Public Space and the Public Realm - Essay Example

Social Behaviour and Urban Space Defining the activity of urban space and how it is used is dependent on several factors. One of the specific uses that show good measure with urban space is the use of activity. The activity defined includes a set of public spaces and public realms that are attached to the urban space and that cause the environment to change. Understanding how different social behaviours, public ideals and the use of urban space makes this difference also provides insight into how the urban space is affected by activity. Even though urban space is a dependent area that only includes a design and a public arena for individuals, it is still affected by the responses of social behaviours, politics, economics and the overall environment. It is through this understanding that there is the ability to create specific environmental factors and space that can be used for individuals and society in an effective manner. The ideal behind urban space is also referred to as a third space. This is where individuals, families and community can come together outside of work or home for various activities. The concept behind this is to create specific buildings, structures and other areas that allow individuals to come outside of their homes so that they can enjoy leisurely activities and time away from home. Third space is different than other types of spaces because it doesn't have the concept of a private area in mind. It also doesn't refer to any areas that are considered a workspace or a place for career. Parks, coffee shops, shopping areas and other casual environmental spaces are all referred to within this third space, specifically when it pertains to the urban areas. Because of this concept of having a third space, the activity becomes the primary focus on what makes for a good measure within the urban space, including how it is used with the different buildings and concepts in the area. Specifically, this links to the activity and social demands that families and individuals have within different demographic regions and within the community (Oldenberg, Ray, 2008). Within this concept of third space for activity, are also different uses of the urban space that make a difference in the types of activities that are conducted, as well as what type of public is drawn to the environment that is created within the space. Specifically, this can be referred to as social capital, which includes connections, networks, trends and trusts that are built within a certain area. Urban space can be used to build this, specifically through the use of the buildings and structures that are used. This, then, engages specific social capital to the area that holds the space, and allows for the activity to keep the trends within the area alive. The social capital of the urban space is one that includes the leisurely activities, as well as engagement that focuses on the activities and interests. For instance, one space may have coffee shops, bowling areas, game sites or shopping spaces. This will draw in a specific social capital to take part in the urban activity, which then helps to build the urban space. This is not only because of the individuals in the area, but also includes specific demographics of people that are attracted to certain types of activities. Understanding the importance of social activity and urban space is linked to how the social capital threads together the space that is used. “The existence of social fabric has many benefits for the individuals and communities within it.... Societies are not composed of atomized individuals. People are connected with one another through intermediate social structures – webs of association and shared understandings of how to behave. This social fabric greatly affects with whom, and how, we interact and co- operate. It is this everyday fabric of connection and tacit cooperation that the concept of social capital is intended to capture” (Halpbern, David, 2004). From this understanding of social capital, one can then see that the urban space causes the environment to be built around the idea of social fabric. As buildings enhance the associations and activities, individuals that are attracted to this continue to build the social structures. For instance, if there are several youth in one area, than game areas, bowling alleys and casual places to enjoy leisure time may be the activity within the urban space. This is because it captures the social thread that is available. This includes interactions that occur within the urban spaces, ways that individuals connect with the activities and types of activities that draw specific individuals into the urban space. In relation to this is the concept of urban space being a private or public space as it relates to being within the public realm. It can be said that the social fabric and capital moves into being a comfortable public realm through the understanding that the environment that is created allows for this change. When a space is private, it holds a specific design and space that causes this environment to feel as though it is private. This causes individuals to respond differently within the area and to interact in a way that is not social in the same way. With urban designs, the public realm becomes the main centrepiece, meaning that it will draw upon the social fabric to attract individuals into the area. This includes everything from the quality of the environment that is being built to architecture and planning of the landscapes, ecology and form of the area. By putting together these frameworks, the urban space then becomes a public realm that individuals can enjoy and can focus on specific leisurely activities in (Carmona, Matthew, 2003). As the urban design and architecture builds into a public form, individuals are then able to bring in a specific social life into the area. It is from the basic environment that is created that individuals are able to be attracted to what the specific area holds and how they can relate to it. The more that a set of social fabric individuals feel comfortable in an environmental setting, the more activity they can bring. The individuals that begin this will continue by inviting their specific social thread to the area, which increases the activity in the area. As this is done, it allows for the urban space to become a public space that invites several social capital factors into the area. This links to the psychology of individuals that are attracted to specific environments and that have the relationship with the design and the urban space that is being used. As this happens within a social thread, it also allows for individuals to create a social network within the environment (Whyte, William, 1980). The concept of the urban space being within the social realm is not only