ETOURISTS

ESTONIA+A B R O A D

LOCAL RESIDENTS

CAR

PUBLICTRANSPORT

WALKINGBIKING

"ACTORS" INFLUENCINGTHE STATE OF THE AREA

LOCALMUNICIPALITY

REAL-ESTATEM A R K E T

LOCAL RESIDENTS

LEISUREAND SPORTSW O R K P L A C E S

LOCAL POLITICIANS

LANDO W N E R S

GLOBALECONOMICS

THE CITY OF TARTUCOMPANY "GIGA"COMPANY "ESTIKO"OWNER OF VÄIKE-TURU 7OWNER OF TURU 6

EU DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

GENERAL PUBLIC

The epithet " Tartu new center" is very young, the wholeterritory has taken contours within a rather short period.Currently there is no clear established identity but there aremany contestants.

When the first office high-rise "Plasku" arose, the area wasconceived as a place of wealth and exclusivity. Soon theTasku mall and sport centers brought the territory to themap of broader range of users. The recent addition -Ahhaa popular Science Center, basically a museum,attracts young people and families, both estonian andforeign tourists. The open-air marketplace has stayedpopular through the years, especially among oldergeneration, but recent eco-trends have also started toattract the younger generation.

The strongest natural character, the river Emajõgi, hasalways been important for Tartu. The river is cherished butin an everyday scene, it is not mentally apparent, it`spresence is not visible. In that sense Tartu is still sufferingfrom the wreckage of the World War II, there is not enoughbuilding mass at the riverbanks to sustain activity and keepit stabile.

Though the site constitutes an interesting combination ofmixed functions where users are not homogenous, it mightbe generalised that the clearest image the site bares is aconsumerist one. This thesis is supported by a well visiblefact that people visit the site out of specific necessity andnot spontaneity.

TASKU MALLCOACH STATIONMARKETPLACEAHHAA SCIENCE MUSEUM

THE STATE (COACH STATION)THE MARKETPLACEAHHAA SCIENCE CENTERLOCAL RESIDENTS

Users

used by mid-age and older people, the theatrecalls for people interested in culture, the mallshave something to offer for everyone. Hotels, thecoach station and the Ahhaa Centre also bring indistant visitors and tourists.

NOTES:

* The main problem regarding the use of openpublic spaces is the dominance of commercialfunction, the typology of a mall is built around theidea of an interior public spaces. The model of ahypermarket user is an user with a car. The mostinfluential function - the Tasku mall is also situatedin the corner of the site - people arrive and leavewithout having the pass through the area. Thearea has a dramatically few ground floor functionsthat communicate on street level.

*The dominance of the car, unattractive andincomplete open spaces and unused riverpotentials are keeping the footfall on the streetslow.

* Regarding future developments the site needsmore apartments and local residents.

MAIN USERS

Identity

MODES OF TRANSPORT

USER MAGNETS

POTENTIAL ACTORS

T

NOTE - The given data is based on personalobservations: field mapping and empiricalknowledge as a frequent user (the author has livedand worked in the proximity of the site from 2008).Field mapping was carried out on three days: 27-29 April 2013.

The site attracts a diverseset of user groups from allover Tartu and evenfurther.

The Ahhaa Science Centre(museum) is very popularamong young people, themarketplace is frequently

U S E R S

I D E N T I T Y

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

CASE STUDY -2 ANALYSE72

ADDITIONAL UNOFFICIAL PATHS

T U R U

VÄIKE-TURU

SA

DA

MA

KALURI

SO

OL

A

Pedestrian network

Vehicle congestion

48%

100m

100m

OFFICIAL PEDESTRIAN PATHS

Vehicle network

100m

MARKET ENTRANCE ?

ENTRANCE?

MAIN PEDESTRIAN PATH

910

12

8 13

11

1

3

5

4

6

7

of open spacevehicle defined

NOTES:* Pedestrian network is incomplete anddysfunctional

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N V E N I E N C E

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

14

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

1

2

2

3

2

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

NOTES:* The vehicle network is fine with currenttraffic turnover and has some reserveto keep running without major incon-veniences when the turnover increases

NOTES:* The number of parking lots andincomplete pedestrian networkdiscourage the use of openpublic spaces.

ANALYSE 73CASE STUDY -2

Cycle network

PARKING SPACE 150 CARS VS. 5 BIKES

100m

MISSING LINKSOFFICIAL CYCLE PATHS

T U R U

VÄIKE-TURU

SA

DA

MA

SO

OL

A

100m

Public transport

EXISTING BIKE PARKINGLACK OF PARKING

PROMENADE?

INCONVENIENTENTRANCE TO THE SITE

LACK OF CYCLE PARKING

17

16

2

15

16

18

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

6

5

4

4 7 11 15

16128

9 13

10 14 18

17

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

NOTES:* Bus stop locations are in principle welldistributed buthave quality problems. Thecoach station is a representative publicfunction of a city, it is clearly too small andvery modest. The general public is nostalgicabout the old coach station.

NOTES:* Cycle network incomplete.* Lack of parking possibilities discouragesbike use. The local workplaces shouldpromote bike use.

CASE STUDY -2 ANALYSE74

Free pedestrian movement problems

Attractivity laws

1.People coming from the old city have to takelong detours to get to the center of the site,missing diagonal crosswalk makes the passunconvenient.2.Bridge stairs are not accessible for strollers,cycles, wheelchairs. Detour option takes150m and is not visible.3.An example of public space privatisation,lately the municipality gave green light toextend the commercial center and loose thestreet. Doors at the both end leave a chanceto pass through the commercial corridor.4.The riverbank levels are connected by stairs,for the 220m section there are only twosoviet time ramps, both of them do not meetnowaday requirements.5.According to laws the banks of waterbodieshave to be accessible for public. At this pointthe passage is closed with a metal fence.6.A sovet time "aesthetic park" with trees,grass, paths and no seats is outdated incurrent spatial situation. Dorpat hotel and it`sparking area have changed the waymarketplace is approached. The hedges andpaths are not spatially and visibly logical.7.Car parking management obstructs the mainentrance to the marketplace.8.Official pedestrian movement has a brokenlogic, long detours have to be taken whenapproached along the river and towrds thecoach station. Pedestrian movementpatterns show that the crossing is used in alldirections. Crossing has raised edges.9.Tasku mall and coach station are the mostvital functions in the area. These functionscreate pedestrian flow which is drawn tomove between Turu street and to themarketplace using the west side of Soolastreet. The narrow pavement is literally abus stop. Overcrowded and obstructed bycolumns the path is annoying to use. Officialpedestrian path is on the other side of theroad.10.The North section of the main pedestrianpath suddenly makes a 6m step and is notvisually perceived as a whole. Whenapproaching the marketplace from theSouth, the entrance is not visible.11.Peculiar sidewalk edges - 3m wide sidewalkhas raised edges and 1m wide rampresulting in potentially dangerous situationswhen pedestrians and cycles are passing atthe same time. Edges should be fullylowered.12.According to the master plan Kaluri street isa pedestrian promenade, in reality it endswith a vehicle road, detours have to be takento get to the sidewalk. The sidewalk is rathernarrow and passes between parking carsand Nordea bank. The promenade isspatially and visually incomplete.13.Raised sidewalk edges.14.Unclear traffic regulation, pedestians rathercross the parking lot.15. / 16.The sport club is accessible only by stairs.17.Sidewalk ends with a large grass field. Manypeople prefere to take a detour and crossthe grass to be in a safe distance form Turustreet traffic and noise.18.Pedestrian use pattern proves the need fordiagonal passage through the area.Pedestrian paths are arrangeduncomfortably making detours. A section ofthe official path is right in front of "AhhaaCenter" parking entrance, making itpotentially dangerous.19.Inarticulate pedestrian movement. Somesidewalks just end up on the grass.Practically people move across the messyparking area. There is no crosswalk betweenthe pedestrian bridge and Tigutorn high-rise.A traffic sign right in the middle of the narrowsidewalk.20.The Zeppelin mall has two entrances, themain one and a supporting one. The pathfrom the main entrance to the pedestrianpromenade crosses parking area and is notmarked. For a pedestrian this link isperceived as a territory of the car.21.People entering from the South movetowards the site center across the lawn. Thepath to the Zeppelin main entrance runsbetween cars and the building, and is reallynarrow.

