Extending the theme of place making, Ben explores the potential for distinctive and animated public spaces to reconcile the needs of traffic movement with the quality of the public realm. Drawing on recent examples from the UK and mainland Europe, this talk illustrates how a growing understanding of driver behaviour and context-specific design can help create low-speed streetscapes in cities, towns and villages. Examples such as New Road in Brighton, Exhibition Road in Kensington, Fishergate in Preston and the regeneration of Poynton in Cheshire are contributing to a growing understanding of the ways in which place-making and low-speed design can help balance the parallel demands for movement and human interaction. Shared space principles appear to offer a means to retain the critical qualities that make cities attractive and liveable – civility.

*La conférence se déroulera en anglais par vidéoconférence.