IN-PERSON Lisbon Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

For centuries, cities evolved through an intuitive understanding of human scale and sensory experience, resulting in urban environments that nurtured meaningful connections between people and space. Medieval cities reflected generations of practical knowledge, creating a built environment where public life and urban space were deeply interconnected. However, the onset of industrialization and modern planning disrupted this balance, resulting in fragmented, vehicle-centric spaces that neglect urban life. Today, despite economic prosperity, many cities lack vibrant public life. Streets are dominated by commuter flows, while the broader experience of public space is neglected. City-making is increasingly driven by symbolic landmarks or skyscrapers rather than quality of life. Even in walkable areas, struggling economies can hinder the development of inclusive, people-friendly public spaces. Public life studies reveal how cities can support social interaction, but planners often design on a two-dimensional plane, overlooking lived experience and quality of life. This oversight creates gaps between designers’ intentions and users’ experiences, leading to urban voids with hidden potential to become future assets. In Berlin, planners aimed to improve public life to attract residents, visitors, and investment by prioritizing livability. This paper explores the potential of urban voids in Friedrichstraße, Berlin, as catalysts for enhancing public life, space interaction and livability. It aims to transform multilayered observations into place-making tools, providing insights into the unforeseen potential of urban void spaces.These tools aim to inspire more human-centered planning strategies and invite urban planners, policymakers, and scholars to engage in inclusive, experience-driven design and policy-making for culturally vibrant cities.