Paper short abstract:

The empirical study reflects on new roles of everyday city landscapes as platforms for vitalization, use and public engagement. Site specific design interventions by and for people looks into design qualities, activities and socio-cultural environment including four levels for participation.

Paper long abstract:

The work is based on an ongoing research aiming at studying the qualities and reasons of site specific design interventions for engaging the public into everyday landscapes. The research lies in the vitalization of public environments through site specific design interventions created by and for people. The notion of design interventions in public places consist of design ideas, understanding the identity of an area and creating a place in which people can participate and relate to. They start with designing for a humane-scale size and developing awareness into everyday public places for public use. The empirical work consisted of two design interventions, Canvass and Anima. The reflections demonstrate that everyday city landscapes serve as platforms for besides imagining the possibilities of future landscapes also for creating a place for dialogue and concern. The study is based on the premises that people's participation and engagement into everyday environments can enhance and promote a process of public change and place making. The work deals with narratives and site specific experiences for encouraging participation, and for provoking city inhabitants to think about the roles they play and pleasures they want to experience in the future city. Within the scope of design qualities, activities and socio-cultural environment of site specific design interventions by and for people four level for participation were encountered; motivational, physical, intellectual and emotional.