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People and Public Spaces

A socio-spatial study on usage patterns of accessible public spaces in Munich.

Topic

Urban quality assessment

Reading time

1.5 hours

Today, Munich is already the most densely populated city in Germany, with about 1.5 million inhabitants living in an area of about 310 km2. By 2040, the population
will increase to about 1.85 million (LHM 2021a). Munich is growing in all age groups, becoming more international and more diverse. Social and demographic change, current fashions and trends, immigration, and technological innovations modify user interests, usage patterns, and change the meaning of public spaces. The changed framework conditions require that public spaces and open spaces remain accessible, usable and livable for all generations and user groups.

In order to maintain a livable and attractive city with diverse public spaces for residents and users, precautions must be taken now. The city and the planning of its sustainable development face enormous challenges in the coming years. These include adaptation to a changing climate, rising population numbers, housing and commercial space shortages, rising living costs, diminishing land resources, and increasing social and political polarization. This development can currently be observed in many cities in Germany and around the world.

This socio-spatial study on usage patterns of accessible public spaces in Munich is a key project of the conceptual report “Freiraum München 2030” (Munich Public Space 2030) and is intended to make an important contribution from the perspective of users within the framework of a strategy for long- term public space development in Munich. On the one hand, the concept shows the needs, priorities, activities and conflicts of the users that already prevail in the accessible public spaces; on the other hand, solution attempts and recommended actions for the development and improvement of the usage patterns are given.

You can find the German version of this report here.

Credit: Van Leer Foundatin

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