22.Tasku Mall entrance connects pedestrianflow between the marketplace and the coachstation. People have to cross a huge parkingarea where also coaches are manouvering.Official paths are rarely used beacause ofdetours.23.The Dorpat Hotel coach parking obstructsthe traffic and cuts off visual contacts withone of the main pedestrian roads.24.According to the law the banks ofwaterbodies have to be publicly accessible.At this point the passage is closed with ametal fence with the exeption of a 1,5m widegap.25.The riverbank design has deteriorated andneeds refreshment. Due to unattractivity thegeneral public perceives the place as ratherdistant and "shadowy" area.26.The Sadamateater (Port Theatre)architecture has made a public buildingextremely introverted. The building turns it`sback towards the main pedestrian arrival,the main entrance of the building is notclearly visible. Windows are constantlyblinded.27.The marketplace is organised around thecourtyard, the "walls" are mostly "mute",without too many entrances and windows.The current state is unaesthetical. A popularmarketplace needs to be upstanding, opento the river and nearby activities. The indoormarket building is separated.28.A sovet time "aesthetic park" withtrees,grass, paths and no seats is outdatedin todays spatial situation. Dorpat hotel andits parking area have changed the waymarketplace is approached. The hedges andpaths are not spatially and visibly logical.29.The main local bus-line stop is situated on a25cm high narrow sidewalk strip. Betweenthe parking lot and a frquently used trafficroad this bus stop location is extremelyunwelcoming.30.City`s main international coach station istightly attached to tasku mall. There is notenough space in- and outdoor. Arhitecturalimage is not suitable for a representativefunction. The reason for current situation isthe municipalitys decision that gaveresposnibility for organising the building totasku mall owners.31.Exhibited trash containers ruin public spacein several places.32.Well exponated electricity center andcongestion of different signs ruin the overallexpression.33.Even when the barrier is made of glass, itmakes the narrow sidewalk feel spatiallyharassing.34.For some reason snow management isprioritised for vehicle traffic streets.35.High-rise "tigutorn" facade facing the river isinactive. 100 meters of mute wall makes ithard to create convivial public space.36.On the pedestrian road the entrance to the"Ahhaa" Center and it`s restaurant areinvisible and not provided with signs. Groundlevel windows facing the promenade arereflective and do not communicate whatsindoor.36. 37.The sport center facades are not in humanscale and do not communicate what`sindoor. Vast and empty green fields make awalk as unattractive as possible. One of thereasons why pedestrian promenade withmany seats and table tennis is rarely used isthe muteness of the surrounding artificialenvironment.38.The pedestrian promenade is sided by"Aura" Water Center. The ventilation systemon a low roof creates constant loud noise. Astay in the public promenade is very shortand only out of neccesity.

Aura center glass-facade facing thepromenade is too far out to see whathappens indoor, the current situation isthough attractive in the dark period whenindoor lights are lit.39.Failed location for a public space. Anexample of planning public spaces bymaster plans that cover only fragmentedterritories. A place is chosen within thelimitations of the owners plot, between theparking lot and the mute mall facade.

100m

100m

f

1

2 3

44

45

67

8

9

10

11

12

13

1415

1617

18

19

21

2022

23

24

26

27

28

30

27

29

32

34

35

36

3738

39

33

31

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

25

3131

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N V E N I E N C E

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C L E A N L I N E S S

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

PUBLIC SEATS

NOTES:* The site swarms of problems

NOTES:* The site swarms of problems

ANALYSE 75CASE STUDY -2

MARKETPLACEVIEW

ONE OF THEMAIN PATHS?

PATH TO THEPROMENADE

WHEELCHAIRS?

TASKU

N OPASS

AN INTROVERT THEATER

WELCOMING?

DETOUR

1 3 4 8

1516

12109

17 19 1929

20

26252322

27 28

32 33

30

34

31

35

3737

393938

3636

38

CASE STUDY -2 ANALYSE76

Safety issues

1.Potential ly a great place, there areseveral issues. First the riverbankdesign has deteriorated and needsrefreshment, due to unattractivity thegeneral public perceives the place asrather distant and "shadowy". Themain users are elderly people onmornings and afternoon, in theevenings young and mid-age streetdrinkers. Unclarity makes rail ings atsome spots unsafe.

2.Pedestrian user patterns prove thattraff ic is de facto used as sharedspace by both vehicles andpedestr ians. Holding on to the officialregulation creates a higher accidentrisk.

3.4.Only 1m wide ramp creates potential lydangerous si tuat ions whenpedestrians and cycles are passing atthe same t ime. Sidewalk edges shouldbe lowered.

5.Higher accident r isk when cars makethe right turn and drive to the parkinglot.

6.Pedestrian crosswalk is placed in rightin front of garage entrance. Whencars are leaving the concrete barrierblocks their view. There are no safetymirrors provided.

DE FACTOOFFICIAL PATH

100m

1

2

3

5

6

7

4

S A F E T Y

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

1

6

5

2

3,4

NOTES:* The numerous unofficial pedestrian pathsincrease accident risk. In many places thestreets are literally used as shared spaces.

