Squares and Plazas

Increasing residential segregation in cities gives public spaces a more important role in solidarity processes, bringing people together, supporting movement, co-presence and co-awareness. Local squares thus have the greatest significance providing an arena for social interplay as people become co-present. Earlier studies showed that high spatial integration plays an important role for the mix of locals and non-locals besides aspects relating to population density and land use. The purpose of this paper is to reach a better understanding whether also more local properties that characterize a square influence co-presence. Further, more squares are added to represent a broader spectrum of neighbourhoods which will help us understand whether network integration is important in all types of neighbourhoods. Thirdly, this study will help to inform whether earlier findings by Legeby in Stockholm, Södertälje and Gothenburg can be confirmed which allows us to generalize these findings. The amount of people co-present in squares and the share of non-local visitors are studied as two indicators (or aspects) of co-presence. The empirical data was collected through observation including snapshots and interviews. The number of people present in the public squares was noted and the interviews were used to measure the share of non-locals. The spatial analysis includes besides integration and betweenness, an analysis of density (both population and building density) and land uses accessible from the squares within various radii. Also, geometric characteristics such as size, shape and enclosure of the squares are included in the study. The result shows different patterns of co-presence in the 12 studied squares, especially if we distinguish squares in the most central area of Gothenburg with squares located at a longer distance from the city centre. Some findings confirm earlier findings and allow us to generalize the findings as other findings seem not to be relevant in all cities. Further, pure geometric properties of squares do not show strong correlations with co-presence. We can thus conclude that the local design intervention of squares cannot promote co-presence very well without the support of urban structure.

This paper presents an empirical research grounded on the theory that the diversity of landscape facilities in squares of suburban neighbourhoods is related to their location in the urban grid. Differences in relative accessibility induce uneven infrastructure distribution in the urban space, including the squares and their landscape facilities. Public authorities’ disregards towards community demands for equipping leisure spaces and spontaneous popular initiatives to use existing but not equipped green spaces are remarkable social-spatial phenomena of local scope in Brazil. While some neighbourhood squares are merely highlighted in city maps, being barely furnished, others have more amenities, implemented through local dwellers demands. Based in the assumption that mixed co-presence patterns between inhabitants and strangers tend to weaken the spatial control of one category over another, the squares location could reduce or reinforce dwellers’ organization to claim for or implement improvements in public spaces. Therefore, the research problem is as follows: does these squares location have any relation to the degree of implanted landscape facilities diversity? Our hypothesis is that squares that have greater diversity of landscape facilities are located in areas within local dwellers’ domain and less accessible to strangers. Therefore, the aim in this work is to quantify the diversity of landscape facilities implemented in the studied area public squares, and analyse their location in terms of relative accessibility and strangers/inhabitants social categories movement potential in their surroundings. The research methodology consists of three steps: a) quantification of existent landscape facilities diversity in each square of the sample through systematic observation; b) relative accessibility and movement potential measurements through the syntactic measures of integration and choice; c) analysis of the statistical strength of the relationship among variables by calculating their correlation coefficients. The results indicate that where the presence of strangers is frequent, inhabitants reduce their organization to claim for or spontaneously implement improvements in the squares. Because we worked with a restricted sample of city's squares, results are insufficient to validate the hypothesis. However, the moderate correlations seem a promising step in understanding the phenomenon.

In this article, co-authored by Matthew Helmer, David Chicoine, Hugo Ikehara, and Koichiro Shibata, we evaluate the relationships between plaza settings, ritual performances, and modes of sociopolitical integration in coastal Ancash during the Formative Period (local Cerro Blanco, Nepeña, and Samanco phases, 1100-150 cal BC). We chronicle shifts in the forms, dimensions, arrangements, and use of plaza settings to investigate deeper sociopolitical transformations in the Nepeña Valley. Recent field research in the region suggests the development of polities and communities of different levels of integration. This process coincides with the abandonment of Chavín and Cupisnique related ceremonial centers between 800 and 500 cal BC. Our respective field projects have brought detailed archaeological information on the organization of plaza settings, their location within each community, as well as their ritual use. In particular, we analyze data from the sites of Cerro Blanco, Caylán, Huambacho, Samanco, and Kushipampa. By comparing plaza settings and associated assemblages, we delineate different modes of sociopolitical integration and evaluate longitudinal changes in regional politics. The analysis of proxemic data, ritual paraphernalia, and feasting remains suggest the existence of three clusters of ritual life in Nepeña during the Formative Period. Results further suggest that after the demise of Chavín-Cupisnique centers, and at least in some areas of coastal Ancash, ritual practices became more decentralized and appropriated by multiple competing groups. At that time major geopolitical differences appear to have existed between the lower and middle portions of the coastal drainage. The Nepeña research confirms the value of regional and comparative approaches to study broader relationships between political authority, ritual performance, and public spaces in ancient complex societies.

