Paper short abstract:

This paper identifies three distinct European public space projects that governments and designers that have been put forward as best practices for public space design to enhance social cohesion in contexts of cultural diversity. It examines their aims, design outcomes and public reception.

Paper long abstract:

The last two decades have witnessed a growing commitment to European public space projects seeking to promote social cohesion. These projects are built on the premise that social cohesion is under threat from the increasing cultural and economic differences in contemporary cities and that should be promoted or maintained in public spaces.

This paper examines the key commonalities and differences among these new public spaces, in terms of their social, economic and planning policy contexts, their aims, design and representation outcomes and public reception. The paper characterises three distinct approaches that governments and designers that have been put forward as best practices for public space design to enhance social cohesion in contexts of cultural diversity. These three design approaches are well illustrated by three much-publicised award-winning public space designs projects located in similar socio-cultural and urban contexts: multicultural, low income neighbourhoods that are experiencing gentrification. These are: the multiculturally-themed Superkilen in Norrebro, Copenhagen; the programmatic Afrikanderplein in Feijenoord, Rotterdam; minimalist design approach: Gillett Square in Dalston, London.

By combining archival and ethnographic material from each of these three case studies, this paper will offer a productive assessment and comparison of the relative merits and limitations on how they used public space design to support the divergent functional and representational needs of diverse social groups and the common aim of enhancing cohesion among these groups.