With the fast rise of mega-cities upon us, many experts point out the increasing necessity to change urban infrastructures across the world, including access to quality open spaces.
Open, or public, space is any open piece of land that is undeveloped, aka has no buildings or other built structures, and is accessible to the public. Open space can include green space, schoolyards, playgrounds, public seating areas, public plazas and vacant lots.
People would naturally want to live in a livable city, while citizens face too many pressing problems. However, open space is still a huge challenge for many mega cities nowadays.
“I think right now the global movement is to define the in-between space, which gives people the possibility to network, even if we’re talking about children, or families, or elder people,” says Robert Eysoldt, a creative consultant and member of the board at Create Berlin e.V.
Today, Moscow is undergoing a major facelift aimed at improving quality of life – including transformation of the city’s landscape. The latest enhancement came this summer, when several downtown streets were torn up and laid with new asphalt, sweeping sidewalks and elegant fixtures. Critics say the city’s urban policy has been guided by European trends toward functional design that emerged after the 2008 financial crisis. Indeed, city planners unveiled that during the development stage they were looking to Amsterdam as a model.
Observers say Moscow is beginning to embrace the value of public space. Sleek pedestrian walkways have sprouted in central Moscow, as have bike lanes and newly fashioned streets featuring narrower roads and more sidewalk space. What is really important for Moscow being a city with rather alarming ecological situation, it has become just a bit greener. Whether it’s enough for now remains to be seen – a good beginning is half the battle.
