Transforming Public Space

1 of 12

Neighborhood Shares The Hague, The Netherlands

Residents have decided to take responsibility from local authorities for maintenance tasks in their neighborhood’s public areas.

By tending gardens and tidying streets, the project has made this section of The Hague a more pleasant place to live and enhanced residents’ awareness of their environment.

2 of 12

Cumbre de Juegos Callejeros Street Games Summit Buenos Aires, Argentina

Residents have created a place where the community can experience social bonding in public spaces through games and recreation.

Cumbre de Juegos Callejeros takes over streets, where traditional games are played and transmitted to new generations.

The whole community is invited to play, offer ideas, organize, and enjoy.

3 of 12

The Bearpark Sponsors Helsinki, Finland

The Bearpark Sponsors group encourages the participation of local residents, mainly elderly citizens, to maintain and care for their surroundings.

This initiative stimulates senior citizens to stay active while energizing the neighborhood.

Orti del Parco Nord Parco Nord Vegetable Gardens Milan, Italy

4 of 12

Participants can rent space where they grow their own fruits, vegetables, and herbs close to residential areas.

Gardens provide a source of enjoyment for members, while improving finances, thanks to the production of their own vegetables, and offering the opportunity for participants to be active and useful.

Social advantages of the gardens include revitalization of the city by introducing daily healthy activities and the regeneration of public space through vegetable gardens.

5 of 12

Isola Casa Teatro Milan, Italy

This project turns a private apartment with a terrace into a public theatre inside an urban courtyard.

Isola Casa Teatro provides a public space for young artists who can’t afford to perform in real theaters and offers a quick way to connect with people in the art and theatre business.

6 of 12

Loan Gardens Utrecht, The Netherlands

Loan Gardens focuses on the maintenance of public green areas by the neighborhood’s residents.

Gardening activities provide opportunities for people of different backgrounds to meet each other. This initiative has helped people feel more accepted and has improved the community’s daily life.

7 of 12

Clan du Nèon Paris, France

Curious people Sticker

Switch box

Founders of Clan du NéonCurious people

Members of Clan du Nèon wander the streets at night and switch off unnecessary lights in order to save energy, while enhancing Paris’s nighttime look.

As one member said, “Saving energy is not the only concern, it’s also because Paris is a pretty city and I think that publicities or signs can interfere with the Parisians or the tourists who want to enjoy the city at night.”

8 of 12

Barrios de Verdad Para Vivir con Dignidad La Paz, Bolivia

This program encourages the mobilization of underserved communities to improve their neighborhoods.

Better living conditions for the low-income population and integration into La Paz’s neighborhoods provide a safer environment for all citizens.

9 of 12

Stickkontakt Guerilla Knitting Stockholm, Sweden

Stickkontakt presents knitted graffiti as street art and friendly political statements.

The four women use public space as their show room. The artists’ aim is to affect people passing by — by expressing political statements, showing beautiful pieces of knitted art, asking friendly questions, or providing functional works.

10 of 12

SkipWaste London, United Kingdom

This project encourages new uses for dumpsters by converting empty skips into public spaces such as skate parks, swimming pools, and gardens.

11 of 12

Peti Park The Fifth Park Belgrade, Serbia

This project provides park space for people living in semi-urban areas and enables socializing during activities, such as sports, concerts, and playgrounds.

12 of 12

Siloé Visible Cali, Colombia

Siloe Visible aims to paint the entire neighborhood white — the symbol of peace, cleanliness, and goodness — to change the face of a violent district into a district with dreams and hopes.