Introduction to the Special IssueThe design of the public realm: emerging theories and practices

Abstract

This special issue of the Journal of Urbanism explores the design of the public realm as a central yet underdeveloped field within urban design. Despite its longstanding importance, the public realm lacks conceptual clarity, coherent theory, and integration across research, practice, and policy. Foundational work from the 1960s–1980s provided influential frameworks, but these remain rooted in past sociopolitical contexts and are increasingly unable to address contemporary challenges. Today, rapid urban change, digital technologies, climate crises, migration, and cultural diversity are reshaping how public realms are designed, governed, and experienced, while also raising questions of inclusion, resilience, and justice. This collection responds by advancing new conceptual tools, empirical insights, and practice-oriented approaches. Drawing from diverse contexts, contributors examine inclusive design tactics, crisis-driven transformations, and experimental social and institutional dynamics, reframing the public realm as a contested and evolving domain of urban life.

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