From observing the current dynamics of cities and the development of contemporary architecture, great criticism arises in response to the creation of iconic buildings as formal experiments that do not contribute to the local experience. Motivated by this criticism, this paper aims to analyse and understand the importance and the participation of architecture in the construction of a better public realm. The analytical method seeks to understand, evaluate and manipulate the main attributes of a public space based on the features that make it a platform for public life. The analysis focuses on the public realm in three areas of studythe space resulting of the interaction between the buildings, the interstitial space and the constructed spaces. The projects chosen to analyse consisted on iconic buildings by the architect Renzo Piano, due to his international recognition -a body of work shaped by the contexts in which they operate. The projects are situated in global cities and propose new configurations of public space: Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Potsdamer Platz, Berlin; and Saint Giles Court, London. The analysis seeks the features that make architecture successful in the sense that it aggregates people and creates interesting spaces that favour human permanence; the paper evaluates whether the projects of Renzo Piano display these features. Each project has its own particularities. Starting with the dimensions, each project contributes to the public space at a different scale. Nevertheless, the variables analysed were the same for each context, and the effects were considered regarding the proportions and the programmatic possibilities offered by each. After understanding the site and its history, the study of the public life and its local attributes, this paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each building and how they contribute to the specific place. The interpretation of the results took into account not only the present, but also the lifetime of each project, raising some potential problems or successes for the future. It is possible to conclude that the three projects contribute positively to the public space, stimulating urban improvements and constitute good-practice examples, each at a different intensity.Keywords: architecture; public space; pedestrian; insertion; Renzo Piano. THE JOURNAL OF PUBLIC SPACE IntroductionFrom observing the dynamics of the city, some criticism arose with regard to the creation of iconic buildings as isolated forms that render little contributions to people's experience of a certain site. Since the architecture of the streets, urban blocks, squares and its relationship with the pedestrians can influence public spaces the present research intends to evaluate emblematic contemporary projects in terms of their participation and importance for building a better public space. In order to do that, we look for the features that make such projects successful, by aggregating people and creating interesting spaces that favour permanence. A growing concern with t...

Este artigo discute o Programa de Transporte Urbano de Brasília. Brasília é uma metrópole dispersa, com grandes as distâncias casa-trabalho, e padrões de expansão que estão piorando este panorama. O Programa de Transporte Urbano foi criado em 2007 e espera uma redução na emissão de gases tóxicos à atmosfera. Segundo ele, isso será obtido por meio de ações que aumentem a fluidez do tráfego e diminuam os engarrafamentos. Nada é mencionado sobre o que fazer com o crescente aumento de veículos privados na cidade ( um milhão, em maio de 2007), que estarão ainda mais livres para circular assim que as soluções convenientes previstas forem implantadas. Tendo em mente que qualquer omissão relacionada à frota de veículos privados é uma ação que a favorece, e que, portanto, será não inclusiva e ambientalmente perigosa, este artigo analisa os objetivos e implicações de Programa, assim como oferece um cenário alternativo a ele.

Public spaces that attract and retain diverse people are crucial to foster urbanity and tolerance, and build stronger and livelier communities, especially in big cities. The simple coexistence of similarities and differences in public spaces can, to say the least, validate our own essence and offer us a possibility of growth. Sharing the same space with other people – even without interacting with them – favors social learning. Theory suggests that thought, feeling and behavior can be altered by observation. The search for public spaces that make urbanity viable is desirable in any society (especially in more unequal societies, as one can find in developing countries). However, inspired by ideas built on the critique of great urban agglomerations after the Industrial Revolution, cities around the world have undergone transformations that did exactly the opposite. As a series of lifeless places began to emerge, several researchers tried to figure out why this was happening. These researchers found that just wanting to create a lively place was not enough. It was necessary to scrutinize the behavior of people in public spaces in order to understand the relationship between their configuration and use. The knowledge they have built has been largely responsible for the increasing concern with public spaces and their relation to public life since the 1960s. Cities around the world are realizing that empty places could be full of people, and that not only a place full of people is something positive, but an empty place is not. They are learning to see underused public spaces as social, cultural, environmental, and financial waste. However, even with so much information available, it is still possible to find, in any contemporary city, public spaces that fail to support public life. Frequently, little or nothing is done to make them safer or more attractive, diverse and pleasant. It is even more worrying to realize that such places continue to be created. This is the focus of this paper. It brings together available knowledge and experiences in the area of public space design. It also complements, structures and translates such experiences and knowledge into a Public Space Post-Occupancy Evaluation Method, which stresses the importance of observing people and their activities. As a result, one can better understand, observe, assess and, thus, manipulate the main attributes of a public space that may influence its capacity to attract and retain diverse people on a daily basis. The method is offered as a tool to support those who deal with public spaces at different levels – from academic studies to municipal management. It has been used in Brasilia, Brazil, for the past 7 years, with positive results in governmental decision-making processes. A case study is briefly presented to illustrate its use.

Neste trabalho, realizou-se uma pesquisa do tipo "estado da arte", em que se procurou identificar a produção acadêmica com discussões acerca do uso e apropriação de espaços públicos no período noturno, tangenciando os estudos urbanos, produção dos espaços e a vida urbana. Questiona-se como esses temas vêm sendo abordados na relação de espaço físico estruturado para a vida noturna. Como procedimento metodológico, procurou-se identificar produções acadêmicas de teses, dissertações e artigos dos últimos 16 anos, com consulta em banco de dados, especialmente na plataforma Scielo. Os resultados apontam que a preocupação com a vida noturna vai além de aspectos relacionados à infraestrutura, como iluminação e segurançaincorporando pontos referentes a lazer, economia e mobilidade noturnaampliando as atividades para além da boêmia. Infere-se lacunas na abordagem dos espaços públicos e os conflitos com diferentes usos na noite urbana capazes de direcionar novos estudos.

Este artigo analisa como que coletivos urbanos podem inspirar o governo e terem suas reivindicações acatadas, provocando a transformação dos espaços públicos. Investigou-se até que ponto o esforço governamental em investir nas transformações dos lugares podem os tornar bem-sucedidos. Através de uma metodologia de avaliação dos espaços públicos, em que são apontados os elementos e atributos que contribuem para a apropriação do lugar, estudou-se o caso da Praça Cultural Francisco das Chagas Junior, em Teresina-PI. Lugar obsoleto embaixo da Ponte JK, fora ocupado por eventos do Coletivo Salve Rainha até receber uma intervenção urbana numa parceria entre município e estado. Constatou-se que o novo ambiente se consagra apenas como local de eventos programados, não possuindo uma vitalidade cotidiana. Apesar da boa intenção governamental em promover melhores espaços públicos para a cidade, o projeto avaliado careceu de uma maior compreensão do contexto local e global para que sua transformação tivesse apropriação fomentada.