ANALYSE 77CASE STUDY -2

MIXED-USE

BUSINESS/RESIDENTIALNEW

MARKETPLACE

MIXED-USE

MALL ANDCOACH

STATIONEXTENSION

COACHSTATIONSTOPS

MIXED-USE

HOTELEXTENSION

MIXED-USE

MALLEXTENSION

MIXED-USE

MIXED-USE

100m

Future developments according to the general plan of Tartu center (2013)

1.The riverbank has potential fora continuous publicpromenade.

2.These passive grass f ieldscurrently do not contribute topublic space and could be re-evaluated.

3.A park -like green area with fullygrown trees is currentlyinactive. Active public park orother use may be considered.

4.The grass lawn territory couldbe used to enhance publ icspace.

5.Another empty grass f ieldbordered by two mute facades.

6.A vast unused asphalt f ield.

7.An empty grass f ield, used bypedestr ians to make shortcuts.

Future developments, unused andresidual spaces

1

123

45

6

2

7

3-53-5

1

4-6 3-5

3-4

4-6

6

6

4-6

24-6

4-6

3

3

PASSIVER O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

N O C U R R E N TR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

6

1

6

5

1

4

7

NOTES:* The upcoming developments need to consider the area asa whole (recently the site has been developed by fragmentedmaster plan envelopes)

CASE STUDY -2 PROPOSAL78

Conclusion

The poor public space of the new center is a result of different planning decisions andthe slow development process - the area is still not established.

The main aspect of the current failiure is spatial - a combination of car congestion,large and undefined open spaces and incomplete pedestrian street network, openspaces are clearly difficult and inconvenient to navigate.

Planning and building according to master plans that cover only small territories hasresulted in incomplete and alogical solutions. In addition to the official pedestrian pathsthere is the same amount of unofficial paths, often these shortcuts ignore trafficregulations and create a higher accident risk.

Many recent developments have been dictated by investors while the public voice hasstayed modest. In a situation where the city land is still waiting to be cultivated andthere are very few local residents, there is not enough sense of ownership.

The new center is a place to go out ofnecessity and not spontaneity

1 Car congestion - 48% of open space is vehicle defined,there are too many open parking lots and the parkingmanagement is poor.

2 Unclarity of the pedestrian street network

3 Lack of local residents and sense of ownership

4 Unused outdoor activity potentials

5 Lack of outdoor- and evening activitiy in public spaces

6 No clear identity (also a potential)

PROPOSAL 79CASE STUDY -2

Enhanced entrances

TRANSFORMATION OF THE OLDBRIDGE (RAMPS ADDED)

NEW CROSSWALKBRIGHT COLURED STREET COVER

TO MARK THE MAIN ENTRANCE

1

Quick public space quality fixes

General:

Big trash containersrepositioned and camouflaged

Sidewalk edges loweredAdditional bike lane markings

and parking placesMore public seats in

carefully chosen locationsSidewalk obstructions removed

Dangerous traffic situations fixed

BEFORE COLSTLY BRIDGETRANSFORMATION SAVE 70M

DETOUR BY TEMPORARY RAMP.ADD VISIBLE SIGNS

PEDESTRIAN PATH PAVEMENT

TRAFFIC LIGHT THAT INCLUDES CYCLISTS

2

MAKE SPORT CENTRE FACADESMORE ATTRACTIVE. LARGE BLANK

WALLS ARE SUITABLE FOR GRAPHICART. ADD RAMP ACCESS

ENHANCE THEATER FACADESROOF-TERRACE FOR

PUBLIC USE + NEW CAFE

BEFORE COSTLY RE-DESIGN TESTSHARED SPACE. STREET COVER

TEMPORARILY COLORED

SEATS IN FRONTOF THE MARKETPLACE

TEMPORARY BALL-GAMESFIELD BY THE SPORTCENTRE (VACANT SPACE28x41M)

ROAD PAINTINGS ON THE ASPHALT

PEDESTRIAN PAVEMENT HIGHLIGHTED(BRIGHT ROAD COVER)

BUS STOP REPOSITIONED

TEMPORARY PEDESTRIAN PATH COVER

ADD MISSING CROSSWALK. WIDER PEDESTRIAN PATH (BRIGHT ROAD COVER)

VÄIKE-TURU FACADE MADE ATTRACTIVE

MARK ENTRANCES, REPLACE REFLECTIVE GROUND FLOOR WINDOWS

VENTILATION NOISE REMOVED

a schematic

Proposal

FENCE DEMOLISHED ANDTHE RIVERBANK OPENED

CASE STUDY -2 PROPOSAL80

A continuous river promenade

1. FENCE REMOVED

2. TRANSFORM THE EXISTING PUBLIC AREA

1. TEMPORARY SMALL TERRACES ANDSEATS AS ACTIVITY GENERATORS

1. CUTTING COPSE AND REDUNDANT TREES

1. EXISTING HOBBY BOATSHELTERS MOVED CLOSER TOTHE SITE CENTRE. PROMOTEACTIVITY

3. FULL-SCALE PROMENADE DESIGN,ARCHITECTURAL COMPETITION

1. PROMOTE LEISURE BOAT ACTIVITY

Quick parking fixes

a schematic

Proposal

4

3open parking lots compressed,organised cross-use of parking houses

REMOVED PARKING

REMAINING PARKING

PROPOSAL 81CASE STUDY -2

5

6

a schematic

Proposal

New proactive open-spaces

A REPRESENTATIVE SQUARE.WITH THE 2013-14 COACH

STATION EXTENSION, CREATEAN OUTDOOR WAITING AREA /

SHELTER / PUBLIC PLAZA.ARHITECTURAL COMPETITION

NEW MARKETPLACE OPENEDTO THE RIVER. SOLUTION

PRINCIPLE - OPEN SQUAREAND BORDERING SHELTERS.

CITY-WIDE MULTIFUNCTIONALEVENT SPACE

ACTIVATING THE UNUSEDPARK. A PLACE TO RESTAND PLAY. USERS: OFFICEWORKERS, YOUNGFAMILIES, ELDERLYPEOPLE.

TRANSFORMED INTO PUBLIC PLAZA. THEME-SPORT ACTIVITY. SPORT ATTRACTIONS,EXTREME SPORT FIELD. USERS: YOUNG ANDMID-AGE PEOPLE.

OLD BOILERHOUSE TECHNOLOGICAL SCULPTURES PARK. OIL RESERVUARES ARRANGED INTO OFFICE, CAFE AND PERFORMANCE SPACE.

EXISTING PLAZA - MORESCIENCE CENTER

OUTDOOR ATTRACTIONS

Proposed street network

SHARED SPACE

PEDESTRIANISED ROADS

TRADITIONAL TRAFFIC STREETS(PEDESTRIANS SEGREGATED)

VEHICLE ALLOWANCE LIMITED FORCOACH STATION,

MARKETPLACE,TASKU PARKING HOUSE,

NORDEA BANK,TARTU AND DORPAT HOTEL

CASE STUDY -2 PROPOSAL82

a schematic

Proposal

Long run parking principle

NEW BUILDINGS

Changes in general plan

8

7more pedestrian streets, denser environment, smaller buildings

UNSUITABLE FOR OUTDOOR USES.PROMENADE NEEDS MORE SPATIALDEFINITION. POSSIBLE EXTENSION.

