Presented By: Elie Selwan

A Successful Public Space

-“An Agora in the City”-

Topic Statement

A Brief Background of my Project

Direction of the Project My Theoretical Framework

Methodology

Future Progress Discussants

Agenda:

Final Topic Statement:

A well planned public space has the effect of encouraging citizen

activity and community involvement.

Nathan Phillips Square- 1961

1965

2011-2012

What Makes a Public Square successful?

Why was the square built in the first place?

Who uses the square?

What are its functional purposes (before and after the revitalization process)

Important Research Questions:

This project can be seen as a comparison research study of Nathan Phillips Square in the Toronto’s urban landscape with the Agora in Ancient Athens.

The Agora was an open "place of assembly" in

ancient Greek Civilization cities in the early in 8th Century BC.

Urban Scholar Lewis Mumford argues that the Agora was the first public square in an urban landscape, where civil political and leisure functions were conducted.

The Agora

Agora started as a place designated as the city-state cemetery.

After 6th Century BC the Agora became the main square of the city, it was the commercial, political, administrative and social center of Athens. Shopping, stalls, fountains, municipal buildings and courts of justice were grouped in and around the Agora. It also played an important role in the religious and social life of the City.

Brief History:

Hope T. Milbrandt: The importance of openness, exclusion and community involvement within an urban space. (Key concepts of a successful public space)

Sustainability- From an environmental, physical and social perspective. (Athenian Agora vs. Nathan Phillips Square before and after revitalization project)

Stephen Carr’s depiction of “Public Space = Public Life” Cannot have one without the other.

Finally, incorporate a comprehensive understanding of Lewis Mumford’s publication,“City in History”. The notion of the Agora being a true cornerstone in humanity and overall urban development.

Theoretical Framework:

Key Attributes of the Square- “An Agora in The City”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcKAOusFWlc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J89RCvKNFHI

YouTube Clips Square Events:

Methodologies: Personal Observation- an important method to analyze

functionality and community involvement that the Square portrays

I want to give people a camera and ask them, “If you were to take a picture of anything in the square what would it be off and why?

Informal Interview with Mr. Robert Millward, who was once the Chief Planner of the City of Toronto.

Informal Interview with a security guard and a maintenance worker .

Talk to a homeless person. Ask them why they come to Square, how do they feel in this particular space.

Toronto Archives and Government Documents- Why the space was built? What did the city try to

achieve? Were they successful?

Conduct a Photograph Fieldwork Study- Functionality? Who is using space?

Newspaper Articles – How the space fits within Toronto’s society, what is

perceived as?

Nathan Phillips Square official website- Events, community involvement etc.

Methodologies Cont..

Interviews- Mr. Robert Millward end of March

Once the weather gets warmer – primary observation and informal discussions with people visiting and working in the Square will be underway

I have already started gathering pictures from the winter functionalities the square offers and the Toronto archives.

I have a gathered most of my scholarly publications

Next Steps:

Thank You

Questions & Comments

Discussants: Marcus and Brandon