3.3 The Public Realm
Introduction
The public realm is defined as the ‘space between buildings’
– the streets, spaces and movement corridors which form the framework
for our use and perception of a city. A high quality public realm
improves the legibility of a city, adds to its attractiveness
and enhances the experience of citizens and visitors alike.
People choose to spend more time in high quality public spaces
and streets, stopping to linger, rather than utilising the city
spaces purely as a thoroughfare. The Peace Gardens is an example
of a vibrant and well used space in the heart of Sheffield. Here
on a sunny day people stop to relax on the grass or the wooden
benches and children play around the fountains. In contrast, there
are many places in the city centre where a poor quality and uninviting
public realm offers no inspiration to stop.
It is recognised that it is not desirable or financially viable
to propose a high quality treatment to all streets and spaces
throughout a city centre. The strategy for Sheffield proposes
an ordering principle to the public realm, which will accord with
a grading of treatments and palettes throughout the city centre.
In practice, the public realm strategy should provide private
developers and public authorities with a statement of the quality
of design expected and best practice examples. It will also aid
in material selection, acknowledging that each development must
fit into and contribute to a high quality network of streets and
spaces within the city centre.
Whilst it is recommended that the significance of key places
and movement networks is emphasised with the highest quality design
treatments, all of the spaces within the city centre require careful
and considered design.
There is a need to improve the pedestrian environment within
Sheffield city centre, particularly between key activity areas
such as Fargate and the universities, and public transport links.
This will improve the image and legibility of the city, soften
the hard urban corridors and create a more comfortable pedestrian
experience.
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