The role of public open space in the transformation of the American suburbs

Abstract

Since the 1950s the economic and social importance of the suburban phenomenon in America has been rapidly increasing. Despite the radical transformations of metropolitan life over the past two decades, little attention has been paid to the contemporary suburban-metropolitan phenomenon by the architectural and planning professions. Especially neglected has been one aspect of the suburban organization--the role of suburban public space, its influence on the social environment in the suburbs, and its architectural characteristics. The goal of this thesis is to contribute to a better understanding of this issue and to suggest possible solutions. The thesis examines public open space as a potential center of community life in the suburbs, a place which can bring people together and encourage informal social interaction. The theoretical discussion in the first part of the thesis studies the social and economic reasons for the present deficiency of this type of public space in the suburbs. It examines the changes of life-styles and cultural values in society and the nature of contemporary community life, and evaluates the role of informal social interaction in the suburban neighborhoods. The second part of the thesis explores some of the main issues of the physical organization of public open spaces in the suburban neighborhoods and proposes guidelines for their architectural design.