Introducing body-language methods into urban design to research the social and interactional potential of public space

ABSTRACT

Since the 1960s the urban design discipline has experienced a remarkable turn towards the psychological, social and cultural dimensions of place. This is visible in its expanded body of knowledge to include a wide range of social science disciplines and in its investment in qualitative and cross-disciplinary methodologies in public space research to understand the different user’s needs and experiences. Comparatively, little research has been done on the social and interactional potential of public spaces. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper employs original empirical material from one case study with a view to focus on the bodily socio-spatial mechanics of social interactions among strangers in public space and to examine the potential applicability of body-language methods to study them.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. During fieldwork several interview formats were tested: from the general type to walking interview methods. This paper only reports the general interviews with 42 passers-by, who were selected at random based on their expressed availability (e.g., they were usually selected during lunch breaks or after working hours). The interviews were aimed to gain an understanding of the interviewee’s social experience of the PN as a whole and of the specific locations where they were interviewed and to clarify the key issues highlighted during the observations. To do so, they consisted of a standard set of open-ended questions aimed for a minimum duration of 20 min, but could be longer depending on their availability.

2. The riverfront was after all the only space in the PN described by different interviewees as the location where ‘there is a mix of different people, and is comfortable for everyone and for everything’.

3. It offers a variety of spaces for leisure activities along its length: five green spaces (the ‘Jardim das Ondas’ garden and four ‘Jardins Garcia da Orta’ gardens), two playgrounds for children, a variety of seating spaces (seating ledges facing the river, various layouts of benches for groups and individuals, and esplanades), and a variety of scenic paths (route next to the river, pedestrian bridge over the water).