What makes public spaces essentially public is reflected in their openness, accessibility and freedom from the motive of capitalisation, thus making them merely meant for ushering inter-communications. It ranges from streets, parks, playgrounds, plazas, recreational areas, markets, libraries, malls, subways and other privately managed open-to-all spaces. Social scientists often remark on the public realm as lying within the scope of sociological research. In his work, “Social Life of Small Urban Spaces”, William H Whyte speaks about the design of urban public spaces as the main determinant of the footfall of the people in a particular zone as he studies streetlife. He also distinguishes between the areas that work and those that do not by offering insights into the life of plazas, streets, types of sitting spaces and the role of food, wind, water, trees, etc.
The intent of such minimal props can make one feel at ease and kick-start conversation with people. The spaces are transformed into places rather than just designing them with strict principles, the natural essence is retained by boosting the interactivities.
Urbanism as a way of life is defined in terms of size, density and heterogeneity of interpersonal relations that the people share. As the material density of the cities increases, the moral density in the form of interactions also increases, giving rise to organic solidarity based on instrumentalism and rationalism, visibly seen in public spaces. Interactions are thus based on needs and this precisely determines the pattern of social networking, leading to familiarity, belongingness and integration. Symbolic interactionism denotes the language and symbols used for communication majorly, within which the public spaces become a significant part of the symbol or identity for the users.
UAE cities promoting social cohesion and community engagement
In UAE, open spaces like Maidan, Saha and Rahba have been used in Islamic cities for a long time. Presently though these spaces have largely been neglected in socialisation and incorporation into modern urban design, some of these have become parts of conservative urban development.
The city of Dubai has grown considerably in the past six decades. Over time, the city has lost spaces like Saha, al-Baraha or Fereej area which are surrounded by houses and approached by Sikka (narrow pathways). These historic public spaces were used for entertainment, social collaboration and as marketplaces by the residents within a pedestrian-friendly environment. Al Shindagah and Al Bastakiyah are the two areas in Dubai which still have these spaces to date that were restored by the Dubai Municipality around the end of the 1970s.
The earlier prominent gathering spaces included the Al Musalla, which was a large isolated space where political, social or military gatherings took place. Similarly, Al-Masjid or Al Jawamie with markets in the south amid the y-shaped junction that adjoined two streets was a famous public space. But these spaces began changing as industrialisation dawned and created new demands for transportation and vehicular accessibility. Ethnocentric ideas surfaced in the 1960s as the Arab-Muslim identity was revived with the establishment of the Arab League. Hence the new blended styles incorporated the Western design along with the age-old characteristic features of landscape techniques, waterfronts, plazas, beaches and other recreational spaces, giving centrality to the architecture of mosques and the surrounding zones.
Since the 1970s cities all over the world were created by the neo-liberal economic paradigm that increased private investment. The United Arab Emirates is also one among such cities that underwent an urban transformation and got reshaped on the line of modern urban design themes. Known for cutting-edge technological innovations, economic prosperity and rapid population growth, the cities of the UAE have strived to justify the role of public spaces to cause social cohesion and interactions. The multi-faceted reality has been played to create an experience of order, hierarchy and rhythm in the design of open spaces in UAE, in the following case studies considered.
Today the evolution of urban areas in the UAE has influenced the model of interaction, which is now more nuanced and vastly varying with different surroundings. Designers have imbibed the desired outcomes into the planning part to give the users a sense of connectedness, ownership, satisfaction and integration. Many urban and landscape scholars have mentioned that community spaces also directly contribute to the good mental health of the users, bolstering safety feeling.
The success of public space is weighed on the basis of utilitarianism, as the end-users are stimulated to act ethically by juxtaposing individual motives and external societal norms which are both exhorted in a space that comes alive and communicates with individuals. The experience of people is thus enhanced and impacts the social life of people. No matter how much a city dweller talks about moving away from the crowds and chaos, the bonding they have with the cityscape is not easily eroded. They end up choosing to move amongst the crowds. A secluded neighbourhood not only breeds nefarious activities but also instils fear in the minds of the masses.
Social media is also an aspect that has morphed the perception of public spaces as influencers and promoters shoot videos and pictures of places in their perspectives, the place acquires new themes and attracts people. Instagrammable spaces are today the trend as crowds flow in. This is evident with the large-scale commissioned street art in Karama, Dubai, as well as the Insta-friendly art spots found at City Walk.
A public space becomes successful when it is full of people according to Duncan Denley of Desert Ink Architecture, who has designed landscapes in the UAE. Community participation uplifts the value of space and fosters a healthy environment around. Additional elements like greenery, multiculturalism, women-and-children-friendly spaces, modernisation and retaining traditions are certain aspects of the design of public spaces contemporarily.
Therefore, to conclude the social organisation of public spaces is the key to developing the community and building social capital, which would lead to social networks and give rise to norms of reciprocity associated with social relations embedded in the cities, giving an intrinsic edge to the members. Design should hence be oriented towards the sustenance of social morality including honesty, trust, care and unity. Bridging the gaps and establishing firm bonds can be alternated with technological transformations and social inclusions.
Citations
The impressive role of public spaces in fostering a sense of community (2023) Arch2O.com. Available at: https://www.arch2o.com/instilling-sense-ownership-public-places/ (Accessed: 14 August 2023).
Hunt, M. (no date) Parks, Squares, alleys: How do we make sure public spaces in the UAE work well for the multicultural communities that live here? The National. Available at: https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/wellbeing/parks-squares-alleys-how-do-we-make-sure-public-spaces-in-the-uae-work-well-for-the-multicultural-communities-that-live-here-1.797932 (Accessed: 14 August 2023).
Malhotra, A., Dobriyal, R. (2021) Fostering Interactions at Public Open Spaces. The Role of Physical Interface in Facilitating User Interactions in the UAE, The Journal of Public Space, 6(1), 167-184, DOI 10.32891/jps.v6i1.1337
