Exploring the Role of 'Visual Catalysts' on Influencing People's Attraction and Use of Place

Additionally, due to <strong>the</strong> interventions being transient and foreign this is something that causes
intrigue – it causes people to slow down, observe and ultimately spend more time in place
taking in <strong>the</strong>ir surroundings (Project for Public Spaces 2009). It is ironic to note that by having
something transient in a space it can act as a mechanism for people to spend more time
in a place. This means <strong>the</strong> experience <strong>of</strong> place can be more vivid and have greater depth in
understanding – something which can build across time (Wight 2005).
It is evident from this study and <strong>the</strong> existing literature that ‘visual catalysts’ certainly have
<strong>the</strong> ability to influence <strong>the</strong> attraction and use <strong>of</strong> underutilised public places. It is significant
to note that due to <strong>the</strong> diverse nature <strong>of</strong> ‘visual catalysts’, or creative placemaking for that
matter, that <strong>the</strong> experience <strong>of</strong> place can be transformed in completely different ways and to
different degrees <strong>of</strong> success – <strong>of</strong>ten dependant on how <strong>the</strong> noted factors are understood and
expressed through <strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong> observation and engagement.
AIM 2 DISCUSSION
2 To understand if any increase in <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> underutilised places induced by <strong>the</strong>
temporary intervention is sustained after <strong>the</strong> intervention has concluded
One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most significant gaps in <strong>the</strong> existing literature on creative placemaking is whe<strong>the</strong>r
<strong>the</strong>se transient forms can have a sustained impact on <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> interest <strong>of</strong> a place after
<strong>the</strong> removal, or conclusion, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intervention. As described in <strong>the</strong> findings, it was apparent
that <strong>the</strong> level <strong>of</strong> interest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> place where <strong>the</strong> temporary place-based interventions were
active diminished after <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m. People generally reverted back to <strong>the</strong> normal
behaviours and uses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> space prior to what <strong>the</strong>y were like before <strong>the</strong> creative placemaking
interventions. Yet, what can be understood from <strong>the</strong> literature and this study is that <strong>the</strong>
interest <strong>of</strong> a place being sustaining largely depends on <strong>the</strong> purpose and success <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ‘visual
catalyst’ itself.
Moran et al. (2014) notes, <strong>the</strong> influence from ‘visual catalysts’ on place is one that can be a
catalysing event that builds an experience across time. This reflects that notion that once
something happens, generally it is not <strong>the</strong> same again; nothing is inherently temporary. In <strong>the</strong>
case <strong>of</strong> creative placemaking interventions, it is likely that even after <strong>the</strong> removal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m that
<strong>the</strong>re is a continuum <strong>of</strong> presence and visibility <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> intervention that lives on in <strong>the</strong> minds <strong>of</strong>
people. However, <strong>the</strong> behaviours and actions that people show in <strong>the</strong> place after <strong>the</strong> creative
placemaking interventions removal does not necessarily reflect this idea; that although <strong>the</strong>ir
use has not increased in <strong>the</strong> space, that <strong>the</strong>re are o<strong>the</strong>r inherent qualities that have changed
as a result <strong>of</strong> experiencing <strong>the</strong> place in a different manner.
This reflects back to <strong>the</strong> notion <strong>of</strong> ‘visual catalysts’ being a mechanism for long term change
through short term action; something which inherent in its nature aims to change <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong>
place more <strong>of</strong>ten than not to be increased and more meaningful (Lydon & Garcia 2015). As
such, ‘visual catalysts’ have <strong>the</strong> ability to provide a mechanism for long term change, and thus
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