RECONFIGURED TOBLOCK VEHICLE ROADAND DEFINE THE YARD.

THE BOILERHOUSE WILL STOP IN 2014.THE BUILDING STRUCTURE (+YARD)CAN BE REUSED, STRONGTECHNOLOGICAL CHARACTEROFFERS A MARKET PRIVILEDGE WHENDEVELOPED. PROPOSED MODEL -CULTURE+CREATIVE BUSINESSES.

SOOLA STREET IS TOO WIDE, COACH STATION "SQUARE"BENEFITS FROM A MORE DEFINED SPACE + TURU ST.

NOISE IS KEPT AWAY.

PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN ROADNEEDS SPATIAL DEFINITION - A

MARKETPLACE SHELTER TO THENORTH AND A LOW EXTENSION

VOLUME TO THE SOUTH.

WHEN ADDITIONAL BUILDINGSARISE, VÄIKE-TURU STREET

VEHICLE USE WILL BE RELATIVELYHIGH, THEREFORE ADDITIONAL

PEDESTRIAN-ONLY STREET ISPROPOSED AND THE NORTH

SECTOR ENVISIONED AS PARKING-FREE ZONE. THE STREET SHOULD

NOT BE COMPLETELY STRAIGHT.

THE COACH STATION OUTDOORAREA AND THE PARK NEED SPATIAL

DEFINITION

PARKING INTEGRATED TO BUILDINGS

OPEN PARKING LOTS

PROPOSAL 83CASE STUDY -2

9

10

a schematic

Proposal

Sun and shadow implications

Human scale implicaitons

"FRAGMENTED"BUILDINGS INSTEADOF MONUMENTALMASS

RATHER NARROWHUMAN SCALESTREETSCORRESPONDING TOBUILDING HEIGHTS

TO KEEP PEDESTRIAN PATHSAPPEALING BUILDINGS NEEDTO HAVE "BREAKS" OR"GRADIENT" HEIGHTS NOT TOOVERSHADOW THE STREETS

84 AVAPILT CASE STUDY -384

CASE STUDY -3 AVAPILT 85p h o t o A r n e M a a s i k

85

TEST CASE 3

VANA-K A L A M A J A

S T R E E T

86 AERO CASE STUDY -3

OLD TOWN

VA

NA

-KA

LA

MA

JA

PÕHJA-PUIESTEE

KOTZEBUE

NIINE

TÖÖSTUSE

SOO

86

CASE STUDY -3 AERO 87

SOO

JAHU

KÖIE

KÜTI

VÄIKE-PATAREI

SUUR-PATAREI

KALARANNA

THE GULF OFTALLINN

87

300m100m

CASE STUDY -3 ANALYSE88

1

2

Tallinn centre

500m

The site is situated in the Kalamajadistrict North-West to the centre ofTallinn - the medieval town. A garde -ning, farming and f ishing area in themedieval t imes, Kalamaja is known forthe small wooden houses and a rarepreserved mil ieu created in the late19th and early 20th century. The popu-lation of Kalamaja is roughly about9000 people.

In addit ion to the prominent location thedistrict is admired for it`s easy-goingand green neighbourhood, the humanscale bui ldings and small gardens. Thespatial character of Kalamaja is perfectfor generating and support ing socia-bility, some of the most establ ishedcommunit ies are located here.

Today the district is popular amongyoung famil ies and people working inthe creative sector.

500m

The site - Vana-Kalamaja street(Kalamaja district) and bordering attractors

1 THE KALAMAJA DISTRICT2 THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF TALLINN

MARITIMEMUSEUM

PATAREI SEA-FORTRESSPRISON MUSEUM

KALARANDSHORE

LINNAHALLROOFSCAPE

PEETRIYACHT

HARBOUR

THE OLDTOWN

BALTI JAAMMARKETPLACE

THE MUSEUM OFCONTEMPORARY

ART / CULTURECLUSTER

SHNELLIPARK

TRAIN-AND BUS STATION

TORNIVÄLJAKPARK

1,1K M13 MIN.WALK

ANALYSE 89CASE STUDY -3

Vana-Kalamaja street

Mar

ko L

eppi

kw

ww

.rets

iem

.blo

gspo

t.com

ww

w.fl

ickr

.com

(kal

amaj

a7)

ww

w.k

alam

aja.

info

ww

w.fl

ickr

.com

(kai

liuu)

ww

w.fl

ickr

.com

(con

zaqu

enza

)w

ww

.flic

kr.c

om (k

ailiu

u)

ww

w.p

atar

ei.o

rg

ww

w.p

atar

ei.o

rgw

ww

.flic

kr.c

om (k

ailiu

u)

Mar

ko L

eppi

k

The maritime museum

The sea-fortress prison museum

CASE STUDY -3 ANALYSE90

SALE

SALE

SALESALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

SALE

Functions in the proximity

SALE

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

PROACTIVER O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* Functions are assembled around the Southend of Vana-Kalamaja street (the train station)and to the East - by the cultural cluster.

ANALYSE 91CASE STUDY -3

GAS STATION

HOTEL

RESTAURANT/CAFE

BAR

MUSEUM

CHURCH

EVENT SPACE

DISTRICT HEALT SERVICE

PHARMACY

MUNICIPAL SCHOOL

MUNICIPAL KINDERGARTEN

LIBRARY

SPORT CLUB

OTHER SHOP OR SERVICE

LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

POST OFFICE

GROCERY

CONCERT PLACE

STADIUM

SPORT FIELD

PARK

PLAYGROUND

BAR

RESTAURANT

HEALTHSPORT GROUND

SEASONAL FISH MARKET

BOAT HARBOR

ART GALLERY

SOCIAL SERVICE

HOBBY SCHOOL

TRAIN STATION

THEATER

GUEST APARTMENT

VIEWS

MUSEUM YARD

BUS STATION

Main vehicle traf�ic

NEAR-FUTURE TRANSIT ROAD

INDOOR:

OUTDOOR:

TRANSIT

TRANSIT

TRANSIT

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* Main traffic runs on East-West axis. The near-future transit road will have a calming effect forKalamaja district.