Dans cet article, nous évaluons les relations entre les espaces publics (places), les performances rituelles et les modes d’intégration sociopolitique dans la zone côtière du département d’Ancash au Pérou durant la période formative (phases locales Cerro Blanco, Nepeña et Samanco, 1100-150 cal. av. J.-C.). Nous nous intéressons aux formes, dimensions, organisations et fonctions de ces espaces dans le but d’explorer les profondes transformations sociopolitiques qui secouèrent la vallée de Nepeña durant la période formative. Des fouilles archéologiques récentes dans la région suggèrent le développement d’entités politiques et de communautés à différentes échelles d’intégration. Ce processus coïncide avec l’abandon des centres cérémoniels associés aux phénomènes Chavín et Cupisnique entre 800 et 500 cal. av. J.-C. Nos projets de terrain respectifs fournissent des données archéologiques sur l’organisation des places, leur positionnement au sein de chaque communauté, de même que leurs fonctions rituelles. Nous analysons en particulier les données provenant des sites de Cerro Blanco, Caylán, Huambacho, Samanco et Kushipampa. En comparant les places et les caractéristiques des artefacts qui y ont été recueillis, nous identifions des modes distincts d’intégration sociopolitique et évaluons les changements diachroniques au niveau politique et régional. L’analyse de données proxémiques, des objets rituels et des restes de festin suggère l’existence de trois types ou groupes de vie rituelle dans la vallée de Nepeña durant la période formative. Nos résultats indiquent qu’à la suite du déclin des centres Chavín et Cupisnique, les pratiques rituelles devinrent, pour le moins dans certaines régions côtières d’Ancash, décentralisées et sous le contrôle de multiples groupes en compétition les uns avec les autres. À cette époque, des différences géopolitiques majeures existaient entre les basses et moyennes vallées côtières. Nos recherches à Nepeña confirment l’utilité des approches régionales et comparatives dans le cadre plus vaste de l’étude des relations entre l’autorité politique, les performances rituelles et les espaces publics au cours du développement des sociétés complexes anciennes.

En este artículo, evaluamos las relaciones entre los contextos espaciales públicos (plazas), las actuaciones rituales, y los modos de integración sociopolítica en la costa del Departamento de Ancash en Perú durante el Período Formativo (las fases locales Cerro Blanco, Nepeña y Samanco, 1100-150 cal. a.C.). Analizamos la variabilidad en formas, dimensiones, organización espacial, y funciones de las plazas con el objetivo de explorar las profundas transformaciones sociopolíticas que marcaron el valle de Nepeña durante el Período Formativo. Recientes investigaciones arqueológicas en la región sugieren el desarrollo de entidades políticas y comunidades de diferentes escalas de integración. Este proceso coincide con el abandono de los centros ceremoniales asociados con los fenómenos Chavín y Cupisnique entre 800 y 500 cal. a.C. Nuestros proyectos de investigación respectivos brindan datos arqueológicos sobre la organización de las plazas, su ubicación dentro de cada comunidad, así como sus funciones rituales. En particular, analizamos los datos de los sitios de Cerro Blanco, Caylán, Huambacho, Samanco y Kushipampa. A través de la comparación de las plazas y los artefactos excavados en sus espacios, delimitamos distintos modos de integración sociopolítica y evaluamos los cambios diacrónicos al nivel político y regional. El análisis de los datos proxémicos, de los objetos rituales y de los restos de festines sugiere la existencia de tres tipos o grupos de vida ritual en el valle de Nepeña durante el Período Formativo. Nuestros resultados indican que después de la caída de los centros Chavín y Cupisnique, las prácticas rituales cambiaron, a lo menos en ciertas regiones de la costa ancashina, hacia patrones más descentralizados y bajo el control de múltiples grupos en competencia entre ellos. Diferencias geopolíticas significativas aparecen entre el valle bajo y medio. Nuestras investigaciones en Nepeña confirman la utilidad de los enfoques regionales y comparativos en el estudio de las relaciones entre la autoridad política, las actuaciones rituales, y los espacios públicos en el desarrollo de las sociedades complejas prehispánicas.

RESUMO: A distribuição da população no país é predominantemente urbana, sendo cada vez maior o número de pessoas que procuram os núcleos urbanos. Com o aumento da população nas cidades, cresce também, na mesma proporção, a demanda por áreas destinadas para suprir as necessidades básicas desse contingente humano, tais como, os espaços edificados para atividades habitacionais, comerciais, industriais, de serviços e os espaços livres não construídos, como ruas, avenidas praças, parques, pátios, quintais, jardins, entre outros. Tais espaços livres são responsáveis pela articulação do tecido urbano, essenciais para a qualidade da vida urbana e para a formação da identidade cultural das cidades, representando locais referenciais de lazer para a população. É importante a existência de um adequado sistema de espaços públicos livres, distribuídos de forma uniforme, quantitativamente e qualitativamente, na malha urbana, para que, dessa maneira, possa atender às necessidades da população e da cidade, proporcionando áreas livres para melhoria ambiental e integração social. Neste trabalho é apresentada a distribuição de praças e parques em Teresina, cidade criada em 1852, para ser a capital do estado do Piauí, verificando a inserção destes espaços na malha urbana, a contribuição para o equilíbrio ambiental e a relação entre a população e os espaços estudados.