linked to the urban design and the social life, but also specifics that link to the environment in which the urban space is created. This includes concepts such as politics and economics that influence the urban space. As this is done, the activities within the area change, and the roles that the space plays also begins to change. For instance, when specific policies, standards and security are put into an urban space, it dramatically changes the way in which the public responds. An example of this can be seen when security is increased with police forces in a public space. The result is that individuals will begin to feel unsafe and will leave that specific public realm for another. This is often referred to as the production of space, in which the politics of the area dramatically influence the influence of the public. This causes a reaction that either focuses on the liberal or on conservative politics that are within the space being used. The same relationship of the use of public space and shifts in different areas can be seen through the changes in economics. This particular influence is one that will change the social thread that moves into the area and that influences the activity of the urban space. By doing so, the public concept is altered. For instance, if there is a public space such as a mall, the economics of the area will change who shops there. If the prices are higher, than a specific social thread that has a higher income will most likely shop in the area. If the prices are lower, it will cause another type of social thread to move into the urban space and to have leisurely activities in the area. Depending on the economics of the time, the demands of the area and the region, is also a set of standards that are a part of the economic consideration for the public changes in the urban spaces (Low, Setha, 2005). As the concept of public space and the public realm effects the activity of urban spaces are also different concepts that are linked to the psychology and social behaviour and how this relates to the urban development. Each of these behaviours will be influenced by two factors. One is the internal considerations of each individual that makes up the social thread of the area. The second is the politics, economics and cultural ideals that make up the social capital within a certain space. These two combine together to influence the environment and activities within a certain urban space to make a difference in the overall activities, environment and structure of the space. One theory that shows the concept of the internal and external environment, as well as worlds, is from the theorist, Kirk. In the 1960s, this theorist showed how the environment within the psychology of an individual, as well as within the nature of man, caused a difference in the reflection of urban spaces. It was said that this was man's nature and what the psychology of that man felt was needed. This began with understanding the geographical location that an individual was in, which created a man – environment relationship. This could then create an aspect of expression that the individual could relate to on a psychological level. Within this was the need to understand the perspective and relationship between the individual and the environment, including how the landscape, geography and changes within an area also caused changes within the individual's psyche and perception of life. The concept of this shows that the psychology of an individual is directly linked to the urban spaces and the design which is built to reflect the inner world of an individual (Pile, Steve, 1996). The psychology that links to this can then move into social behaviours that are a part of the perception within a certain area. This causes a difference in trends and belief patterns that occur within a specific region, which alters the way in which the environmental space is used. This develops from the psychological understanding that an individual has, which relates to the environment. This, then links to the way in which several individuals will perceive a region of the world. As this continues, a set of individuals will set trends and belief systems in a reflection of urban spaces. This allows for the activities to be continuous within a certain area. As the psychological patterns of individuals continue to develop and alter, so do the architectural standings and the trends that are within the urban spaces. This shows that the activities within a certain region are affected by a link from the psychological aspect of individuals to the social behaviours of a group of individuals (Watts, Duncan, 2004). When moving this to an understanding of social behaviour within the public realm, there is a different concept linked to social theories and how an individual relates and uses activity within an urban space. One concept that can be applied is known as cross sectional studies. This implies that the space that something is developed and the time in which it develops causes a response within social behaviour by individuals. This is because of individuals within a demographic area have a relationship to the urban space. This could be from the need to explain something within the community or can be for a variation on what is already available. Within businesses, this is referred to as a demand relationship for the market. For instance, if a community does not have a set of small businesses, than the demographics may begin to imply that there is a need for this within the area. The result is that the urban space is developed, the individuals are able to use this from the need that is seen and the activities within a specific region are able to apply. This same concept is seen through third spaces, where the demand is to have more leisurely activities available to the community, which may vary with family activities to options for individuals in the area. This moves into a cross sectional development from the beliefs and needs that individuals see within a specific area. This particular concept is divided into several areas, all which causes the social behaviour to have a specific reaction. The most common is the event – event. This means that an event occurs, and individuals respond with another event to help the community. The second concept linked to this is a nonevent. This means that nothing occurs, and because of this, individuals see a need for change and become pro-active within a specific area. This moves into what individuals believe, what actions they are seeing and intentions by specific individuals for change or for a desired space. This varies across different populations, depending on the social, political and economic demands that then cause reactions within the individuals. It is also known that the response includes time event activities, where demands for a specific time frame