CASE STUDY -3 ANALYSE92

200m

Indoor / Outdoor functions

500m

CREATIVE BUSINESS CLUSTER

CAFE-RESTAURANT 'SESOON'

HOTEL 'ECONOMY'

RESTAURANT 'GUSTO'

BAR 'VOLLI'BAKERY/SMALL STORE

LIQUER STORE

PHARMACY SMALL TEXTILE STORE

SMALL ASIA STOREJEWEL STORE

HOTELCAFE-RESTAURANT

BEEKEEPING SHOPCAFE-RESTAURANT

'VANA VAKSAL'

HAIRDRESSER

TAILORINGCURRENCY EXCHANGE

PARTY RENTAL

SECOND HAND

SMALL HOUSEHOLD STORE

HAIRDRESSER

POST OFFICE / PHARMACY

KALAMAJA LIBRARY

CHILDREN MUSEUM

ADULT GYMNASIUMSOCK AND STOCKING STORE

SAUNA 'KALMA'

PROJECT THATER 'TEOTEATER'

KINDERGARTENGALLERY 'MÄSU'

AUDIO-VIDEO STORECHILD DAYCARE

LIQUER STOREKINDERGARTEN

BAKERY, CAFE

WELLNESS STUDIO

LOGISTICS TERMINAL

PATAREI SEA-FORTRESS PRISON MUSEUM

DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTER

LIQUER STORE

a singleoutdoor

activity placePLAYGROUND

no cafeterraces

Street vitality wouldbenefit from add-

itional office space,cafes and shops

E X T R A V E R S I V EF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

I N T R O V E R TF U N C T I O N S

F U N C T I O N S :INDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* There are too few extraversive indoorfunctions and working places* The area lacks outdoor activity places* No public seats on Vana-Kalamaja street

ANALYSE 93CASE STUDY -3

NOTE - The given data is based on personalobservations: field mapping and empiricalknowledge as a frequent user (the author has livedand worked in the area since 2005). Field mappingwas carried out on two days: 18-19 April 2013.

LOCALRESIDENTS

FROM DISTANT AREAS

CARPUBLIC

TRANSPORT

WALKINGBIKING

PASSING BY

WORKING INTHE AREA

CARS ARE MAINLY USEDTO MOVE IN AND OUT

OF KALAMAJA.

LOCALMUNICIPALITY

LOCAL POLITICIANS

LOCALCOMMUNITYGLOBAL

ECONOMICS

REAL-ESTATEM A R K E T COMMUNITY 'TELLISKIVI SELTS'

COMMUNITY 'KALAMAJA SELTS'

OTHER LOCAL RESIDENTS

PARKINGREGULATIONS

UsersThe users of Kalamaja areof all ages. A visiblydistinguishable group (trend)is the young families and theunmarried young peoplewho have replaced a greatnumber of elderly peopleduring the last decade.

MODE OF TRANSPORTIN KALAMAJA

ACTORS INFLUENCINGTHE STATE OF THE AREA

USERS

THE SEASIDE MUSEUMS

PEOPLE OF ALL AGESSPECIAL MENTION :YOUNG FAMILIES

SPECIAL MENTION:CREATIVE SECTOR

KOPLI RESIDENTS

Many of the young and mid-age people areworking in the creative sector. There is onecreative cluster on Niine street and two more in theproximity. Mostly these two aforemention groupsare organised in communities: the Kalamaja seltsand the Telliskivi selts.

NOTES:

* Majority of local residents are working outsideKalamaja, the district lacks local working placesand therefore the footall on the streets is oftenvery low.

* There are currently too few extraversivebusinesses on the Vana-Kalamaja street to keepthe street vital throughout the day.

* The creative cluster on Niine street and theseaside museums should participate in the makingof the Vana-Kalamaja street.

U S E R S

CASE STUDY -3 ANALYSE94

Unused / Residual space

VALIDATED MASTER PLANS

CURRENTLY UNUSEDOR RESIDUAL SPACE

FUTURE MASTER PLANS

UNUSEDGREEN AREA

A GARAGE ONA HIGH -VALUE

LAND

LOT OF OPENSPACE

UNUSEDG R E E NSPACE

UNUSEDRESIDUAL

SPACE

LOT OF OPENSPACE

LOT OF OPENSPACE

LOT OF OPENSPACE

LOT OF OPENSPACE

200m500m

100% APARTMENTS

Future developments

90% APARTMENTS10% BUSINESS

100% APARTMENTS

80% APARTMENTS20% BUSINESS

100% APARTMENTS

90% APARTMENTS10% BUSINESS

70% APARTMENTS30% BUSINESS

9

8

6

5

4

3

1

PASSIVER O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

N O C U R R E N TR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

2

NOTES:* Lot of potential for temporary uses anddesired developments

100% OFFICE AND BUSINESS

ANALYSE 95CASE STUDY -3

Free pedestrianmovementproblems

1.Landscape level difference 2-4 meters. The onlystraight access is provided by an old stair not suitablefor strollers and people with walking disability. Detour140 meters.2.A lightpost obstructs the sidewalk.3.The 1-meter wide sidewalk is too narrow.4.The 1-meter wide sidewalk is too narrow, streetlightobstructs the path.5.The Soo and Vana-Kalamaja junction has only onecrosswalk, in other directions traffic is unregulated.Regarding the idea of a prominent street connectingthe medieval town and the sea, the crossing shouldbe safe and easily crossed in all directions.6.The end of Tööstuse street is offset and contiues asNiine street. Official pedestrian movement makes asignificant detour and therefore shortcuts arefrequent. Inconvenient and high risk crossing.7.The corner at Niine 12 and 20 has a 0,8-meter widesidewalk. Not usable with slush and high rainwater.8.Free movement obstruction: streetlight, electricityterminal and traffic sign.9.Obstructive parking management. The famousKalma Sauna is often blocked by cars.10.Old trees and a traffic sign obstruct free movement.Ruined asfalt.11.The tree and a streetlight obstruct free movement.12.Official crossings are limited, shortcuts are frequent.Approaching the square from the South thecrosswalk is dangerous, cars park right by thecrossing and block visibility.

DE FACTOOFFICIAL PATH

200m500m

1

23

4

5

6

8

7

910

11

12

12

11

10

C O N N E C T I N GR O L E

F U N C T I O N S :OUTDOOR SPACES:

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C O N V E N I E N C E

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

10

768

910

1111

12

12

CASE STUDY -3 ANALYSE96

the street has nopublic seats

UNTENDED TREESBLOCK VIEWS TO

THE SEA, MARIT IME-AND PRISON

M U S E U M

NO INFORMATIONSIGNS ABOUT

MARITIME- A N DPRISON MUSEUM

TRASH CONTAINERON THE STREET

UNTENDEDTREES

BLOCK THESTORE ACCESS

UNTENDEDTREES

SHADE THESTREET

TREESCOMPLETELY

BLOCK THEELABORATELYO R N A M E N T E D

FACADE

TREESHIDE THEM U S E U M

UNATTRACTIVEBLANK WALL

UNATTRACTIVEBLANK WALL

DECAYED FENCE

UGLY CONCRETEFENCE

UNATTRACTIVEBLANK WALL

UNATTRACTIVEBLANK WALL

UGLYCORRUGATEDIRON FENCE

RUINEDSIDEWALK

PARKINGCONGESTION

BLOCKING THEFAMOUS SAUNA

CAFE/ BAKERYACCESS NOT

VISIBLE

WORN BLANKWALL

G R E E NSPACE

COMPLETELY SHADEDBY TREES

Unwelcomingentrance

Attractivity lawsf

200m500m

ATTRACTIVITY

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

C L E A N L I N E S S

NOTES:* No extraversive functions at the end of thestreet (North)* The street has no public seats* The South "entrance" of the street isunaesthetical and not welcoming

ANALYSE 97CASE STUDY -3

THE SOO AND VANA-KALAMAJA CROSSING

HAS ONLY ONECROSSWALK.

