Charlotte Miller’s Post

The term "placemaking" has become ubiquitous in conversations around public spaces, echoing through community meetings, policy discussions, and architectural studios. It has morphed into a buzzword, laden with both promise and skepticism. The definition remains as fluid as the spaces it seeks to transform, begging the question, what does placemaking really mean? Placemaking embodies a multitude of interpretations, from grassroots community engagement to top-down urban renewal initiatives. Many define and embrace it as a means to foster vibrant, inclusive communities, others offer critiques, questioning its ability to truly empower marginalized voices or challenging its susceptibility to co-optation by commercial interests. During Placemaking Week and beyond, we'll embark on a journey to explore what placemaking and placekeeping truly mean for the Neighborhood Design Center. Yet while our internal definition is evolving, we embrace shared placemaking practices. Our community engagement around placemaking remains deeply rooted in place-based interventions that respond to the distinctive needs and aspirations of local neighborhoods. Check out our latest article where our team explores the current state of placemaking. Read the article and comment below how you define placemaking: https://bit.ly/4bFDghh

While difficult to definitively define, placemaking is part of everything we do as elected officials.

What would happen if we built our communities around places? 📍🗺️ Placemaking can help transform public spaces, inspiring people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community. But what is placemaking? Placemaking means “strengthening the connection between people and the places they share" and refers to a collaborative process by which we can shape our public realm to maximize shared value. It's much more than just promoting better urban design. Placemaking facilitates creative patterns of use, paying particular attention to the physical, cultural, and social identities that define a place and support its ongoing evolution. In short, by designing cities for people and prioritising our public spaces, placemaking can have the most transformative impact on our cities, including equity and inclusion, sustainability and resilience and health. (Source: Project for Public Spaces; https://loom.ly/dVEXRC8; Picture credit: European Prize for Urban Public Space)

How can #placemaking contribute to the future of #urbandevelopment in a rapidly changing world? We are pleased to announce the #publication of our new book, Placemaking: People, Properties, Planning. This volume offers a multidisciplinary exploration of placemaking, examining both established applications and emerging perspectives, including legal, financial, and digital dimensions. It is the product of extensive collaboration within the Property, Planning, and Policies Research Cluster, drawing on diverse expertise at Birmingham City University to deepen our understanding of placemaking’s evolving role. We argue that placemaking is essential to the future of urban development, though this future will undoubtedly differ from historical models due to rapid technological, social, and environmental change. The book is available for purchase through Emerald’s online bookstore: Order Placemaking: People, Properties, Planning: https://lnkd.in/eYFcG7cw With the code EME30, you can enjoy 30% off. Dr David Higgins Peter Larkham Amanda Mundell Dr Hazel Nash Peter Wood Dr Vahid Javidroozi Claudia Carter Emma Love Miguel Hincapié Heidi Seetzen Débora Picorelli Zukeran Kathryn Moore Alex Albans @peterwood Mike Grace #placemaking #urbanplanning #multidisciplinary #innovativeperspectives #legal #digital #informal #creativity #conservation #heritage #digital #value #smartspaces #political #righttothecity #sustainability #sustainablepolicies #nature #environmentalchanges #Peoplepropertiesplanningresearch #birmingham #builtenvironment #emerald

Really honored to have contributed a chapter to this remarkable book with the brilliant Dr. Jasmine Mahmoud, The Eight Pillars of American Cultural Policy. Check it out!

Four tips for successful narrative placemaking from Era-co https://ow.ly/oUSe30sCsiI

ICYMI: How can BIPOC-led placemaking transform cities and help shape more vibrant and inclusive public spaces? In this article, "Reclaiming Chicano Park", AEA’s Catalina Casas looks at the history and contributions of community-led placemaking and the opportunities this work presents for cities around the country.

Excited to share that I’m currently taking the Placemaking and Public Space Design course at Luleå University of Technology! 🌍📚 We’re exploring the eight place-shaping dimensions outlined by Matthew Carmona in his book Public Places, Urban Spaces. These dimensions provide a fascinating lens through which we can understand the impact of public spaces on communities. This has sparked a question for me: Which dimension do you think is the most critical for countries with weaker economies? 🤔💡 Personally, I believe the social dimension has the most significant impact in such contexts. By addressing essentials like security, safety, inclusion, and accessibility, it plays a crucial role in improving quality of life and fostering societal happiness. I’d love to hear your perspective! Which dimension do you think holds the most importance, and why? Let’s start a meaningful conversation! 💬 #Placemaking #UrbanDesign #PublicSpaces #Sustainability Feel free to tweak further or add personal touches! 😊

This one’s left me feeling all mushy and profound, so bear with me…😂 Today is a day that 5 years ago many thought would never happen, Notre-Dame is reopening after the devistating fire that nearly destroyed it in 2019. Yes, Notre-Dame is a shining example of the shared connection we have with our built heritage, but also shows that the significance of heritage goes beyond the buildings themselves. Heritage gives meaning, enjoyment and comfort to people from all walks of life. These cultural icons are not only architectural and artistic marvels, but they chart human experience from years gone by whilst also providing inspiration for the future. The events at Notre-Dame are also an example that these places should not be taken for granted. They are often delicate and vulnerable to disaster - with dedicated teams of people working hard to ensure they’re preserved in order to delight both present and future generations visiting them. They’re a great metaphor for the Culture Sector as a whole, often taken for granted, but essential to bringing us the opportunity to learn and grow as people. It’s a day that makes me proud to be contributing to the continued longevity and success of the Culture Sector, long may it continue ❤️ https://lnkd.in/eJvn_q4i