PhD Student Christopher Choji reflecting on Summer School 2025
Centre for Housing and Sustainable Development, University of Lagos Email
RECLAIMING PUBLIC SPACES: HUMAN-CENTRIC DESIGN FOR INCLUSIVE URBAN LANDSCAPES
Revisiting Urban Spaces
Urban public spaces are not merely vacant lots or ornamental elements of cityscapes; they constitute essential components of a healthy, inclusive, and resilient urban environment. These public spaces are venues for social interaction, sociability, and the enactment of community (Johnson & Glover, 2013). They are spaces that foster social interactions and cultural practices that promote social cohesion of diverse groups. The reclamation of these areas through human-centered design represents a powerful strategy for enhancing urban livability, promoting social cohesion, and addressing environmental and public health challenges. As cities experience increased density and complexity, the urgency to reimagine public spaces in a manner that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of urban life becomes markedly critical. Moreover, there is an increasing need to rethink public spaces in ways that mirror the diversity and dynamism of urban life.
The Role and Value of Public Spaces
Public spaces serve as the physical and social fabric of urban communities. From parks and plazas to sidewalks and waterfronts, these spaces support a wide diverse range of functions providing areas for recreation, cultural expression, civic engagement, and informal social interaction. Beyond their social roles, public spaces contribute to ecosystem services, regulate urban microclimates, preserve biodiversity, and can even mitigate urban crime rates by fostering a sense of community ownership.
In congested cities where social isolation is a growing concern, accessible and inclusive public spaces offer vital opportunities for connection and well-being. They also serve as classrooms, providing informal educational experiences and promoting awareness about nature, sustainability, and civic engagement.
Principles of Human-Centric Urban Design
A human-centric approach to urban design places people—considering their needs, behaviors, and aspirations—at the core of planning processes. This approach rests based on four key principles: inclusivity, accessibility, functionality, and sustainability. Inclusivity demands that urban spaces accommodate diverse populations. This includes ensuring usability across age groups, cultural backgrounds, and physical abilities. For example, age-friendly environments are crucial for older adults to live safely and comfortably in their communities, a concept known as "aging- in -place. Design interventions, such as well-placed benches, shaded walkways, and safe crossings, help facilitate this inclusivity.
Accessibility ensures that public spaces are not only physically reachable but also psychologically welcoming. Elevated urban linkages, such as overpasses and skywalks, can inadvertently create “lost spaces” that are disconnected from street life. Reclaiming these underused or fragmented zone areas requires thoughtful integration with surrounding neighborhoods and the inclusion of pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly infrastructure in car-dominated environments.
Functionality refers to the ability of public spaces to accommodate a diverse range of uses and adapt to evolving community needs. Whether hosting a weekend market, a protest, or a casual meetup, these spaces must be flexible and responsive to human activity. Design should accommodate both planned and spontaneous uses while considering how users perceive and evaluate the urban landscape. Sustainability, both ecological and social, is paramount. Urban green spaces must support biodiversity, manage stormwater, and mitigate urban heat, while also offering psychological and physical health benefits. Integrating nature into cities through trees, gardens, and green corridors reinforces ecological identity and creates more resilient communities.
Strategies for Reclaiming and Enhancing Public Spaces
Several practical strategies can help cities reclaim and optimize their public spaces through human-centric design:
First, infrastructure is fundamental to enhancing environmental quality. Trees, vegetation, and permeable surfaces can reduce air pollution, cool urban microclimates, and promote biodiversity. These elements also provide aesthetic and sensory benefits, contributing to mental health and community well-being.
Second, community engagement is essential for ensuring that public spaces reflect the needs and values of the people who use them. Involving residents in planning and decision-making fosters a sense of ownership and can lead to more successful and better-maintained spaces. Participatory design workshops, surveys, and neighborhood forums are effective tools for gathering local insights. Multilevel Design Strategies recognize that cities operate at multiple spatial and functional levels. Designing for vertical and horizontal connectivity—such as combining rooftop gardens with ground-level plazas—can make better use of limited space while supporting diverse activities and interactions.
Third, smart technologies can enhance the efficiency, safety, and responsiveness of public spaces. For example, intelligent lighting, real-time air quality monitoring, and smart waste management systems not only improve the user experience but also promote sustainable behaviours. Technology should, however, complement rather than dominate human-centered goals.
Fourth, waterfront ecological planning represents another promising avenue. Urban waterfronts, often degraded or underutilized, can be revitalized through environmental restoration and sensitive landscape design. These areas can become vibrant community assets while also improving urban resilience to flooding and climate change.
Learning from Practice: Case Studies
Practical examples from cities around the world illustrate the potential of human-centric design in reclaiming public space. In Shanghai, the development of elevated skywalks provides new public realms in an otherwise congested city. These walkways not only facilitate mobility but also offer unique perspectives and gathering spots. The transformation of post-industrial lands into urban green spaces is another impactful strategy. These spaces retain the historical character of their industrial past while incorporating greenery and open areas that promote recreation and psychological well-being.
In Singapore’s Yuhua East neighborhood, urban planners have reimagined public housing through a human-centric lens, focusing on the daily needs of older adults. Walkable streetscapes, accessible public amenities, and age-sensitive design elements help foster independence and inclusion.
The Yoruba city of Ile-Ife in Nigeria, for instance, provides insights into the privatization of urban public spaces and its impact on social life. The conceptualisation of public spaces in Enugu city, on the other hand, shows a transition from traditional physical concepts to social concepts that reflect human context. These examples reflect the diverse approaches to reimaging public spaces, emphasizing addressing unique local challenges, community engagement, and sustainability.
Addressing Challenges and Planning for the Future
Urban planners must constantly navigate competing priorities, including mobility, environmental protection, and economic development. Balancing these needs requires integrated, multidisciplinary approaches.
Environmental health concerns, such as reduced physical activity and exposure to pollution, also underscore the need for socio-ecological planning. Urban design must consider the interplay between human behaviour and natural systems to create healthier environments.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how quickly urban public spaces can be disrupted. Planning for future public health crises means incorporating flexibility, safety, and hygiene into the core of public space design.
A Call to Action
Reclaiming public spaces through human-centric design is not merely an aesthetic or recreational goal—it is a societal imperative. By focusing urban planning on human needs, ecological sustainability, and community engagement, cities can transform neglected or underutilized spaces into inclusive, vibrant, and resilient areas. These public realms can then act as catalysts for social connection, environmental stewardship, and collective well-being in an ever-more urbanized world.