UNOFFICIAL SHORTCUTSINCREASE ACCIDENT

RISK.

TÖÖSTUSE STREET MAKESAN OFFSET AND CONTIUES

TO NIINE. OFFICIALPEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT

MAKES A SIGNIFICANTDETOUR AND THEREROFE

SHORTCUTS AREFREQUENT.

UNCONVENIENT AND HIGHRISK CROSSING.

OFFICIAL CROSSINGS ARELIMITED, SHORTCUTS AREFREQUENT. COMING FROM

VANA-KALAMAJA DIRECTIONTHE CROSSWALK IS

DANGEROUS AS PARKINGCARS BLOCK THE

VISIBILITY.

THIS ANONYMOUS GREENSPACE IS 'SHADOWY' IN

MANY WAYS. IN DAYTIMEOVERGROWN TREES

HARDLY LET LIGHTTHROUGH, IN THE DARK

PERIOD THE SPACEREMAINS DARK AS THERE

ARE NO LIGHTS PROVIDED.THE SPACE IS USED BY

HOMELESS, DRUNKS ANDSOMETIMES JUNKIES.

Safety issues

200m500m

S A F E T Y

QUALITIES:OUTDOOR SPACES:

NOTES:* The unofficial pedestrian paths increase accidentrisk. The Kotzebue / Vana-Kalamaja crossing andTööstuse / Vana-Kalamaja crossing are literally usedas shared spaces.

CASE STUDY -3 PROPOSAL98

Conclusion

The Vana-Kalamaja street has potential tobecome a prominent street of Kalamaja.The idea of a pedestrian gateway between the sea and the oldtown is feasible and supported by the site potentials - there aremany vacant plots of land yet to be built, these functions can bedirected to adapt the idea of an active pedestrian street. Thegeneral traffic logic is backing North-South pedestrian street.

To gain vital public-life the street needsmore extraversive indoor functions andmore local workplaces.The few extraversive indoor functions situated on the street onare not enough to sustain active use of the street throughout theday. To become lively there should be more cafes andrestaurants, small shops and other functions that communicateon ground level. Currently the North part of the street has noextraversive functions at all. The already valid master plans tend to give too little proportionfor businesses and office-space. Even when the street ispromoted as a gate to the sea, there will be not enough peopleto sustain the activity throughout the week and the seasons. Thestreet, and the whole district would benefit from more localworkplaces.

1

There are many residual or otherwiseinefficient spaces that could contribute tothe idea of a vital street.

The street needs more outdoor activities.Currently there is only one playground that counts as an activityplace that generates longer stays. Appart from that the street isused mostly for necessity - to get from one place to the other.There are no public seats and no cafe terraces. To increasefootfall there should be more activity places for the generalpublic and for specific users.

The current condition of the street is poor(street cover, many minor pedestrianinconveniences)

Most of all the South end of the streetneeds attractivity repairs, the beginning ofthe street is not invitive.

2

3

4

5

6

PROPOSAL 99CASE STUDY -3

a schematic

Proposal

PÕHJA-PUIESTEE

KOTZEBUE

NIINE

TÖÖSTUSE

SOO

JAHU

KÖIE

KÜTI

VÄIKE-PATAREI

SU

UR

-PATA

REI

KALARANNA

KOTZEBUE

SOO

Road bumpers and different streetcover at the crossing (1)

Implement shared space concept1Vana-Kalamaja street converted to shared space street in fulllenght. For safety precautions the main traffic junctions at Soo,Niine and Kotzebue crossing will be provided with vehicletraffic bumpers to slow down at the crossing. The street coverat these crossings should be different from the rest of thestreet (e.g. alarming colour) to make everyone more alert andconsider others in traffic flow. The street is arranged on onelevel for everyone, cars, bikes and pedestrians. Traffic signsare removed and speed limit is set to 20 km/h. Loosing thesegregation of pedestrian and traffic zones saves space andallows carefully chosen parking places on street.

New street conceptVana-Kalamaja street has historically been an active streetconnecting the medieval town and the sea. Today the attractiveseaside functions and the human scale district with a valuablemilieu favor a pedestrian friendly street. The new streetconcept regards both local residents and distant visitors,among them tourists who currently visit the area seldom. An active pedestrian street could be presented as a gatewayto the sea, increased pedestrian footfall envisions newpossibilities for businesses located on the street.

For the local community the street could play a role of themain street, a street of many in- and outdoor activities.Playgrounds, green areas, cafes, streetart, a square forcommunity meetings and festivals. To animate the streetthe number of extraversive indoor functions and localoffices should be raised and street design made moreattractive. The development plan calls all major actors to participatein the specific design idea: the community, other localresidents and workers, land owners and the municipality.

Shared space street (1)

A public square9Create a public square at the corner of Kotzebue st.

New parking management

New park with attractionsfor different user groups

Public square - a meeting placeMulti-event space (festivals, markets etc.)Container vegetation and seatsCommunity shared car parking

Seats in front of the sauna

Public seats, cafe terracceson the street. See nr. 4

Phase 1 - temporary seats and specific usergroup activity place (e.g health sports field)Phase 2 - see nr. 2

Aesthetic improvements6Tend the overgrown trees on the corner of Kotzebue street(the school), by the Soo st. shop and by the sea to clearviews. At the South end of the street transform the unaestheticfences. Provide more trash bins.

Increasing the active hours of the street2To sustain public activity the street needs more extraversiveindoor (+outdoor) functions: cafes, restaurants, small shopsetc. All approved master plans should be checked and thepercentage of allowed business function increased. With onlya few offices or other working places the daytime activity ispoor, the proportion of offices should be raised.

Improved attractivity7In addition to all other points: 1.organise (community) streetartists to paint the blank walls of the area. Some old buildingshave blank plastered side walls (fire precaution) that could bepainted by artists. 2. temporary use could implementinstallations e.g blank side walls provided with public stairs toobserve the hidden places. 3. Bar-code tiles on buildingfacades to be read with smart-phones. Collect and presentstories of the place.

