Understanding the Relationship between Urban Public Space and Social Cohesion: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Public space serves as opportunities for everyday engagement including cultural activities and social interactions. The co-presence of diverse groups and activities is seen as an important building block of social cohesion. This review synthesised the empirical evidence to understand the relationship between public space and social cohesion. Databases searched included Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed with the inclusion of peer reviewed articles published in English, between 2000 and 2023 (till 22nd February 2023). A total of 63 published studies were identified. A variety of physical aspects of different public spaces was found to potentially encourage social interaction and cohesion, i.e., accessibility, mixed land use, presence of street furniture, etc. Furthermore, such impact was found to be affected by a range of sociodemographic factors, for example ethnicity, age, and length of residence, and perceptual factors such as safety perception, visual perceptions, and place attachment. Overall, research exploring the relationship between public space and social cohesion has occurred within disciplinary silos, posing a significant challenge in conceptualising this relationship. The recognition of these findings bridges the research effort in understanding the social mechanism between people and space across research agendas including urban design and planning, sociology, environmental psychology, public health, and human geography. We describe future work in studying the intangible aspects of urban space in the directions of assessing the social performance of public space and devising interventions to promote social interaction and foster social cohesion.

Visual Impressions and Interventions in Non-Place Spaces Within Maqboolpura: A Case Study of an Informal Settlement in Amritsar

“…5) Space Elements: Integrating space, facilities, and social elements in the design process is essential to improve social capital and the overall happiness of residents. Qi et al (2024). An in-depth analysis of urban social group dynamics in Milan has been conducted using anonymized mobile phone data.…”

“…This strategy is crucial for neighbourhoods' long-term social sustainability and resilience, as shown by improved interaction patterns and community space use which are further characterized by workshops, surveys, interviews, prototyping, and user journey mapping, the method encourages active community participation. Qi et al (2024).…”

“…The case study highlights the importance of considering the local context and the inhabitants' active role in creating functional and inclusive public areas that cater to their social and economic activities. Qi et al (2024). The three key points which can be considered as follows:…”