UD1: Including Young People in Public Spaces and Active Interfaces; Case Studies from Europe

The upcoming 2018 International Urban Design Conference will be held at the SMC Conference and Function Centre, Sydney, NSW next month over 12 – 13 November.

The conference will showcase innovations in projects and research embracing and creating transformational change in urban environments.

Joining us at the conference is Mr Tim D’Agostino, Landscape Architect with Aspect Studios who will present on ‘UD1: Including Young People in Public Spaces and Active Interfaces; Case Studies from Europe’.

Abstract

Active interfaces, that open buildings and the activities within them to the public realm, offer an ideal opportunity to bring diverse demographics and practices together. If these spaces are located within accessible areas, they can stimulate social interaction and provide learning opportunities, which seems to be particularly relevant for young people (ages 10-18). Such spaces need to be inclusive of all people, in order to inspire and encourage cultural diversity and understanding, creativity and informal mentoring from older community members.

By challenging the traditional barriers of building footprints (inside) and public realm (outside), more vibrant and resilient communities can be forged. In the lure of screen-oriented play, professions working in the urban environment have an obligation to make public spaces feel inviting and inspiring for the often disenfranchised and underrepresented generation of young people.

In this age group there are key stages of finding our place and passion in the world. In Australia we have a strong focus on designing playgrounds for children 10 and under. However, once we hit our teenage years and outgrow the playground we spend less time with our parents and more time with our friends. Together we search for new spaces to hang out in, be it shopping centres, public or privately owned spaces, somewhere local or somewhere in our capital city.

Professional experience and a study tour of European public spaces will be used to explore the question; “If we do not include, support, or enable young people to be in public spaces, how can we expect them to develop social skills, healthy cultural practices, and learn how to interact with broader society?”. Active interfaces will be explored as an opportunity to address this.

Biography

Tim D’Agostino is a Landscape Architect working for ASPECT Studios. After finishing his Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning double degree with Honours at RMIT in 2014, he has worked for multiple local councils developing Master Plans, Strategies and landscape architecture projects in both capital city and rural contexts. Tim has worked with a diversity of communities and key stakeholders to develop and deliver inclusive and considered urban design outcomes.

Tim was awarded a scholarship from Parks and Leisure Australia to undertake a study tour of Europe investigating public spaces inclusive of young people. On this study tour he discovered many precedents of communal and social hubs, rich in public life, mixed use activities and active interfaces, of which he will be presenting on. Tim in his spare time has also been a part of the Community Assembly for the Yarra River Strategic Plan and advocates for socially inclusive and sustainable public spaces.

For more information on the 2018 International Urban Design Conference and to secure your spot visit the conference website at urbandesignaustralia.com.au

 

Flicking the switch on regeneration: Lighting public spaces

The ongoing success of Sydney’s Vivid festival shows how governments can transform the job of lighting public spaces from the functional to the spectacular; drawing people into a city, moving them around the space and giving the economy a shot in the arm.

Urban design expert Susanne Seitinger, from Philips Lighting, specialises in lighting parks and open spaces and is in Sydney speaking at the Media Architecture Biennale, as part of Vivid 2016.

Seitinger says LED lighting has not only cut energy bills and reduced greenhouse gases for governments, it has also opened up new ways of bringing public spaces to life and changed how lighting can be integrated with other elements, such as urban furniture and architecture.

“It’s really transformative how you can integrate lighting with these kinds of things and have the ability to work with light in many more diverse ways,” Seitinger says.

A prime example of how responsive lighting has become was when the London Eye was lit up to reflect the mood of British people on Twitter during the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics.

Social media company SosoLimited used an algorithm to track the sentiment of Brits around the Olympics in the world’s first social media driven light show: yellow for excited, green for neutral and purple for negative feelings towards the Games.

“It was a giant mood ring for the city and used Twitter to gauge the state of the nation, reflecting it back to the city every evening,” she says.

Lighting was also used to express solidarity for the victims of the November 2015 Paris attacks as buildings and monuments all around the world lit up in the colours of the French flag.

“It was a very interesting expression of solidarity and it occurs because we have this ability to respond to what’s going on in the world. It’s such a flexible medium,” she says. To read more click here.

Seitinger says cities with waterfront areas are becoming more aware of the need to light them and to show-off their features.

The focus is on reclaiming waterfront areas and making them attractive public spaces. For example, Little Rock in Arkansas invested heavily in its downtown area, creating a vibrant waterfront, lighting up bridges and building new concert venues.

“I think cities in general are becoming more aware of the need to choreograph their night-time and lighting plays a key role in that. Whether it’s a 12 or 24-hour city a lot more attention is going to be placed on lighting [and] really focussing on creating unique spaces, as well.” To read more click here.

The 9th International Urban Design Conference will be held at Hyatt Canberra from Monday 7th-8th November 2016 with optional tours available on Wednesday 9^th November.

Registrations are now open. CLICK HERE to register for the Conference.

This years’ theme, “Smart Cities for 21st Century Australia – How urban design innovation can change our cities”  will focus on an understanding of what makes a city ‘smart’ from a urban design perspective and how the built environment develops during the city planning process.

Authors or organisations interested in presenting at the 9th International Urban Design Conference are invited to submit an abstract. To submit an abstract CLICK HERE.