Download Workshop Proposal Document_Krakow

Suggested subjects for November workshop session.
A research conducted during Azory Local Support Group meetings shown that most of the
problems encountered by the respondents were connected with public space maintenance, lack
of use or misusing. Also, there was a problem of identity raised. Place identity is strong but it has
rather negative connotations. Those outcomes lead to formulating for proposals of subjects
according to the roadmap “good public space” attributes:
1. Accessibility
2. Activity
There are multiple types of barriers that may be described as
accessibility issues.
Communication: In Azory case it is connectivity with other focal
points of the city. Physical borders of the site: Opolska street, railroad
tracks. Lack of internal short distance communication. Parked cars
create a barrier for developing and accessing public space.
Quality: Poor quality of space and poor maintenance are making
certain recreational areas inaccessible (eg. Sidewalk quality or lack,
high rise lawns, greenery not cut).
Support for disabled: There is hardly any equipment for people with
disabilities to be found. No pavement enhancements, no ramps, no
elevators.
Social exclusion/Safety: Some spaces are not accessible because
there are occupied by groups of misbehaving people.
“Dead space”: The only spaces that are well managed are children’s
playgrounds, there are no places dedicated to other forms of activity.
Ownership: There is no clear feeling about which places are
considered private, semi-private or public. The people do not identify
with the space outside their apartments, so there is no clear border
between what is and should be accessible for public, for inhabitants
of a certain settlement.
Azory users found during the LSG session that there is enough of
recreational public areas but most of them are redundant, poorly
equipped and badly maintained. There are no spaces dedicated for
any particular activities (except for playgrounds). There are no bike
roads, no jogging nor rollerskating lanes etc. There are hardly any
sportgrounds, no picnic areas, etc...The lack of proper management
and equipment is the reason for the public space in Azory is so often
not used or misused.
Activity: Children playgrounds, sportsgrounds, lanes and paths,
sitting, picnic areas, eating, reading, mobile work etc... there should
be places for dedicated for different activities.
Diversity: Public space should offer diverse activities for different
users.
Social: Public space should create a face to face meeting point, but
also a bridge to extended space of virtual reality. It should provide
access to information in both ways creating different levels of
communication.
3. Place identity
4. Comfort
Alive: the type of activities shall provide the 24/7 use of space.
The place identity is a very important issue in Azory’s case. This is a
very well known and distinctive area, but it is mostly because of being
infamous. There is a dramatic difference between how the
neighbourhood is perceived from the inside perspective, and by the
cities inhabitants. Surprisingly from the data collected during the LSG
meeting and studying the property market, the value of the
apartments is relatively high, and there are no problems with selling
or renting an apartment.
Image: there is a need of improving the neighbourhood image.
Focal points: improving communication and the entrance points.
Strategy: work on strategy – how to make Azory more popular, how
to overcome the bad image of the neighbourhood.
Part-time inhabitants: how to take advantage from students in a
community, how to make a part time inhabitant a value for Azory
public space.
The comfort issue of public space should be self-understandable. In
Azory’s case public space users got used to their poor reality during
the years and they expectations became minimal. It is essential to
show people that the good quality of public space is one of the
important issues in creating a good quality environment.
Attractiveness: diverse activities and designs that give users more
possibilities for active space usage
Accessibility: comfortable access to places using different means of
communication.
Aesthetics: well designed areas are crucial for comfortable using
public space.
Maintenance: ideas on better maintenance of the space.