One thing that shapes how people interact in cities, towns, and even individual buildings is the quality of the public space. In the best cases it inspires the creation of social connections. Sadly, bad designs can have the opposite impact and can even facilitate anti-social behaviour. What we want to do is look at some of the essential elements you need for public space. Then if you need an architect in London, you can speak to us.

Two fundamentals

Before we look at individual elements though, we want to look at the two main things you need to keep in mind. Firstly, you should always design public space for people. While there could be other things like vehicles, bicycles, and even animals, never lose focus that you are prioritising how humans use the space and interact.

Secondly, you want it to be abundant. While the right design can make even a tiny piece of public space shine, ideally the more spacious the better. This can allow more activities and interactions.

The right location

Where you have the public space can make the difference between a useful amenity and a no-go area. What you want is to have it in the most useful and accessible spot. Make it stands out so people want to go there. If they can see it from far away and recognise it is an open space, it can pull them in.

Destinations

It is also a good idea to ensure you connect the public space to destinations. For example, if you have a plaza it will be more useful to people if it connects to cafes, restaurants, and shops. What you want is to encourage all kinds of people to use the space at different times of the day.

Bordering

It may not seem like it, but how you border a public space can have a big impact on how successful it is. If you have a park with roads around the edges, you will make it feel inaccessible. It can create barriers that make people not want to use it. So, make sure you think about this and the integration into the wider area.

Attractiveness

People will always be drawn to beautiful spaces. At the same time, they will likely stay away from ones that look neglected. In fact, things like rubbish, signs of vandalism, and poor upkeep can make spaces feel dangerous. So, prioritise the quality of the design to make it as attractive as possible. Think about charm, detail, greenery, furnishings, and shade.

Design spaces with a top architect in London

Great public space can make a big difference to an area or building. It should be one of the focal points of your design and make it inviting. We would love to help you create the spaces. You can rely on us to look at important details like the layout, materials, accessibility, and more.

So, why not speak to us today and talk to an architect in London about your ideas? We can look at a wide array of public spaces with you and ensure you get the perfect design to bring life to them.