The Good Bench Manual
The Good Bench manual is a practical and inspiring tool for anyone working on cities, streets, and public spaces. It explores how something as simple as a bench can play a powerful role in shaping social life, wellbeing, and inclusion in the public realm. Rather than treating seating as an afterthought or a design object, […]
Placemaking and beyond: 5 policy levers for city centres
What if we decided to write a playbook for bringing community and vitality back to city centres? As a partnership of 10 urban areas from across Europe, the URBACT Cities@Heart network set out to do just that. Their approachable network guide and toolkit compile best practices and field experiences in city centre management and policy […]
Inclusive Placemaking Inspirational Cookbook | Reshaping our cities for all
The Inclusive Placemaking Inspirational Cookbook, created by the Inclusive City project, offers a practical toolkit for designing more inclusive public spaces. Process guided by Milagros Hurtig and co-curated with the consortium partners across Europe, it brings together real stories, actionable strategies, and reflective exercises to help urban planners, designers, and community leaders address exclusion in […]
Designing for the Public in Rotterdam
The design of public space products, such as furniture or pathways, is a good example of hardware, but public space design can be even more transformative to a place when the neighbourhood’s software and orgware are taken into account too. Rotterdam based design studio BENDE takes a rather innovative and unique approach in its design […]
Creative placemaking
Creative placemaking serves livability, diversity, and economic development goals. Instead of a single arts centre or a cluster of large arts and cultural institutions, contemporary creative placemaking envisions a more decentralised portfolio of spaces acting as creative crucibles. In each, arts and culture exist cheek-by-jowl with private sector export and retail businesses and mixed-income housing, […]
Parkwatch
In May 2023, Make Space for Girls asked people to take part in a citizen science project, counting how many teenagers were using the facilities in their local park, and how many of these were girls. This report sets out the results. The data shows how much girls really are designed out of parks. Make […]
First life, then space, then buildings (Dutch version)
One of the crucial first steps that we at STIPO often take is as Jan Gehl says: “first life, then space, then buildings”. So we think about life first. Then we translate that into the public space. And only then will we shape the building blocks and buildings. Unfortunately, in practice, the opposite often happens: […]
First life, then space, then buildings (English version)
One of the crucial first steps that we at STIPO often take is as Jan Gehl says: “first life, then space, then buildings”. So we think about life first. Then we translate that into the public space. And only then will we shape the building blocks and buildings. Unfortunately, in practice, the opposite often happens: […]
Usage analysis, a placemaking tool
This Ville Hybride publication aims to facilitate user-centric urban design through usage analysis. This publication includes a step-by-step guide along with a printable worksheet for conducting time-sensitive and gender-sensitive space analysis. This practical tool can serve as the initial phase of a participatory placemaking initiative or contribute to an inclusive urban design project.
Temporary Modular Furniture Tool
Modular furniture is an easy way to provide temporary solutions for public spaces. From seating options like benches and chairs, to tables, mini-gardens, and functional art pieces, this type of approach to placemaking is easy, cost-effective, and impactful, and is adaptable not only to different interests, but to all age, gender, and other demographic groups. […]