Development phases - temporary uses5It takes time till the empty lots on the street get built. Organisetemporary activities (community) in exchange for the landmaintenance. Depending on the location and time it is suitableto create: 1. allotments 2. snow gardens 3. dog-walking areas4. growing a wild garden etc.

A new park for different users10New park by the Kalma sauna (different user groups).

Public seats on the street8Find suitable locations for public seats e.g in front of the oldsauna, the Kotzebue square, Tööstuse/ V-K corner etc.

Community run shared car program11To promote sustainable ideas, organise a shared car parkingat the Kotzebue public square.

Community run investor management4To create suitable and desired functions (businesses) thecommunity could start an investor programme: 1. find a placeand and idea (cafe) 2. discuss with the owner 3. find a suitableoperator to run it. E.g at the South of the street there is a lowvalue garage on a high-value land.

Presenting/ marketing the street3To attract more users to use Vana-Kalamaja street, the idea ofthe access street should be presented by the seasidemuseums and all other public businesses (press release forrelevant parties e.g tourism office).

Road bumpers and different streetcover at the crossing (1)

Overgrown trees cut, views cleared

New stair and ramp for cyclists andpedestrians. Signs of seasideattractions.

Temporary uses

New cafe (4). Transformed fences. Street arton building sides and solid fences.

Phase 1 - temporary use (e.g dog-walking area). Phase 2 - see nr. 2

Overgrown trees cut, views cleared (6)

Public seats / a meeting place

Overgrown trees cut,views cleared

Phase 1 - Temporary garden by Niine 11creative cluster. Phase 2 - see nr. 2

New walking path to the sea

100 ENDNOTES

ENDNOTES 101

Endnotes

00

102 PROJECT PROCESS ENDNOTES

ENDNOTES PROJECT PROCESS 103

Project processThe process of the project is described in theMethodology part (p13), the following is series ofsketces illustrating how the proposed model of urbanpublic space and a table of questions was conceived .

104 PROJECT PROCESS ENDNOTES

Jan Gehl classifies users as follows:

Everyday users. People who l ive and work in the area.Visitors and customers. People who visit the area from beyond.Passersby. People passing through the area, going or coming from other places.Recreational visitors. Those who visit the park because of i ts beauty or to use the space for recreation.Visitors to events. People who come for special programs

Method of analyse:

1. Mapping of the known future developments2. Mapping unused areas as potentials3. Assessment of the current values - random users (street survey) - locals (directed survey) - municipality (directed survey) - land owners (directed survey)4. Public forum for all interested participants5. Conclusion of the mappings, assessment and forum

ATTRACTIVITY

----

pedestr ianscyclistspublic transportcars

to busineessesto public servicesto active recreationto passive recreation

businesspublic servicesrecreation

active passive

QUALITY OF OPEN-SPACES

parksevent-spaces

streetsgreen spots

AMENITIES

lawntreesvegetationclean aircleanlinesstrash bins

STREETSCAPE

pedestr ianscyclistspublic transportcars

PARKS

----

EVENT-SPACES

----

sportsculturalsocialplaygrounds?

cafesrestaurantsclubsservicesshops

qualityaccessibilityattractivitysafety

qualityaccessibilityattractivitysafety

1The model of UPS in progress

FUNCTIONS

ACCESSIBILITY

ENDNOTES PROJECT PROCESS 105

2The model of UPS in progress

WHAT MAKESA GOOD

URBAN PS?

NUMBER OF USERS IN THE AREAUSER-FRIENDLYNESS OF THE AREA

ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

A GOOD PROPORTIONOF USERS AND THE

AREA CREATE SOCIALCONTACTS - PLEASING

DEMAND FOR

LIVINGBUSINESSPUBLIC SERVCICES (S C H O O L , POST ,P H O N E ...)RECREATION

DIVERSITY

ATTRACTS MOREPEOPLE

DEMAND FOR

CREATES MORE ACTIVITIES

ATTRACTS

ATTRACTS

MEASURE AVG USERS PERAREA? WHATS A GOODRATIO?

M E A S U R EDIVERSITY?

H O W

MEASURE QUALITY?

H O W

WHAT MAKES URBAN PUBLIC SPACE A GOOD ONE ?

1. A PRECONDITION OF QUALITY URBAN PUBLIC SPACE ISIT`S SUBJECT - THE PUBLIC - THE PEOPLE

2. THE QUALITY OF THE SPACE AND ITS INGREDIENTS3. THE DIVERSITY OF FUNCTIONS

106 PROJECT PROCESS ENDNOTES

3The model of UPS in progress

distributionaccessibil ity

EVENT-SPACES PASSERBY SPACESsports

culturalsocial

streetsbuildings

undefined spots

diversitydistributionaccesibil ity

cafesrestaurantsclubsservices l ike hair dressershopsetc.

qualityaccessibil ityattractivitysafety

qualityaccessibil ityattractivitysafety

LIVING

ACTIVITIES IN THE AREA

BUSINESS PUBLIC SERVCICES RECREATION

QU

AL

ITY

QU

AL

ITY

ACTIVE PASSIVE

QU

AL

ITY

QU

AL

ITY

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

S C H O O L SKINDERGARTENSPOST OFFICEETC.

PARKSS Q U A R E SG R O U PORIENTEDAVTIVITIES

SKATERSKIDSPLAYGROUNDSPING PONGRUNNINGOTHER SPORTG A M E S

?

USER-FRIENDLYNESSOF OPEN SPACES

STREETSCAPE EVENT-SPACES PASSERBY-SPACES

ATTRACTIVITY ACCESSIBILITYAESTHETIC/ SOFT

AMENITIES

lowntreesvegetationclean aircleaninesstrash binsvisual info

MEDIA / VIRTUAL PUBLIC SPACE?

RELATION?

social activitiesoptional activit iesnecessary activit ies

Gehl - IN BETWEENBUILDINGS

ENDNOTES PROJECT PROCESS 107

4The model of UPS in progress

sportsculturalsocial

streetsparksbuildingsundefined spots

CAFESRESTAURANTSCLUBSDIFF. SERVICES (HAIRDRESSER)S H O P SCINEMAETC.

LIVING?

