The decline of public places represents a loss much deeper than simple nostalgia for the quiet, comfortable ways of the past. In the purest sense, high quality public space instills in all of us a sense of belonging, that we belong to a larger community and in turn, that our city belongs to us. This project explores concepts of ownership of public space, and the control over this space.

This publication asks how do the public take control of their spaces, and includes a visual essay  that displays the relationship between the designer and user of these spaces, and how they can unconsciously resist this control. The content is a mix between interviews with architects and academic writing.