The Need for Better Public Spaces
Developers and local councils are urged to turn public spaces into beloved places.
Written by: Felicia Soon
Kuala Lumpur, September 2019 - European placemaking advocate and consultancy STIPO said that studies had shown that vibrant public spaces allow people to linger 30% longer and spend more at surrounding businesses.
By 2030, eight out of ten Malaysians are expected to live in cities so there is more need than ever for clever and creative planning solutions to develop and maintain public spaces.
Meanwhile, STIPO’s partner, senior advisor Hans Karssenberg said that every street in a historic area has its own identity, and the authorities would need to discover its DNA and build on that. Each street has its own distinct character and a street, laneway or even a shop within a historic core is not a museum. It remains dynamic and must fit the needs of the community first.
He said to provide an authentic experience for users of the space, the authorities have to work on a bottom-up process and facilitate it. A top-down approach which is commonly used by municipalities and real estate developers often disconnects local communities and businesses from the space.
STIPO are one of the keynote speakers at the inaugural Placemaker Week ASEAN 2019 which will take place between the 4th to 8th November 2019. Presented by Think City and UN-Habitat and co-presented by Nextdor Property Communications Sdn Bhd, STIPO, MIP, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) with British Council Malaysia and the Citi Foundation as supporters, Placemaker Week ASEAN aims to improve awareness about placemaking and its positive impacts within Southeast Asia.
