I recently spoke at the UKREiiF Fringe Festival about gender inclusive public open spaces and why they are essential for our health and wellbeing.
“As a mother to my toddler daughter, seeing her curious eyes fascinated by the natural world I’m determined to make sure public spaces are a safe refuge for her when she grows up. That she and other girls feel a sense of belonging in public open spaces, and experience that strong sense of connection I have to nature.”
A well-designed public open space can provide a focal point for community events and a space for the next generation. Public open space should make ‘everyone’ feel safe and welcome, but statistics show that women and young girls often don’t feel welcome in these spaces. In this piece I’ll explore the disparity between how young women and girls feel to their male counterparts in public open spaces and discusses ways these can be eliminated through gender inclusive design.
For girls and young women public open spaces don’t always feel so welcoming. Designing safe inclusive spaces is crucial to support their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Emerging research confirms specific aspects of design which directly impact the lives of young women and girls. This affects their ability to move around freely, reduces opportunities for work and leisure and denies them the huge physical and mental health benefits that public open spaces can bring. Urgent action is required to eliminate these biases through the adoption of gender inclusive design approaches in town planning and design.
At HLM Architects, our core values are rooted in inclusivity, welcoming diversity and encouraging a sense of belonging. We are passionate about providing equal opportunities for everyone to succeed irrespective of their gender. Creating a strong connection and belonging to our natural environment. We care about those communities impacted by the places and spaces we create. We aim to understand individual needs and create an environment which is supportive, nurturing and inclusive. As Landscape Architects, its imperative we encourage the use of public open spaces. Understanding the hurdles young women and girls have with public open spaces can help us to make more informed design decisions.
We are passionate about implementing the gender sensitive design principles throughout our project work.
The Wave, Sheffield – Winner of a Judges’ Special Award for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
The introduction of two new ‘Pocket Parks’ offer dynamic green spaces for gender inclusive design, with the opportunity to socialise and observe in comfort and safety. Combined with a resilient planting strategy that was developed to help play a crucial part in mitigating climate change and create a healthy environment, ensuring the new development considers people, place, and nature as a priority. Further gender sensitive design solutions for the scheme include:
- Clear sight lines along routes, to key buildings;
- Sensitive lighting design;
- Dividing up spaces to create pockets to sit and break out;
- Variety of planting creating an attractive space;
- Addressing litter by having lots of bins and well managed public open space;
- Seating and social spaces at perimeters creating safer edges and entrances; and
- Well managed planting, species rich planting.
The Concourse, Sheffield
The Concourse’s design is uncluttered and provides a flexible space for girls and young women and functions that occur through the university’s academic year. The public realm has created an important civic space within the campus where people want to stay and socialise, provide an animated space during the day and at night. Working with lighting designers at Arup, a vibrant public scheme was designed. The creative lighting promotes the use of the underpass by allowing users to feel safe and secure. The design also provides a dynamic night-time streetscape. The success of the Concourse is highlighted by the following: Winners of Sheffield Design Awards 2022 – Open Space Award, FX International Design Award 2021 – Outside Space, Finalist at Civil Trust Awards 2022.
Further gender sensitive design solutions for the scheme include:
- Sensitive lighting design within the underpass creating a safe, well used space;
- Dividing up spaces to create pockets to sit and break out;
- Clear sight lines along routes, to key buildings;
- Variety of well managed planting creating an attractive space; and
- A range of bespoke seating specified to providing a variety options providing an inclusive, welcoming and comfortable space for women and girls.
Each sector must work towards contributing the difference they can make, now and in the future. While societal change is essential and necessary, we can also make a difference to the lives of women and girls through gender inclusive design decisions. Carefully designed, managed and maintained. We must all play our part. The way forward is to ensure everyone feels safe through a wider commitment to inclusive, user–centered design that brings all perspectives into consideration, making everyone feel welcome in public open spaces.
