4.0 Sociability in a Public Square

Public spaces are considered to be a core component of urban structure and city life, being a beneficial component that takes into account the ultimate aim of fostering regional attachment. In this way, it is conceivable that open space should be regarded as a part ready to advance development and regional demands, in addition to having a characteristic capacity to build and sustain coherent local centrality, ecological efficiency, financial strength and a sense of citizenship. Public spaces allow individuals to meet in coordinated and impromptu paths on seemingly impartial ground, to interact with those within the entire community. These include family relationships (e.g. multi-era family shopping campaigns), social groupings (e.g. youth bunches), nearby social partnerships (e.g. risky or coordinated meetings with companions, neighbours and work partners) and meetings by simple excitement (e.g. walking gatherings). By encouraging this blending, public spaces can add to the attachment of groups.

4.1 Social Interaction in Public Squares

Out in open spaces, by seeing what strangers look like and how they behave, how their careers deal with outsiders, and how to preserve harmony in broad daylight, small children can learn about social behaviour. To foster interconnected public spaces, arranged events need to incorporate the needs of families and children so that they can be incorporated into the town's general population life. Open spaces created have been presented as predominantly adult spaces, where the views and mores of adults win, while the discernment and interests of children and young people are rarely highlighted.

A square is a place between the commotion of the street to pause and comfort and on the other hand, is one of the most significant urban spaces that contributes to social interactions being created. Social human beings need a position with experienced collective life processes. Otherwise, many of the social ills in the major cities that we see today would be unavoidable. In terms of education, as well as cultural and historical context, and the identification of cities and regions, the position of squares is evident and important. The measure of every great civilization is its cities and there is to be found a measure of the greatness of a region.

A public space can be functional, busy, and highly Instagram able, and can yet not become a place where the individuals who use it mean anything. A sense of place arises in a public space only when, over time, many individuals invest value in a space. Slow, internalized, and distributed, the growth of sense and connection builds up through countless small moments of love, surprise, and symbolism that are bestcaptured by direct personal observation. Via signs like facial expressions, body language, proximity, and tone of voice, these moments involve understanding that neurotypical humans excel at. Places exude a kind of magnetism, a pull that brings individuals, lovers and strangers alike, closer together. There are countless signs of closeness and intimacy, whether sharing a kiss or simply sharing a bench, all brought on by great public spaces. (Project for Public Spaces, n.d.)

A study conducted by “Project for Public Spaces”, said that, “There is a wide range of affectionate behaviour that one can observe in public space ranging from the subtle to the blatant, from intimacy to courtesy:”

Public Display of Affection, Sharing, Touching Proximity, Smiling and Eye Contact

Figure 83: Affection seen between people at public spaces

While these different types of affection are sincere, they are also a sort of success. In public, couples, families and friends all act differently than they do in private, and their affectionate behaviour also becomes more open, not less.

And this great show is also what attracts people, whether they are watching or are being watched, to a public room. Affection both draws on the diversity of public life and adds to it. For memories, importance, and a clear sense of place, it is the raw material. Thus in Lewis Mumford's great words, let's "forget the damned motor car and build cities for friends and lovers." (Project for Public Spaces, n.d.)

4.2 Public Squares- A need for a new policy

Figure 84: Chart showing If there are enough Public spaces in their city(Author)

A survey conducted, asking if people think there are enough Public spaces in their city, shows that 80.3% people think there is a need for the increase in Public spaces, since their city does not have such spaces.

4.2.1 Public spaces used as Traffic Nodes

Figure 85: A view of the parking lot inside a traffic island near Regal cinema in Mumbai (Midday)

Hindustan Times, dated July 15, 2016.

These spaces are two traffic islands in Nariman Point — one outside the Life Insurance Corporation head-office and the other opposite Samrat Restaurant — the Wellington Fountain circle, used as a parking lot outside Regal Cinema, and parts of Raj Bhavan.

While the two traffic islands have been identified as ‘playgrounds’, the parking lot outside Regal and the Raj Bhavan have been classified as ‘recreational ground’ (RG). Strangely, the Gateway of India, a heritage structure, has been marked as an RG.

The government has included available, but inaccessible open spaces such as traffic islands, salt pan lands, mangroves and even the national forest – Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) as open spaces, when, in fact, public open spaces include public parks and gardens, that can be used and are accessed by all for recreational purposes.

The city suffers a crippling shortage of accessible, public open spaces. While New York’s ratio is 26 square metres per person, Singapore’s is 7.5 square metres per capita. On the other hand, Mumbai has little over 1 square metre open space per person. In the DP, the BMC has stated its aim to be 4 square metres per capita. (Purohit, 2016)

4.2.2 Beachfronts

Beachfronts have a lot of potential to act like Public Squares if designed and treated well.

Figure 87: Disorganised Beaches in Mumbai (Alamy)

Figure 88: Scope for improvement at Juhu Beach (Hindustan Times)

4.2.3 Transit Nodes

Mumbai is highly populated and a huge percentage of people use public transport, like the trains, 7 million people use them to travel daily. Yet crowds, congestion, chaotic approaches, low maintenance of facilities are the words which come to mind when we think about the major transit hubs that link our trains, the railway stations. This is a major activity zone which operates over the clock and is an active spot for people to come and go.

Bandra Railway Station Plaza

The open plaza outside Bandra Station in Mumbai is a mess. Traffic is chaotic, there are no proper walkways, and access to transport is completely disorganized.

Figure 89: Chaos at bandra station (Mumbai Live)

Bandra Station Plaza too has the potential to transform into a great Public Square.

Conclusion

Mumbai being a global city, we do not get any spaces to celebrate life, in spite of spaces existing, the opportunity to make them functionable is not utilised. There is no holistic approach.

There is no reservation of the right type of activity around a square for it to live and thrive.

By the above issues and study, it is certain that there is a need for more such spaces, but due to lack of regulations/policies, spaces are being misused.