Abstract:
As cities grow, the task of managing them becomes increasingly complex. The unprecedented speed and scale of urban growth in the global south is often cited as the largest obstacle to achieving sustainable urban development. This paper examines the outcomes of the global urban processes, reflecting on changes in the critical thinking underpinning cities and urban regions. Given that Habitat III is the most substantial process for the future of cities, particular attention has been directed towards this. The findings of which highlight a noticeable shift in emphasis from an approach to city-building focused on the quantitative supply of urban amenities, towards a growing trend that promotes livability and the importance of enhancing quality of life in cities. At the heart of this shift, is the growing recognition of a public space mandate that has been embedded in both the New Urban Agenda that arose out of the Habitat III process and Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Based on the findings of a four year research and policy project focused on public space, this paper concludes by advancing a number of key principles for leveraging public space as a transformative element of city-building. |
International Journal of Arts and Humanities