The Open Public Urban Spaces Project (OPUS) is a collaborative effort between the University of Stavanger and the University of California, Davis as well as with other research groups in Europe.
Purpose
The initial purpose of the project is to focus on the European Capital of Cultural programme, to learn from past experiences and support and evaluate the upcoming Capitals of Culture for 2008, of which Stavanger and Liverpool are chosen.
The more general aim is to improve the knowledge and understanding of the public space (spatial domain) in historic city centres by looking at it in a co-ordinated and linked way, to balance the need to both maintain and promote the heritage of the city combining it with the demands of everyone who lives in, works in or visits the city – increased leisure facilities, round the clock facilities and services, and a safe, attractive and accessible city centre environment.
The project has expanded to include a number of issues facing the modern European city including cultural integration, social inclusion, democratic public space, and the needs of new populations such as tourists, children, teenagers and elderly.
Culture as a central concept
While the use of public space in cities has been well documented, its cultural role is poorly understood. Culture is thus a central concept in the OPUS project.
“Urban culture is the multiplicity of dialogues and interactions negotiated in public spaces, cafés, media, parks, stores, etc. but also – in both a material and symbolic sense – a multiplicity of evictions, erasures and avoidances.
Culture as a material perspective focuses on the built environment of palaces, temples, opera houses, art museums and so on. These become visual symbols of place and local identity.
A more instrumental meaning of culture are the ideas and practices, sites and symbols, of the symbolic economy. This new concept is increasingly used to shape city strategies in the face of globalization and global competition, on the one hand and local resistance on the other.” (UN-Habitat. The State of the Worlds Cities 2004/2005. Globalization and Urban Culture. Earthscan. 2004).
The use of outdoor space
There are many ways of using public outdoor space more creatively, maximizing the potential to develop an identity and unique role for these areas.
Creating new activities within these areas, for example: cultural events, street entertainment, open air activities, together with improvements to signing, paving, lighting, street furniture, etc. will encourage people to view the city centre as an attractive and enjoyable place to be.
A meeting place
Open urban spaces are also meeting places for the jobless and redundant as well as for new immigrants, tourists and visitors. Squares and streets host mercantile activities and the use and qualities of urban open spaces are of great importance for localization of global businesses.
Outdoor cafés, street theaters as well as everyday activity form the public life of towns and cities. Accidental encounters in open urban spaces offer serendipity that can be of value in business life as well as in social relations. They represent different social and cultural connections to the local community.
The City of Culture programme, and later the programme of the Culture Capitals of Europe, should promote culture in cities to show common elements and the richness coming out of the wide variety of the countries and cities to be chosen. The idea is through the programmes to effect on the European identity by including and integrating cultural values and differences.
Local experts and stakeholders will be invited to participate in these exchanges, which will involve contacts and visits to counterparts in the other partner cities to exchange good practice and ideas.
Working with partner cities across Europe provides an opportunity to explore how other cities are working to address issues such as cultural events, markets and festivals, signage and visitor management, city centre management and maintenance and traffic management.
