I.A.M. Public Space 2024 Session themes

Why management?

The discussion of values will be centred on the definition and spatial expressions of management of public space. We will explore the values, reasons, relevance or overall purposes that guide decision-making in management of public space. Addressed aspects can include climate change, biodiversity loss, inclusivity, mobility, accessibility, or community engagement, and how such aspects can be balanced and prioritised against other priorities, such as economic development and safety concerns.

Sub-themes:

• Values of management: past, present, future
• Conceptual and theoretical inquiries
• Gaps and prospects for future research

Highlights:

• Values, reasons and relevance of managing public spaces
• Institutions and governance aspects
• Strategic management, and Leadership

How to Manage?

The discussions of how to manage will reflect on the institutions, operational processes, and long-term strategies involved in the management of public space. This includes exploring governance challenges such as conflicts between different stakeholders, power imbalances, and bureaucratic inertia. Additionally, it will be considered how management of public spaces can promote sustainable behaviour among users, and how best practices for maintenance of public spaces can be developed to minimize their environmental impact, including the use of smart technologies. Best practices on how integrated approaches to management across planning, design, construction and maintenance can be achieved within internal governmental processes are welcomed.

Sub-themes:

• Governance aspects of management and maintenance
• Best practises, including smart technologies
• Management for sustainability

Highlights:

• Operational processes and long-term strategies
• Best practices and smart technologies
• Management for sustainability

Who is Managing?

The discussions of who is managing will reflect on the managers and their roles, but also on the user groups, needs, behaviours, and choices of management of public space to accommodate and facilitate public spaces for all. Focus will be on approaches and strategies that managers can use to ensure relevant, welcoming and safe public spaces for all. This includes how public spaces can be managed with local communities to become inclusive and accommodate the many diverse needs, e.g. of people with disabilities. We would like to explore the manager roles and management approaches making public spaces foster a sense of community and social connection, and how public space management can address such spatial justice concerns.

Sub-themes:

• Inclusivity
• Multifunctionality
• Participation and user engagement

Highlights:

• Managers and their roles
• Users and user groups – inclusiveness, sense of community
• Managing urban forest in a global perspective