Contemporary bottom-up tools for public spaces activation

This article attempts to figure out the current understanding of public spaces and the contemporary tools for bottom-up activation of public spaces to make them more friendly and functional. The paper investigates contemporary public spaces' challenges and what tools can be used to improve them. In this research, the main issue will be the question: what kind of tools and actions can be offered to maintain the quality of public spaces? There are two basic approaches for bettering public spaces: ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’. The paper concentrates on the first approach and considers such methods as place-making and tactical urbanism in designing public spaces along with the community involvement. The work describes an increasing need for an architect, urban designer and planner to be involved in the process of city revitalisation as an interface between the local government and the inhabitants. This study attempts to answer the question of what is a connection between the architectural and social context of the public realm and the relationship between different types of public spaces, what makes public space friendly for users. How do public spaces help to strengthen social connections in towns, what is connection between architectural context and social context of the public realm. The presented study cases explain the different approaches and tools of place-making, including creative place-making.