Public Space as a catalyst for change  

Name, title and affiliation
Kristine Samson
JUULFROST Architects, Denmark

Abstract
The project; Public Space as a Catalyst for Change covers how the public space as a strategy for development, transformation and change of cities can be approached as a catalyst for the development of 'the good city' – architecturally, socially and culturally. The project focuses on both theoretical studies and the practically usage of methods. We focus on public spaces as transformers for change regarding culture, lifestyle, gentrification, and as attractors for mixed use.
The project is financed by Realdania and placed at JUULFROST Architects, Copenhagen.

The background
The City life has changed. It has become more global, more multicultural and more orientated towards tourism. City people have developed new patterns of life with a more active use of the cities many offers and meeting places. City people place still higher demands to the qualities of the cities and the architectural disposition of thoroughfares, city spaces and buildings have great impact on the activities that a city can contain. The un-committing communities of experiences are used by the inhabitants as never before, and a multiplicity of non formal meeting places – that include everything from coffeehouses and restaurants to music venues and community centres – have seen the light of day.    
City life is characterised by flows and movements.  You stroll through the city as a flaneur, you consume and become consumed by the city, enjoy experiences and create life. The city is characterised by streams, networks, relations, interactions and connections – all of which are in a state of flux in relationship to each other. New experiences and unsuspected situations emerge all the time. Earlier the fight for the city space concerned regaining of the city space from the cars and pushing the commercial interests forwards. Today the focus is on creating city spaces that enhance the dimension of experience. The city space should be mentally and socially stimulating to the users and should be able to contain the diversity of the city by creating spaces, where the cities different cultures can meet and interact. The global change focuses on a new type of culture, which position in the planning process has to be secured. We see the diversity and the other as a condition we cannot ignore.
The lecture will further elaborate on this theme.