.

We are excited to announce our participation in the Biennial of Public Space taking place in Rome on 18-20 September 2025 at the University of Roma Tre. Address: Largo Giovanni Battista Marzi 10, Rome - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ihWybBeh1KSJUkMN9
The Biennial of Public Space is a biennial event for the discussion and dissemination of research and initiatives on urban public spaces, giving voice to local administrations and city makers, universities, associations, committees, professionals, experts from various disciplines and in general to all those who work concretely to improve the quality, renew and explore issues related to public spaces understood as common goods. Consistent with its nature as a public space, the Biennial has always guaranteed free access to its activities.

During the 2013 edition, the Charter of Public Space was developed and approved , which "aims to be a document for all those who believe in the city and its extraordinary capacity for hospitality, solidarity, conviviality, and sharing; in its inimitable virtue in fostering sociability, encounter, coexistence, freedom, and democracy; and in its vocation to express and realize these values ​​through public space."

For this 8th edition of the Biennale, developed around the main title "Together", we have organized a special international session titled "Reclaiming Tomorrow. Community-Led Innovation for Public Space Futures" scheduled on Friday 19 September from 9am to 1pm in Room Montuori. This session will be an opportunity to share knowledge with scholars and practitioners from Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, Greece, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, India, Japan, Palestine, South Africa, Australia, and to engage participants in a foresight visioning workshop.

Our President Dr Luisa Bravo will also participate as moderator in the opening plenary session on "Together in Public Space with UN-Habitat: Global Perspectives", she will co-moderate the session "Together to protect public spaces and common goods", and she will join as a speaker the session on "Temporary use as a tool for transforming socially complex areas: strategies, methods and lessons learned".

The full programme of the VIII Biennial of Public Space is available here. 

Closing session at the "Past Present and Future of Public Space" International Academic Conference, Bologna, 25-27 June 2024

.

City Space Architecture proudly announced the recipients of the prestigious Public Space Research Awards at the Past Present and Future of Public Space international academic conference, held from June 25-27, 2024, in Bologna, Italy, as part of the celebration of the tenth anniversary. The awards recognized exceptional research contributions at both Master's and PhD levels, highlighting innovative approaches to understanding and improving public spaces.
The conference, which brought together leading scholars, practitioners, and researchers from around the world, served as the perfect backdrop for celebrating these outstanding academic achievements. The awards ceremony took place during the conference's closing session, emphasizing the organization's commitment to fostering excellence in public space research.

"These awards represent our dedication to advancing the field of public space studies and supporting the next generation of urban scholars," stated Dr. Luisa Bravo, President of City Space Architecture. "The winning research projects demonstrate remarkable insight into the evolving nature of public spaces and their crucial role in contemporary urban life."

The selection process involved rigorous evaluation by an international jury of distinguished academics and practitioners. Submissions were assessed based on their originality, methodological sophistication, and potential impact on both academic discourse and practical applications in urban design and planning.

.

REVIEWERS for the Special Track on Master and PhD Theses

Husam Al Waer, University of Dundee, United Kingdom

Sebnem Hoskara, Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus

Jacek Ludwig Scarso, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom

.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Originality

New understanding for the progress of the research on public space

Overall quality and excellence

.

.

.

On 19th-20th September 2024 City Space Architecture promoted a symposium in Bologna, with proceedings to be included in a special issue of The Journal of Public Space on “Parklets, Temporary Uses and Co-creation of Public Space”. The symposium was anticipated with an online gathering on 18th September with global scholars and practitioners who are developing key contributions in the field of public space.

.

CONCEPT NOTE

The modern parklet was created in San Francisco in 2009, building upon a long legacy of temporary occupation of roadway space to create tiny public spaces. Initially conceived of as a temporary expansion of the sidewalk into the vehicular right of way, parklets have evolved into their own unique space typology. The City of San Francisco Parklet Program has been imitated and adopted globally and parklet-like spaces grew steadily in cities around the world from 2009 to 2019. 2020 witnessed a radical expansion of non-conventional use of the roadway as many communities sought to use outdoor public spaces in the streets as gathering places and for commercial outdoor dining and retail. While recent years have witnessed a contraction of these pandemic-era uses of streets, many communities are continuing to grapple with some fundamental questions about these spaces; such as: Are they public or private? How to balance commercial and community uses of the curb lane? Who administers these programs and how do municipalities manage a fee structure for public and commercial uses of the public right of way? How do cities balance this explosion of user-generated uses of the public right of way while maintaining standards of accessibility, public safety, and design quality in the public realm?

.

Initiators and curators
John Bela (Bela Urbanism), our Founder and President Luisa Bravo (City Space Architecture), Ryan Smolar (PlacemakingUS), Robin Abad Ocubillo (City of Oakland, USA) and Ilaria Salvadori (City of San Francisco, USA)

.

with the patronage of
Culture Commission, Chamber of Deputies, Italian Government
United States Embassy in Rome
Emilia-Romagna Region
Municipality of Bologna

.

.

on the occasion of
European Mobility Week “Shared Public Spaces” promoted by Fondazione IU Rusconi Ghigi and Park(ing) Day

.

Graphic design by Lorella Pierdicca, LLdesign.it.

.

.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Pratt Institute in New York City for the organization of the international symposium "Public Space Challenges: from theory to practice to policy" on 25-27 April 2024, as part of the celebration of the 10-year anniversary of City Space Architecture. Read more about our anniversary here.

This symposium is an opportunity to present our work to an American audience and to discuss current challenges for public space, from theory to practice to policy, with high-profile experts.

.

Statement from our President Dr Luisa Bravo:

Public space is a key element for sustainable urban development. Despite its broad and context-specific meaning, public space is the social glue that can contribute to advancing mutual trust, cooperation, and solidarity. However, too often public space is not listed as a primary question in the urban agendas of politicians and local governments, but rather as a collateral component, mostly intended as design activity related to landscape urbanism or infrastructure facilities. Major concerns for cities and built environments are defined through different categories and expertise related to housing, services, infrastructure, environmental issues, and technological solutions that also generate investment and provide funding opportunities While academic research on public space is well established through cross disciplinary approaches and investigation, there is a lack of interest or an unprepared expertise in defining a comprehensive urban strategy for local implementation, that is built around humans and their life in the public domain.

.

Co-organizers
City Space Architecture
Pratt Institute, Urban Placemaking and Management
Read about previous collaboration here.
.
Co-hosts
Luisa Bravo, Founder and President
City Space Architecture
.
David Burney, Academic Director
Pratt Institute, Urban Placemaking and Management

.

The event is open to the public and free of charge but registration is required.
Fill out this online form no later than April 20.

.

.