Last week ÅVONTUURA featured the Al Hosn Masterplan and Landscape, a plan by Danish firm CEBRA to reinstate the Qasr al Hosn Fort as Abu Dhabi’s cultural heart. Here, we round up 10 projects and public spaces that redefine civic life.
Public Space as Oasis
Location: Tainan City, Taiwan
Tainan Spring is a public space by MVRDV in Tainan City, Taiwan that comprises the renovation of a former city-center retail mall into an urban lagoon surrounded by young plants that will grow into a lush jungle, reuniting the city with nature and its shoreline.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Respite
Location: New York, United States
Little Island is a new public park by Heatherwick Studio that shelters three new performance spaces on the Hudson River. Designed as a sanctuary for humans and wildlife, it is a green paradise, raised above the water by sculptural planters, and located only a short walk across a gangplank from Manhattan’s Lower West Side.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Restoration
Danish architecture and design practice CEBRA was commissioned by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi to reinstate the Qasr al Hosn Fort as Abu Dhabi’s cultural heart. The Qasr Al Hosn is the city’s oldest and most important building. Originally built in 1760 as a watchtower to protect the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi Island and later extended into a palace, it literally constitutes the birthplace of the modern metropolis.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Unification
Location: Nicosia, Cyprus
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Eleftheria Square was established as the Nicosia’s principal meeting area, forging new links to reconcile a divided metropolis. Large Venetian defences divide Nicosia’s ancient city and contemporary areas, while the city’s ‘Green Line’ divides the capital into two different communities.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Circulation
The 1.7-kilometer-long historic railway line that ran through downtown Taichung was a major stimulus for the growth of the old city. The historical significance of the railway contributes significantly to the revitalization of the metropolitan environment in which it is located. By constructing a green corridor for biodiversity and incorporating bike/pedestrian lanes to better cater to the requirements of the community, the design by Mecanoo reuses the train line to link the different areas of the city in a sustainable way.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Outdoor Market
Location: Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia
The reconstruction of the main public plaza in Naberezhnye Chelny, a Soviet city created in the late 1970s, is a novel approach to the role of public space in a single-industry city. DROM constructed a “city carpet” in lieu of the original centre axis, consisting of three squares, each with its own distinct personality: The Event Square is a paved urban location where weekly outdoor markets are held. The “Green Square” is a place to unwind on the grass while admiring the city’s planting department’s seasonal beautification. On warmer days, the Cultural Square has a new small pool and a restored fountain. This square is attached to the municipal building as well as a movie theatre.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Bicycle Parking
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Karen Blixens Plads by Danish firm COBE square offers a distinctive undulating topography with hollow hills allowing cyclists to park in a fresh and original fashion. It is one of the largest public places in Copenhagen and provides enough room for more than 2,000 parked bicycles.
Public Space as Skatepark
Location: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
The Peitruss Valley Skatepark in Luxembourg City by French firm Constructo was erected at the base of the Vauban fortification that surrounds the ancient town of Luxembourg, included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The Valley now serves as a natural divide between the Old and New Towns. With playgrounds, a Fitness Park, green spaces, underwood walkways, family and picnic spots, and more, it has been a popular destination throughout the years.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Recreation Zones
Location: New York, United States
Domino Park, one of New York City’s newest public space is designed by architecture firm James Corner Field Operations. The park is divided into three separate programmatic zones, shifting from more active usage near the Williamsburg Bridge at the southernmost end of the property to more passive uses at the northern end, and offers a wide range of recreational opportunities for people of all ages.
Read more about the project here >
Public Space as Seating
The Apple Piazza Liberty by Foster + Partners is made up of two main components: a tiered plaza and a fountain. Visitors are lured to the plaza by the sight of the stunning new fountain, which is located just off the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, one of Milan’s most prominent pedestrian routes.
