Welcome to week 13's edition of Pulse of Public Spaces, where we spotlight essential articles, reports, products and more - that drive urban development, engage communities, and support local municipalities in building thriving public spaces! Dive in to stay informed and inspired.
Feature Article of the Week
"Healthy cities aren’t a question of boring or exciting buildings but about creating better public space"
By Haim Yacobi
The withdrawal of MSG's Sphere project in Stratford highlights a key question: should flashy developments outweigh residents' concerns? While the Sphere promised innovation and economic gains, Londoners objected to potential noise and light pollution. This decision raises the issue of whether cities should prioritize such high-profile projects or focus on enhancing public spaces and affordable housing. Can extravagant architecture genuinely improve urban life, or should the emphasis be on creating inclusive, well-planned environments that address residents' needs more directly?
"More than individual buildings, how the city is planned as a whole variously harms or improves people’s lives."
Read the whole article here by The conversation
Feature Publication of the Week
Destination Station: Transforming Bus Stops through Community Outreach
Published by Projects of Public spaces
How can bus stops be more than portals to pass through?
Project for Public Spaces conducted extensive research by riding bus lines, observing bus stops, and surveying passengers about their preferences. Their findings, detailed in a research brief, reveal that bus riders frequently visit nearby destinations, particularly food stores, feel generally indifferent about their bus stops' conditions, and seek enhancements in bus service and stop infrastructure.
Access the publication here
Feature Visual (that caught our eye!)
Credits to Karl Jilg
How much public space we've given up to cars?
Featured Public Space
Luanda Waterpoints
The Luanda Waterpoints project enhanced three water access points on the city's outskirts, demonstrating how small-scale, low-cost interventions can significantly improve the quality of life for disadvantaged communities. The project emphasizes local labor and material reuse, including repurposing metal modules from urban guardrails found in Luanda’s informal markets. These recycled materials were adapted for the waterpoints, reflecting the project's commitment to sustainable and impactful solutions.
Read more: Luanda Waterpoints
Stay tuned for next week's Pulse of Public Spaces for more insights and inspiration!
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