ACTIVITIES

BUSINESS PUBLIC SERVCICES RECREATION

ACTIVE PASSIVE

PARKSSQUARESGROUP ORIENTEDAVTIVITIESSKATERSKIDS PLAYGROUNDSPING PONGRUNNINGOTHER SPORT GAMES

USER-FRIENDLYNESS / QUALITYOF OPEN SPACES

STREETSCAPE EVENT-SPACES PASSERBY-SPACES ATTRACTIVITY ACCESSIBIL ITY AESTHETIC/ SOFTAMENITIES

THEATERMUSIC FEST

O P E N -SPACES

STREETSCAPES Q U A R E SGROUP ORIENTEDAVTIVITIES

public transport

S C H O O L SKINDERGARTENSLIBRARYCITY HALLOTHER PUBLIC SERVICES(POST ETC)

necessary act optional act

CONNECTIONS (STREETS,PATHS)PUBLIC TRANSPORT

sportsculturalsocial

ACTIVE PASSIVEstreetsparksbuildingsundefined spots

STREETSCAPES Q U A R E SGROUP ORIENTEDAVTIVITIES

diversitydistributionconnect ions

diversitydistribution

DEMANDS

QUALITIES USERS

FUNCTIONS

ATTRACTS

DE

MA

ND

S

ATTRACTSDEMANDS

AT

TR

AC

TS

DENSITY AND FREQUENCYPLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN THE

USE OF AN AREA,DETERMINING THE VITALITY

OF UPS. VITALITY OF A PLACEIS A PREMISE OF ALL ASPECTS

OF UPS.

A COMMONCHARACHTER FORALL GREAT URBAN

PUBLIC SPACES IS ARICH, MIXED-USE

ENVIRONMENT THATKEEPS A PLACE

VIBRANTTHROUGHOUT DAYS

AND SEASONS

A PLACE IS USEDMORE FREQUENTLYWHEN ITSENVIROMENTOFFERS A SENSE OFQUALITY:IT HAS CHARACTER,IT IS IN HUMANSCALE, IT ISINCLUSICE, SAFEAND PLEASING

WHAT MAKES A GOOD

URBAN PUBLICSPACE

108 PROJECT PROCESS ENDNOTES

5The model of UPS in progress

Characteristics of great UPS. Guidel inesAmerican Planning Associat ion(http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/spaces/characteristics.h tm), accessed 20.02.2013

Description of the Public Space

It is important to identify the geographic, demographic, andsocial characteristics of the public space. Tell us about itslocation (i.e . urban, suburban, rural, etc.), layout andconnectivity; economic, social, and ethnic diversity; andfunctionality. We also want to know whether a plan or specif icplanning efforts contributed to or sustained the character of thepublic space, or i f the space formed more organically and notthrough a formal planning process.

Public Space Features and Elements

How does the publ ic space ...

Capital ize on building design, scale, architecture, andproportionality to create interesting visual experiences, vistas, orother qualit ies?Accommodate mult ip le uses?Accommodate mult ip le users? It is accessible via walking,biking, or public transit?Use, protect, and enhance the environment and naturalfeatures?

Public Space Activities and Sociability

How does the publ ic space...

Reflect the community's local character and personality?Foster social interaction and create a sense of community andneighborl iness?Provide a sense of comfort or safety to people gathering andusing the space?Encourage use and interaction among a diverse cross section ofthe public?

Characteristics and Guidelines for Designation

A public space may be a gathering spot or part of aneighborhood, downtown, special district, waterfront, or otherarea within the public realm that helps promote social interactionand a sense of community. Examples include spaces such asplazas, town squares, parks, marketplaces, publ ic commonsand malls, public greens, piers, special areas within conventioncenters or grounds, sites within public buildings, lobbies,concourses, or public spaces within private buildings. As with allcategories of Great Places, it is important to identify what sets aspace apart from others spaces to quali fy i t for a Great Spacesdesignation. Public Spaces must be at least 10 years old.

Characteristics of a Great Public Space include:

Promotes human contact and social act ivi t ies.Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for al l users.Has design and architectural features that are visuallyinteresting.Promotes community involvement.Reflects the local culture or history.Relates well to bordering uses.Is well maintained.Has a unique or special character.

considered references for the questions

Description of the Public Space

Where is the space located, and what is its setting? (Downtown,neighborhood, waterfront, city center, business or entertainmentdistricts, historic area, parks, etc.)What role, if any, did plans and planning contribute to thecreation of the space? Is there special zoning or ordinances thatallowed for the creation of the space?How large is the area?When was the space created?

Guidelines for Great Public Spaces1.0 Features and Elements (not all may apply)

1.1 What landscape and hardscape features are present?How do they contribute to the unique or special nature of thespace? 1.2 How does the space accommodate pedestr ians or otherswhose access to the space is by transit , bicycles, or othermeans? Is the space welcoming to those with physicaldisabil i t ies or others with special needs? 1.3 Does the space accommodate mult iple act ivi t ies? 1.4 What purpose does i t serve for the surroundingcommuni ty? 1.5 How does the space uti l ize exist ing topography, vistas, orgeography? Does it provide interesting visual experiences,vistas, or other qualit ies? 1.6 How are murals or other public art incorporated into thespace?

2.0 Activities and Sociability

2.1 What activit ies make the space attractive to people andencourage social interaction? (Commerce, entertainment orperformances, recreational or sporting, cultural, markets orvending, exhibits, fairs, festivals, special events, etc.) 2.2 Does the space provide a sense of comfort and safety topeople gathering and using the space? Does the space providea fr iendly and welcoming atmosphere? 2.3 How do people interact with one another? Does the spaceencourage communication or interact ion between strangers? 2.4 How does this place encourage use by a diverse crosssection of the public?3.0 Unique Quali t ies, Traits, and Characterist ics 3.1 What makes this publ ic space stand out? What makes i textraordinary or memorable? 3.2 Is there variety, a sense of whimsy, or an atmosphere ofdiscovery or pleasant surprise? 3.3 Is there commitment to maintain the space and to keep ita usable space over t ime? Does the public have a sense ofownership about the space? How has i t changed over t ime? 3.4 Is there a sense of importance about the space? Whatcharacteristics or qualit ies contribute to this? 3.5 What is the history of the space, and how is itremembered or passed on from one generat ion to the next? 3.6 Does the space serve as a place of inspiration orcontemplat ion, or is i t considered sacred? 3.7 What is i t about the space that contributes to a sense ofcommuni ty? 3.8 What makes this space special and worthy of designationas a Great Space?

ENDNOTES PROJECT PROCESS 109

5The model of UPS in progress

considered references

Sociabil ityUses &Activit ies

Comfort &Image

Access &Linkage

diverse

stewardship

cooperat ive

neighborly

pride

friendly

interactive

welcoming

number of women, children and elderly

social networks

volunteerism

evening use

street life

local business ownership

land-use patterns

property values

rent levels

retail sales

traffic data

mode spl i ts

transit usage

pedestrian activity

parking usage patterns

crime statistics

sanitation rating

building condit ions

environmental data

Place

fun

active

vital

special

real

useful

indigenous

celebratory

safe

clean

green

sittable

spiritual

charming

attractive

historic

continuity

proximity

connected

readable

walkable

convenient

accessible

MEASUREMENTS / INTANGIBLES / KEY ATTRIBUTES

A neighbourhood vision document by the Uue Maailmacommunity (Tallinn, 2012)

A diagram by PPS - Project for Public Space(www.pps.org)

110 ENDNOTES

ENDNOTES REFERENCES 111

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