will alter the urban space and activity. Other alternatives for activity within the area relate to space use, demands and trends that are within a specific area (Elster, Jon, 2007). Another theory that explains a different reaction in which social behaviour moves towards is known as the mechanisms theory. This also explains how individuals will work together within a social thread to cause differences within urban spaces and to move towards the environment in a specific way to cause the urban space to be developed and built. This moves a step beyond the demographics of an area, and splits the social behaviours into different components that cause a set of individuals to react to a situation. For instance, social structure, status and mechanisms within society, such as politics and economics, can all work together to imply changes within the public realm. This includes different environmental factor mechanisms that emerge into social environments and urban spaces, such as policies that are needed in specific regions. This particular concept also includes mechanisms that cause the spaces to stop operating. For instance, if violence takes place in a specific public arena, the activity will cause that area to shut down from the mechanisms occurring. This will then link to the policies that are within a region to try to change the way that the environment functions. By doing this, it changes the activity of the urban space, and will most likely alter the entire space with it's design, environment and use. An example of this can be seen from the United States national incident of 9/11. When this occurred, the urban environment changed with policies from the government for stricter rules. AS a result, the environment, such as the security began to change into a different space. It can be seen from this that the external influences and mechanisms work within an environment to change the social activity as well as the use of urban spaces (Hedstrom, Peter, 1998). This particular concept also relates to the ideal of analytical sociology. This particular ideal is similar in how it links the external environment to the changes that occur within an urban space. This particular field of study shows that there is a why behind the activities and social behaviours within a certain region. This includes timed events that occur within an area, structures that are built from this and explanations of the social responses that occur from the events. “The core idea behind the mechanism approach is that we explain social phenomenon by referring to a constellation of entities and activities, typically actors and their actions, that are linked to one another in such a way that they bring about the type of phenomenon we seek to explain” (Hedstrom, Peter, 2005). The analysis that is included is divided into the mechanisms of politics, economics, processes, activities, trends, beliefs, networks and social norms. Within each of these are actions that individuals take as a response or as a pro-active mechanism within a specific space. This particular concept links the idea of social behaviour together, specifically with the ideal that individuals are able to use urban space and activity through the internal and external environment, as well as through social threads. For instance, if several individuals are in a region and have a religious belief, than the urban space will most likely be used for an expression or demonstration of this. This can be linked to psychological beliefs from this or can be a relationship to a trend that is currently in the demographic area. This example shows how, one region can carry a specific social thread that allows individuals to express themselves with urban spaces and activities. Most of this is through cultural affiliations to a specific area, as it pertains to belief patterns and ideals that are a part of sociological concepts. If the cultural ideals take place at a specific level, it also causes a reaction or pro-active response from governance. This includes processes, activities and results from this in which politicians will move into the arena with. The mechanisms that can be analysed from this includes a series of behaviour patterns and responses to these that take place in a specific area. However, the mechanisms continue not only as a definition of what occurs, but also with an analysis of why individuals and social behaviour responded in a particular away. This can be both internal, or psychological, as well as external, such as a response from an event. This affects the activities within urban development, as well as a relationship to how public spaces are used. The result of this is reinforcement of policies, changes in political stance and alterations in the environment and urban space as it pertains to the mechanisms of politics and governance. This is an important theoretical concept to understand behind the mechanisms of urban space, as it causes a change in environment, as well as specific responses from individuals and social behaviour of a group of people within a given region (Hedstrom, Peter, 2005). It can be seen, from the various theories and examples, that there are several relationships to social behaviour, public arenas and the activities that take place within an urban space. Some of these are from internal worlds that occur within individuals. Other forms of the activities are from direct influences of a specific region or environment, as well as from governance or mechanisms that are within a specific space. Understanding how these interrelate to each other and cause a difference in the use of urban spaces through activity shows how individuals and social behaviour combine within a social thread to cause a difference in the overall environment in which they live in. References 1. Carmona, Matthew. (2003). “Public Places – Urban Spaces: A Guide to Urban Design.” Architectural Press: New York. 2. Elster, Jon. (2007). “Explaining Social Behavior: More Nuts and Bolts for the Social Sciences.” Cambridge University Press: United Kingdom. 3. Halpbern, David. (2004). “Social Capital.” Polity Press: London. 4. Hedstrom, Peter. (1998). “Social Mechanisms: An Analytical Approach to Social Theory.” Cambridge University Press: London. 5. Hedstrom, Peter. (2005). “Dissecting the Social: On the Principles of Analytical Sociology.” Cambridge University Press: London. 6. Low, Setha. (2005). “The Politics of Public Space.” Routledge: New York. 7. Oldenberg, Ray. (2008). “The Great Good Place.” Marlowe and Co: London. 8. Pile, Steve. (1996). “The Body and the City: Psychoanalysis, Space and Subjectivity.” Routledge: New York. 9. Watts, Duncan. (2004). “Six Degrees: The New Science of Networks.” Vintage Press: California. 10. Whyte, William. (1980). “The Social Life of Small urban Spaces.” Projects for Public Spaces: New York. Read More

