4.1 Sociability in public spaces

4.1 SOCIABILITY IN PUBLIC SPACES

• ‘Sociability’ indicates people’s emotions and feelings towards an area and when people feel a way of inclusion towards an area, they have a tendency to use it for an extended time and more frequently.

• The character of the general public space, the people surrounding it, physical structures present within the space like art or fountains, including traffic noise, can impact the way space is used and understood.

• This is understood through Doreen Massey’s theory of thrown-togetherness where she suggests that the varied elements and structures present within the public space, including the way space is built have an impact on how people use it.

• Jane Jacobs’ concept of eyes on the road may be analogous and is a part of sociability because when people are conscious of their surroundings, even publicly spaces, they have a greater understanding of the space.

• Stephen Car argues that public areas must be equally meaningful and democratic (so that people are able to make strong relations between the place of their personal life and vaster world, all the rights of groups are observed, to be available to all and also it provides freedom of action for all).

It is necessary that design and manage of space will be responsive to the needs of its users

• Jan Gehl has mentioned that ideal urban spaces provide a variety of activities and experiences for different groups of users. Experience of pausing in urban spaces and also using of these places continuously or occasionally are both important points.