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Public space is under pressure in these turbulent times: Who does it belong to, who uses it, and how? Public Space is about the significance of this space, focusing not only on public space itself but also on its representation in political theory and the world of images.

George Baird’s book provides insights into the use, identity and representation of public space, drawing on various disciplines, in particular political and cultural theory. His main questions are: “Can a space be described as public or not?” And: “What characteristics of space can we identify that make it ‘public’ in character?”

George Baird advocates the public space that continues to play an important and essential role in architecture and urban design. Vice versa, he argues that design must contribute to the quality and identity of public space. He does not avoid questions about its use, the tension within it, and the political and social ambitions and implications. He closely follows major thinkers such as Hannah Arendt, Jürgen Habermas and Walter Benjamin.

Support for this publication was provided by the Preston H. Thomas Memorial Lecture Series in the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University, the Toronto-based Neptis Foundation and by Baird Sampson Neuert Architects.

About the author: George Baird is former Dean (2004-2009) of the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, and is a partner in the Toronto-based architecture and urban design firm Baird Sampson Neuert Architects.