Changing public space

public square) and the Statenplein in Dordrecht (a PPP square) if the actor composition would
be decisive? A comparison of the PPP squares shows that different ratings on dimensions of
fear and fantasy occur even when the function and actor composition are similar. These findings
suggest there are other explanatory factors for different intensities of fear and fantasy besides the
function and the actors involved in the redevelopment.
Overall, the eight research objects have relatively low ratings on the secured dimensions,
especially in contrast to the strong emphasis on crime and safety in public-space literature
(Section 3.2). The interviews also revealed that most informants do not regard the creation of
safe public spaces as an important goal in urban redevelopment. As stated in Section 6.6, crime
was seldom mentioned as cause or focus point of the redevelopment. The main aim is rather to
create an attractive public space. Ensuring safety is a condition to achieve this goal, rather than
a goal itself. One of the interviewed designers compared public space to a car: you do not design
a safe automobile, but one that appeals to people, which is predominantly beautiful and sportive
but also safe. Moreover, the designers claimed that safety is sought in an open, transparent design
with good lighting instead of using CCTV or sadistic street furniture. Having an entrepreneurial
approach thus not automatically leads to an abundance of cameras, restraints on loitering, and
strict regulation, as suggested by MacLeod (2002, Section 4.2.2). At least not in the Netherlands,
were security measures such as CCTV are less pervasive than in other European countries such
as the UK and Finland. Rather, it seems to result in strategies to promote the city’s identity as
described in Section 4.2.2: the organisation of events and the use of spectacular, post-modern
architecture of buildings and public space (e.g., the hoisting cranes on the Schouwburgplein and
the fountains on the Statenplein and Van Heekplein).
7.7 Conclusions
This chapter has visualised the eight research objects by means of six-dimensional diagrams
depicting their ratings on dimensions of fear and fantasy. The technique represents a rare attempt
in academic literature to analyse the trends manifest in public space using qualitative descriptions
to create quantified diagrams. However, the application of this multi-scaling technique is
explorative and warrants considerable refinement. It could be elaborated by increasing the
number of variables, while the rating scale could be extended to cover more than three levels
and simple ordinal scales. It would also be possible to delegate the rating task to stakeholders,
experts, or interested members of the public, rather than basing it exclusively on our own
observations. Some of the dimensions need to be substituted when applied in a different context.
Surveillance, for example, would not be a distinguishing dimension in British city centres where
CCTV systems are practically universal. As outlined in Section 3.2, Dutch cities and their public
spaces still show substantial differentiation in this respect. The diagrams can thus only reveal
interesting findings, when the research objects show different intensities with respect to the
selected dimensions. Lastly, the technique should be applied to more public spaces to validate its
utility.
The diagrams show that it is possible to classify public spaces as either a secured or a
themed public space. However, public spaces in both categories also exhibit features found
on the opposite side of the circle: elements of fear and fantasy coincide in public space. This
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