How We Evaluate Shapes What Public Space Becomes

Public space - streets, parks, squares, waterfronts, commons, and civic interiors - is foundational to wellbeing, democratic expression, climate resilience, and socio-cultural identity. Yet it remains under-protected and under-funded in many contexts, vulnerable to privatisation, encroachment, and uneven access. As cities densify and rural territories evolve, the need to assess the quality and impact of public spaces has become more urgent - and more complex.This Special Issue of The Journal of Public Space has been developed by the UIA Public Spaces Work Programme (WP) as part of our 2023-2026 roadmap that positions public space as both a universal right and a strategic lever for policy and practice [1]. Our WP and the UIA have an enormous asset for public space assessment, bringing together professionals from all five regions of the globe, thereby pooling the cultural, historical, identity-related, and governance-related experiences of each region as shared resources.[1] Chung, T. & Brener, N. (2025) Becoming Public: A 2023–2026 Roadmap for the UIA Public Spaces Work Programme. UIA. https://www.uia-architectes.org/en/mag/becoming-public-a-2023-2026-roadmap-for-the-uia-public-spaces-work-programme/

Democracy · Lever · Public policy · Public space · Public use · Space (punctuation) · Work (physics) · Place Attachment and Urban Studies · Urban Planning and Governance · Urban Transport and Accessibility