News

Public space in focus of URBSPACE project

Living in the urban area, we often tend to get used to the space around us, without great recognition of its value, overlooking the potential that such a place could possibly offer.

Meeting in Presov with local community

Example of a new design

Kids at drawing

Drawing competition

Public spaces and open space in urban areas are in the focus of the CENTRAL EUROPE project URBSPACE. Its intention is to promote, among others, the involvement of stakeholders – being not only local authorities, urban planners or experts, but also local communities living in the area – in the process of planning and re-shaping of the urban space.

Within this project thirteen partners are looking for ways on how to better plan, implement and promote the rehabilitation of the urban spaces, especially in the smaller urban areas taking into account environmental, participation, gender, security, accessibility and design aspects. The project has already produced a GUIDELINE FOR MAKING SPACE, which is targeted at “those responsible for urban environment in smaller towns and cities: politicians, planners and designers, as well as concerned citizens and community groups”. These guidelines and related working papers are also the basis for the further implementation phase of the project. The full version of the guide is available as download at the project´s webpage in 7 languages.

The involvement of stakeholders does also play a significant role within the URBSPACE pilot actions  foreseen to be implemented in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Poland and Italy. These actions are of high value for the project as they represent the practical test of the strategy chosen.

Among others, for the rehabilitation and re-design of urban spaces in Slovakia altogether 6 pilot actions are being implemented. Five actions were chosen in the open competition organised by the project its self and the project UrbSpace funds only the first phase of their realisation – the planning/design phase. A small village nearby Bratislava, Borinka for example presented in the framework of this competition the new concept of the village centre with space for playground, benches and greenery.

The full rehabilitation of the central urban space with investments involved is foreseen, for example, within the pilot study in the residential area of city of Prešov. The chosen area is a typical example for neglected area without relevant functions. Here the participation of the local community started with the questionnaires, competitions for children drawings and organisation of the participatory meetings where three options on the final look of the neglected square, designed by students of Technical University in Vienna, were presented and discussed. To gained more visibility to this action and participation of local inhabitants the project has also introduced a blog informing about the recent developments on the site and were votes for one preferred design can be given.

Nearly all pilot activities of the project are presently finalising their planning phase and entering into the implementation phase, more information about the further steps of the project will be available at: www.urbanspaces.eu.