Offentliga rum i föränderliga städer : tillgänglighetens och den ökade rörlighetens inverkan

The purpose of this study was to examine how city development and its components affect public space and its development and this with the main focus on the impacts of accessibility and the increasing mobility on public space. Hereby, answers strived to be given to questions concerning both the development of public space after the Second World War until today, in relation to the development of cities and societies, and to the impacts of accessibility and increasing mobility on public space. This study was done because the linkage between the development of cities, societies and public space has been present throughout the development of cities. Cities today are mostly characterized by accessibility and an increasingly dispersed structure, which in addition highlights the impacts of both accessibility, and increasing mobility in cities and public spaces. In an increasing number of studies about public space the increasing impact of accessibility and increasing mobility on public space is furthermore pointed out. Despite this, only a few researches have been conducted about the actual impacts of accessibility and increasing mobility on public space and In Helsinki no research has been done about the subject. In this thesis, the subject has therefor been studied both generally, and more specifically in Helsinki. In Helsinki three public spaces were chosen for the study. These were Narinkka, the Kamppi Square and the Hietalahti Square. To methods used in the study were a literature review and observations. The material used in the literature review ranges from books, to researches, doctorate theses, publications, scientific- and newspaper articles and to organizations' web pages. Based on the information that was found in the literature review a criterion was made. The criterion then functioned as the basis for the observations of the three chosen public spaces. The observations were conducted during one month, during different days of the week and during different times of the day. The results clearly show that accessibility and the increasing mobility have an impact on public space. The essential finding in the study is that good accessibility leads to an increasing mobility. These two factors then together create both possibilities for, and threats against public spaces. The possibilities include versatile activities, heterogeneous user groups and usage of public space throughout the day and week. Threats, on the other hand, involve public spaces turning into places only used for passing through and so losing their characteristics. In order to reach the possibilities and to avoid the threats, it is necessary to pay attention to the physical structure of public spaces and to create a sufficient amount of physical elements, which enhance activities in public spaces. It is evident that public space undergoes constant changes and is visibly affected by the city structure and –development. Today accessibility and the increasing mobility leave clear marks on public spaces. By being aware of, and taking the impacts of accessibility and the increasing mobility into consideration these impacts can so be explored in a positive way and lead to successful and actively used public spaces.