My Public Space

Squares, city beaches, fields, parks, quays – in theory they are open to everybody, but their public character is under pressure. Public spaces are being privatised as a result of the decrease in state intervention, they are assigned a particular theme to encourage tourism, or they are under tight surveillance to improve security. The result is a growing number of sites that are intended for a specific group instead of for everybody. In short, my public space is no longer your public space.

How public is our public space these days?

Kiosks

The exhibition kiosks of 'My Public Space' present a picture of the public space in eight European cities. They will be positioned in Rotterdam from 28 June. Afterwards they will be presented on changing locations in different European cities. Each kiosk represents a city: Dublin, Copenhagen, Naples, Barcelona, Rotterdam, Tirana, Brussels and Berlin. The eight all fit exactly into one container so that they can be easily transported from one city to another. The kiosk is a dying phenomenon in European cities; this NAI exhibition breathes new life into it! The location of the kiosks can be found on the map.
> Read more...

Your public space

Barbecueing in the Euromast park? Skating on the Blaak? Strolling on the beach on the Maas? The Netherlands Architecture Institute is curious about your favorite public space and how you use it. Upload your photos in the Flickr pool and send an email with your name and address to foto@nai.nl after uploading the photo. Every tenth mailer wins two free entrance tickets for the NAI.
> Read more...

European Prize for Urban Public Space

The European Prize for Urban Public Space is a biennial competition that is presently organised by the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine, the Netherlands Architecture Institute, The Architecturzentrum Wien, The Architecture Foundation and the Museum of Finish Architecture in order to recognize and encourage aimed at recovering and creating spaces of cohesion in cities.
> Read more...

European Public Index (EPI)

There are large differences within Europe in the degree to which public space really is public: regulations, urban furniture, social policy, but also temperature and rainfall determine how public space is experienced. The European Public Index (EPI) has been designed to express these values.
> Read more...