Placemaking: The power to transform open spaces through Urban Design to create healthier communities.

The power of Place, the potential of a holistic approach towards planning the interplay of the built and unbuilt spaces in our cities and neighborhoods could be a tool that can carve out a stronger, healthier and happier community.

The open spaces within our built environments can not only add beauty and function to a space, but also elevate factors that are important for all strata of users- such as safety, physical and emotional well-being, sociability, lowered heat stress and noise and improved air quality. By embracing Green Infrastructure, the open spaces can reduce stress on city infrastructure by reducing surface runoff and managing wastewater. This can be achieved through thoughtful Placemaking efforts, which is a collaborative process keeping the end users and the environment at the core. Here are some factors which can lead to effective Placemaking outcomes.

Safety: Safety can be ensured by planning separation of vehicular and pedestrian movements through landscaping measures, appropriate lighting and maintenance. Incorporation of certain programs like shops and cafes to activate the spaces enhances safety through passive surveillance. Zoning of areas for active and quiet activities leads to more equitable spaces catering to individual needs for a range of users. Planting, street furniture and zoning can help in achieving these factors and elevate safety of a Place.

Physical & Emotional Well-being: Just having walking trails and bicycle lanes do not by itself elevate physical well-being, but proper planning for safety, shading and comfort make them conducive for the intended use. Tree lined lanes not only provide shading in summers and but also enhance air quality and reduce noise levels. The place needs to cater to the activity needs of all age groups of users. Toddlers require tactile and visually stimulating experiential spaces, older children and adolescents needs spaces for higher level of activity and sports, adults need spaces for physical activity as well as quiet escapes from daily stress while elderly population need spaces for social connectivity and light preoccupation to remain physically and mentally active.

Enhanced community: A Place should be having the flexibility to hold pop-up events and celebrations. Opportunities to express interests and pursue hobbies can not only help to activate the space by getting people together but also boost local economic activities and generate revenue. Such a place can lead to a closer knit, healthier and resilient community that creates opportunities and enhance sociability. Incorporating urban gardens and vegetable patches in open spaces in place of ornamental landscaping can help bringing people together as well as encourage elderly population to stay active and have social connections. Age-appropriate activities can generate interest and engagement from various user groups.

Lowered heat stress and noise and enhanced air quality: A Place will be used when it is comfortable for people for outdoor activities. Appropriate planning, shading and planting can help achieve that. Planting of outdoor spaces and peripheral zones can reduce urban heat island effect and noise levels. Plazas and outdoor areas should be designed and planned keeping local climate and vegetation in mind. Street furniture and spaces for sitting and rest can make the space more equitable for a range of users, like young children, young parents and the elderly. Plants help in improving air quality by in breaking down toxins and reduce dust and particulate matter by accelerating deposition of small particles. This creates an enhanced microclimate providing comfortable conditions for outdoor activities.

Waste Water Management and Green Infrastructure: Green Infrastructure holds the power for our cities to be more resilient. Green infrastructure can not only create buffer spaces but also reduce the stress on infrastructure by enabling natural percolation and preserve natural water bodies. Features like Bioswales, Planter boxes, Parklets, Permeable pavers, Rain gardens and green streets can add relief, beauty and a sense of identity to a place as well as contribute to managing waste water by retention of rain water and removal of toxins and sediments from surface runoff.

Utilities and connection: For a Place to be successful, especially that meant for public use, should be accessible through public transport, bicycle and pedestrian network. Facilities for public convenience, such as toilets and water fountains should be considered. Carefully planned and maintained street furniture, lighting and waste bins not only enhance the utility of the space but also create synergies with safety and well-being. Wayfinding and signages can add color, art and identity to the Place in addition to providing ease for the users. The Place should be accessible friendly to be equitable for various user groups.

For a Place to be sustainable, equitable and user friendly, many of these factors and their synergies play a huge role. The functions and facilities should complement and co-relate with each other. There can be short term and temporary experiments which can be improved, observed and iterated for longer term solutions. Place making is a collaborative process which involves the voices of all the stakeholders. It can be implemented at various scales- within a project, a neighborhood or a city. The intent should be to achieve a Place led approach, having the users in its focus, with always a room for improvement and iteration.