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

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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.

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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

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EVALUATION CRITERIA

Originality

New understanding for the progress of the research on public space

Overall quality and excellence

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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.

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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?

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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)

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

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

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Graphic design by Lorella Pierdicca, LLdesign.it.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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Welcome address by Dr Luisa Bravo at the opening of the first Past Present and Future of Public Space international conference, that took place in Bologna on 25-27 June 2014.

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PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE OF PUBLIC SPACE
International, interdisciplinary, academic conference, 25-27 June 2024
Workshop of the Public Space Academy, 28 June 2024
Bologna, Italy

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“Past Present and Future of Public Space” is an Italian project, started in 2012 as an academic postdoctoral research activity by Dr Luisa Bravo, at the Department of Architecture, University of Bologna (Italy), and currently coordinated and promoted by City Space Architecture. The project aims to explore new dimensions of the public realm and to discuss the results of research activities, through a multidisciplinary approach, on public space and related topics, comparing theories and projects, bridging knowledge to implementation and policy.
Read more about the conference series and the research group and read what happened at the first conference in 2014 in this short report.

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CHAIR

Luisa Bravo, Founder and President of City Space Architecture, Italy

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SCIENTIFIC COMMITEE

Simone Garagnani, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Italy

Manfredo Manfredini, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Gregor H. Mews, University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia

Michelle Pannone, Marywood University, United States of America

Darko Radovic, Keio University, Japan

Hendrik Tieben, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

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TOPICS

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FULL PROGRAM OF THE CONFERENCE IS AVAILABLE HERE.

Registration is available at THIS LINK till 19 June 2024.

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IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

2 February 2024 > EXTENDED 23 February 2024 / deadline for submission of abstracts
15 March 2024 / notification of accepted abstracts
15 March 2024 / deadline for special sessions
1 April 2024 > EXTENDED 10 May 2024 / deadline for expression of interest to attend the workshop of the Public Space Academy
15 April 2024 / deadline for submission of Master and Phd theses proposals
1 June 2024 / deadline for submission of full papers to be included in the conference proceedings

SUBMISSION OF ACADEMIC ABSTRACTS
Abstract proposals should not exceed 600 words and should include up to five key words. Please indicate the topic of interest when submitting your abstract proposal.
All accepted papers will be included in the conference proceedings (with ISBN).
The best papers selected by a Scientific Committee will be included in a special issue of The Journal of Public Space (ISSN 2206-9658) to be published in 2025.
Submissions are accepted ONLY on Oxford abstracts, click here.

For any information write to: conference@cityspacearchitecture.org

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SPECIAL TRACK ON MASTER AND PhD THESES ON PUBLIC SPACE

This special track is designed to support research work on public space by Master's and PhD students. Shortlisted theses will be evaluated by a scientific committee to award a Research Prize on Public Space.
Theses must be submitted or under discussion between 2013 and 2023.
Submit a summary of your thesis of no more than 5000 words, including a 300-word abstract, up to five keywords and up to 10 images. Also include a cover letter from your supervisor. Both the summary and the letter must be in English.
In the supervisor’s letter we ask to confirm that the thesis has been completed and discussed between 2013 and 2023, and to add the link to the website with the full text of the thesis (if available). Any additional comments on the research (in terms of originality, interdisciplinarity and relevance to the current academic public space discourse) are very welcome.
Submit by 15 April 2024 to: conference@cityspacearchitecture.org highlighting in the subject of the email “Thesis for Research Award on Public Space”.

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WORKSHOP OF THE PUBLIC SPACE ACADEMY
28 June 2024 / Museo Spazio Pubblico
Max 20 participants

This one-day workshop of the Public Space Academy will offer a high-level training for Master and PhD students, for early career and senior researchers and professionals on how to implement effective public space strategies.
Read more about the Public Space Academy.
Submit an expression of interest to attend the workshop to info@publicspaceacademy.org by 10 May 2024.