Design for the Public: Public Design in Outdoor Privately Owned Public Space (POPS) in Hong Kong Shopping Centres

Xing Na (2013)

"Public space" has been one of the most notable urban elements of the city where a large proportion of ordinary life has been conducted throughout history. This research examines the development of public space in Western and Asian cities, and investigates the development of privately owned public spaces (POPS) in shopping centres. Utilising the findings from an empirical study in the commercial districts of Hong Kong, different practices and interactions of people in outdoor POPS have been illustrated. To enhance public participation in POPS and take the business nature of shopping centres into account, this study proposes several design guidelines for the revitalisation of outdoor POPS in Hong Kong's shopping centres. This thesis illustrates a comprehensive direction for private party managers and government policymakers. The spatial planning of public spaces should include both environmental elements and social attachments through communal activities and public participation. The result suggests a public design research framework for outdoor POPS in Hong Kong shopping centres, which can be further applied in related studies of other Asian cities.