The production of public open spaces and the deliberate exclusion of undesirables

Abstract

While the remaining chapters in this book introduce and discuss a series of experiences in co-creation and participatory processes in the production of public spaces, this chapter intends to reflect on the appropriation and the production of public spaces from another aspect -that of the undesirables, those who are not wanted in the use of public spaces.By 'undesirable' is to be understood all those who, for different reasons, are not supposed to use -at least for a large amount of timea public space.The reasons for considering someone undesirable are diverse and often not explicit.Yet, this divide severely restricts social development and limits the understanding of publicness and of an urban society, which is undoubtedly becoming more and more diverse.For those considered "proper", such daily actions as using a public space are never questioned.Exclusion is a delicate issue, and thus probably no one will publicly recommend excluding the undesirables from public life; however, in fact, an increasing number of architectural elements are being put in place in order to restrict the accessibility and use of public spaces by certain citizens.And the decision to do so is an ambiguous one, as design aims at finding solutions that are effective from a user's perspective.This chapter argues that the production of public space, namely the idealized informality of open public space, is a continuation of the social conflicts present in normative space dynamics by renewed exclusion means and strategies.

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