Within this concept of third space for activity, are also different uses of the urban space that make a difference in the types of activities that are conducted, as well as what type of public is drawn to the environment that is created within the space. Specifically, this can be referred to as social capital, which includes connections, networks, trends and trusts that are built within a certain area. Urban space can be used to build this, specifically through the use of the buildings and structures that are used.

This, then, engages specific social capital to the area that holds the space, and allows for the activity to keep the trends within the area alive. The social capital of the urban space is one that includes the leisurely activities, as well as engagement that focuses on the activities and interests. For instance, one space may have coffee shops, bowling areas, game sites or shopping spaces. This will draw in a specific social capital to take part in the urban activity, which then helps to build the urban space.

This is not only because of the individuals in the area, but also includes specific demographics of people that are attracted to certain types of activities. Understanding the importance of social activity and urban space is linked to how the social capital threads together the space that is used. “The existence of social fabric has many benefits for the individuals and communities within it.. Societies are not composed of atomized individuals. People are connected with one another through intermediate social structures – webs of association and shared understandings of how to behave.

This social fabric greatly affects with whom, and how, we interact and co- operate. It is this everyday fabric of connection and tacit cooperation that the concept of social capital is intended to capture” (Halpbern, David, 2004). From this understanding of social capital, one can then see that the urban space causes the environment to be built around the idea of social fabric. As buildings enhance the associations and activities, individuals that are attracted to this continue to build the social structures.

For instance, if there are several youth in one area, than game areas, bowling alleys and casual places to enjoy leisure time may be the activity within the urban space. This is because it captures the social thread that is available. This includes interactions that occur within the urban spaces, ways that individuals connect with the activities and types of activities that draw specific individuals into the urban space. In relation to this is the concept of urban space being a private or public space as it relates to being within the public realm.

It can be said that the social fabric and capital moves into being a comfortable public realm through the understanding that the environment that is created allows for this change. When a space is private, it holds a specific design and space that causes this environment to feel as though it is private. This causes individuals to respond differently within the area and to interact in a way that is not social in the same way. With urban designs, the public realm becomes the main centrepiece, meaning that it will draw upon the social fabric to attract individuals into the area.

This includes everything from the quality of the environment that is being built to architecture and planning of the landscapes, ecology and form of the area. By putting together these frameworks, the urban space then becomes a public realm that individuals can enjoy and can focus on specific leisurely activities in (Carmona, Matthew, 2003). As the urban design and architecture builds into a public form, individuals are then able to bring in a specific social life into the area. It is from the basic environment that is created that individuals are able to be attracted to what the specific area holds and how they can relate to it.

The more that a set of social fabric individuals feel comfortable in an environmental setting, the more activity they can bring.

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