Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods

In cities, public green open spaces offer residents a potentially better quality of life. The behavioural patterns by which people experience and use these spaces is therefore a valuable source of information for spatial planning. Indeed, studying how these spaces are used has also shown a significa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Nataša Bratina Jurkovič
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Urbanistični inštitut RS 2014-06-01
Series:Urbani Izziv
Subjects:
Online Access:http://urbani-izziv.uirs.si/Portals/uizziv/papers/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-01-003.pdf
_version_ 1818721258023419904
author Nataša Bratina Jurkovič
author_facet Nataša Bratina Jurkovič
author_sort Nataša Bratina Jurkovič
collection DOAJ
description In cities, public green open spaces offer residents a potentially better quality of life. The behavioural patterns by which people experience and use these spaces is therefore a valuable source of information for spatial planning. Indeed, studying how these spaces are used has also shown a significant difference between the intentions of planners and users. Only the frequency of visits to these public green spaces ultimately testifies to their appropriate and successful planning. Based on empirical research conducted in a residential area of Ljubljana, this article addresses the significance and methods of obtaining information on the experience and use of urban open spaces by residents of that neighbourhood. The article identifies factors (that could also be used by planners) that significantly impact satisfaction levels among the intended users of the neighbourhood. The focus group method and socio spatial schema method were used, based on the assumption that a multi method approach provides more accurate and reliable information that is verifiable, and therefore more useful in developing planning policies. According to the research findings, residents perceive their “neighbourhood” to be the area around their home in which they know each other and socialise with neighbours. The factors that trigger a sense of satisfaction with their neighbourhood are well maintained green areas in the vicinity of their home, parks with trees that provide spaces for a variety of activities, tree lined streets, green areas connected into a system, the opportunity to use these areas for recreation and sports, and street furniture for rest or play. The spatial elements that hinder the use of such open spaces are, in particular, busy streets, unprotected pedestrian crossings, large garage areas and car parking.
first_indexed 2024-12-17T20:35:52Z
format Article
id doaj.art-7dfe03553bb1406fb4579e2ae93b9dda
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0353-6483
1855-8399
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-17T20:35:52Z
publishDate 2014-06-01
publisher Urbanistični inštitut RS
record_format Article
series Urbani Izziv
spelling doaj.art-7dfe03553bb1406fb4579e2ae93b9dda2022-12-21T21:33:26ZengUrbanistični inštitut RSUrbani Izziv0353-64831855-83992014-06-0125110712510.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-01-003Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoodsNataša Bratina Jurkovič0Allinea plus, d. o. o., Ljubljana, SloveniaIn cities, public green open spaces offer residents a potentially better quality of life. The behavioural patterns by which people experience and use these spaces is therefore a valuable source of information for spatial planning. Indeed, studying how these spaces are used has also shown a significant difference between the intentions of planners and users. Only the frequency of visits to these public green spaces ultimately testifies to their appropriate and successful planning. Based on empirical research conducted in a residential area of Ljubljana, this article addresses the significance and methods of obtaining information on the experience and use of urban open spaces by residents of that neighbourhood. The article identifies factors (that could also be used by planners) that significantly impact satisfaction levels among the intended users of the neighbourhood. The focus group method and socio spatial schema method were used, based on the assumption that a multi method approach provides more accurate and reliable information that is verifiable, and therefore more useful in developing planning policies. According to the research findings, residents perceive their “neighbourhood” to be the area around their home in which they know each other and socialise with neighbours. The factors that trigger a sense of satisfaction with their neighbourhood are well maintained green areas in the vicinity of their home, parks with trees that provide spaces for a variety of activities, tree lined streets, green areas connected into a system, the opportunity to use these areas for recreation and sports, and street furniture for rest or play. The spatial elements that hinder the use of such open spaces are, in particular, busy streets, unprotected pedestrian crossings, large garage areas and car parking.http://urbani-izziv.uirs.si/Portals/uizziv/papers/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-01-003.pdfpublic open spacesgreen areasresidential neighbourhoodsexperience of residential environmentsfocus groupsocio spatial schemaurban planningLjubljana
spellingShingle Nataša Bratina Jurkovič
Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
Urbani Izziv
public open spaces
green areas
residential neighbourhoods
experience of residential environments
focus group
socio spatial schema
urban planning
Ljubljana
title Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
title_full Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
title_fullStr Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
title_full_unstemmed Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
title_short Perception, experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
title_sort perception experience and the use of public urban spaces by residents of urban neighbourhoods
topic public open spaces
green areas
residential neighbourhoods
experience of residential environments
focus group
socio spatial schema
urban planning
Ljubljana
url http://urbani-izziv.uirs.si/Portals/uizziv/papers/urbani-izziv-en-2014-25-01-003.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT natasabratinajurkovic perceptionexperienceandtheuseofpublicurbanspacesbyresidentsofurbanneighbourhoods