Activating Public Space: Rethinking and Reforming of Public Spaces in Kuleshwor Site and Services Area

Abstract

Public spaces are platforms in which people can be part of the public sphere. A public space is a place that is generally open and accessible to people. The public place can either be an open one or a covered one. This research generally focuses on the public open spaces. Public open spaces are the prominent aspect of urban space. It is taken for the space for socializing, cultural activities, environmental benefits, and economic activities. Public spaces help in the betterment of the quality of life. Public open spaces also helps in creating mass and void of the place. Kathmandu valley is experiencing rapid population growth in past few decades. The valley‟s urban growth over the past few decades exhibits unplanned development. Kathmandu valley has turned into unplanned and uncontrolled urban sprawl from the planned and compact settlement. Contrary with the traditional settlements, the distinctive feature of large contemporary towns is the disappearance of neighborly relation and consequent loneliness of the residents. Many public spaces around the globe have suffered from under appreciation and serious neglect. A properly designed public space would encourage people to leave their houses and participate in different form of activities. This can improve the quality of space in terms of its use and occupancy. This thesis aims to identify and evaluate dysfunctional public spaces and weak connections in contemporary public spaces, and come up with a proposal to reform these spaces and activate public life. The research explores the availability of open spaces in Kuleshwor site and services area and look after the accessibility, use, activity, community participation and design of open spaces and compare the results with the another site and services at Golfutar and find out the problems in open spaces in Kuleshwor Area. The research will look after the case studies of such spatial solutions and examples of good practices from the past, and come up with the solutions for the problems existing in Kuleshwor site and Services Area.