Research on the Collaborative Pathways of Spatial Design Professionals in the Creation of Small-Scale Public Spaces
CHEN Fei
ZHAO Wei
YANG Zhi
Abstract：In the context of refined urban renewal and community governance advancement in China,small-scale public spaces have significant potential to encourage community integration and daily participation.The reconstruction of existing communities and moderate-scale aging-friendly redevelopments focus on the integration of daily activities and flexible multi-purpose use.The design and creation of small-scale public spaces has become central to urban space governance innovation.Nevertheless,the design and creation of small-scale public spaces are faced with many restrictions,such as limited site conditions,policy conflicts between use cases,and so on.A lack of systematic research remains on how spatial design professionals(e.g.,architects,urban designers,research-oriented design firms,and academic researchers)can effectively participate in and facilitate the establishment of community-based collaborative mechanisms to improve small-scale public space design while increasing community involvement.Hence,this study explores the collaborative mechanisms and knowledge transfer paths for spatial design professionals in creating small-scale public spaces.
Three typical cases in Hong Kong,China,were chosen as the research objects,namely,"Hong Kong Public Space Initiative,""Very Hong Kong,"and the"Neighbourhood Innovation Lab."This study aims to systematically explore the evolution of professional roles,modes of knowledge engagement,design strategies,and sustainable community governance in small public space design by combining participatory observations,interviews,and document analysis.
This study points to a shift in the role of spatial design professionals from the traditional provider of design-related technical services to initiators,facilitators,and platform organizers for small public space design.Moreover,these three cases showed different collaboration modes and roles.Specifically,the"Hong Kong Public Space Initiative"emphasized educational enlightenment and the dissemination of design knowledge.The"Very Hong Kong"project gave priority to policy interfaces and resource integration.The"Neighbourhood Innovation Lab"focused on action research and the co-construction of multi-stakeholder collaboration mechanisms.In these cases,design knowledge was translated into accessible media for public understanding and use through community mapping,speculative workshops,and participatory workshops.These practices can support issue negotiation and prototype generation within communities.Additionally,unique,flexible land-use policies,the active presence of non-profit organizations,and a strong sense of community in Hong Kong lay the foundation for the sustained engagement of spatial design professionals.This study proposed a four-stage participatory pathway model,which involved initiation and awareness,guided practice,platform integration,and design professionals'withdrawal.Furthermore,the study summarized the dissemination mechanisms and collaboration logic of spatial design knowledge within the community.
Compared to linear participation models like Arnstein's"Ladder of Citizen Participation,"the collaborative pathway model proposed in this study has stronger cyclicality and phase-based dynamics.It emphasized the interconnections between policy interfacing,knowledge empowerment,and design withdrawal mechanisms.The gradual withdrawal of spatial design professionals suggests a shift in the role of spatial design professionals rather than a decline in expertise.Spatial design professionals have evolved from leaders to platform supporters,overseeing the management of public spaces in the long term.
The research path and analysis model in this study offered a referrable strategic framework for the creation of public spaces in established and aging-friendly communities in urban areas across the Chinese mainland.It is recommended to increase public awareness in the early stages of public space design,establish co-creative mechanisms during the design process,facilitate policy linkages and capacity-building through platform governance,and finally ensure the orderly withdrawal of professionals,completing the transition from design-driven intervention to sustainable community governance.
Keywords：refined urban renewalpublic space designmulti-stakeholder platform constructioncommunity participatory designold residential communitiesaging-friendly renewal
Publication Date：2025-08-30
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-09(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：9( 74-82 )