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"Placemaking is a process of creating a quality place that people want to live, work, play and learn in"
- Mark A. Wyckoff, FAICP. “Definition of Placemaking: Four Different Types.”
What is Placemaking?
You might only hear the word "Placemaking" for the first time. Yet, the American urbanist, Fred Kent, has coined the term "placemaking" decades ago. His foundation, Project for Public Spaces (PPS), defined its meaning as: "Placemaking is a multifaceted approach to the planning, design, and management of public spaces." — A Guide to Neighborhood Placemaking in Chicago.
PPS also simplifies characteristics of "placemaking "into the following bullet points:
Community-driven
Visionary
Function before form
Adaptable
Inclusive
Focused on creating destinations
Context-specific
Dynamic
Transdisciplinary
Transformative
Flexible
Collaborative
Sociable
Nevertheless, who is the initiator of this movement? Let us look deeper into this "placemaking" from a chronological perspective.
Critical roles in the history ( left to right): Jane Jacob, William H Whyte, Fred Kent, Jan Gehl, Ann Markusen, Anne Gadwa, Mark Wyckoff.
Original Concept
The concept behind the placemaking movement originated in 1960 when Jane Jacob (American-Canadian Journalist) and William H Whyte (American Urbanist) provoked a groundbreaking idea about designing cities that curate to people rather than emphasize automobile connectivity. Their works focus on livening up neighborhoods and inviting public space.
Later on, in 1970, many architects, planners, and landscape architects referred to designing parks, squares, plazas, or waterfront that attracts people and their activities.
In 1975, Fred Kent founded the nonprofit organization Project for Public Spaces and spoke widely on public spaces and placemaking. The organization is dedicated to creating public places that foster communities. Since then, placemaking has become more related to public affairs than a single designer's showcase.
In 2010, Ann Markusen and Ann Gadwa prepared an executive summary, "Creative Placemaking," for the National Endorsement for the Arts. They outline the "creative placemaking" as "...partners strategically shaping around arts and cultural activities.” The report encompassed four primary studies: artistic creativity, quality of life, sustainability, and economic development.
Moreover, an influential quote came around to refresh the outlook on public spaces. The full quotation is, "First life, then space, then buildings. The other way around never works." The creator of this manifesto is a Danish architect and urban designer, Jan Gehl. His writing challenged us on how we "see" and "read "our urban spaces. Like artwork curated in a museum, our public spaces can also be tailored in a series of stories. A social exchange process could be started with active and passive activities and further enrich the local places.
In recent years, a group of landscape architects also further interpreted "placemaking" by well-positioning their profession as crucial to making "places ." They see towns and cities as a dynamic ecosystem with layered networks and interfaces and use landscape elements to help people connect to their environment. They believe that connecting people to nature can better help people join one another.
What’s the takeaway
The variety of ideologies behind this movement might make "placemaking" even more overwhelming. However, if we view this "process" as a never-ending "game," we might see some commonality (and uniqueness) between “placemaking” and the classic game "Monopoly."
* According to “11 principles for Creating Great Community Places“ published by PPS, money is not the issue (implementation principle 10)
** Nowadays. “Placemaking” might sounds elementary to many cities and towns. Making part of this “game“ involve a certain level of civic engagement, social creativity and inevitable capital investment.
Notes and References:
Jane Jacob, author of “The Death and Life of Great American Cities”. She argued that urban renewal did not respect the needs of city-dwellers.
William H Whyte, author of “the Social Life of Small Urban Spaces“
Fred Kent, was a founder and president of a non-profit organization, Project for Public Spaces. He also coordinated and was the chairman of New York City’s Earth Day.
Jan Gehl, author of “Life Between Buildings: Using Public space.”
Ann Markusen, Anne Gadwa, author of “Creative Placemaking” initiative white paper
Mark A. Wyckoff, “Definition of Placemaking: Four Different Types.” Planning & Zoning News, www.pznews.net/media.