The Aesthetics of Public Space in Poznań
How does the aesthetics of public space affect our well-being?<br>When walking through Poznań do residents and visitors experience a sense of harmony and calm or rather chaos and disorientation? What do we actually consider aesthetic and what do we perceive as unattractive?
Researchers from the Faculty of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management at Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU) including Dr Eng. Malwina Balcerak sought answers to these questions while conducting a study on the impact of urban aesthetics on everyday experiences.
Context
Using the LopiAsk tool the researchers analyzed the aesthetics of Poznań’s public spaces across 12 locations popular among residents.. The study examined how people perceive specific places, how they define aesthetics and which spatial elements they consider attractive or problematic.
Additionally, the research explored how the aesthetics of a place influence the well-being of both residents and visitors.
Objectives
The main goal of the project was to understand how residents and visitors perceive the aesthetics of public space in Poznań.
The study focused on:
- Identifying elements of the urban landscape that respondents consider aesthetic, unaesthetic or in need of improvement.
- Exploring how participants define and understand spatial aesthetics and how the aesthetics of a given place affect well-being.
- Identifying key factors that influence the perception of urban space.
Challenges
The main challenges included reaching diverse social groups, both younger and older participants as well as precisely marking on the map locations perceived as the most and least aesthetic within a given area.
Implementation
The study was conducted using the LopiAsk geo-survey,which enabled respondents to accurately indicate spatial elements perceived positively or negatively. An additional LopiAsk feature used for the purposes of this study was the option to take a photo of a specific element of public space.
The geo-surveys were carried out in the field. Students from the Faculty of Socio-Economic Geography and Spatial Management at Adam Mickiewicz University, equipped with tablets, conducted the research across 12 locations in Poznań from mid-June to the end of July. This approach made it possible to reach both younger and older residents.
In total 652 respondents participated in the study.
Study Locations:
Święty Marcin Street, Półwiejska Street, Kaponiera Roundabout, Śródka Roundabout, Area around the
Wolności Square
Wierzbięcice stop,Area around the Łazarski Market (Dąbrowskiego Street and Kraszewskiego Street), Sobieskiego Housing Estate, Rusa Housing Estate, Wiosna Ludów Square, Podgórna Street (towards Chopin Park), Garbary Street
Głogowska Street (from the Dworcowy Bridge to Wilson Park)
Results
The results of the geo-survey are currently being processed.
