A new approach to design patterns for small public spaces: Behaviors, processes and elements

Abstract

Considering urban design as a manipulation of a complex web of nodes and connections with simultaneous interactions leads us to the systemic thinking that can be applied to the design of public spaces. The development of design pattern systems and urban toolboxes can be identified by different authors who seek to systematize urban elements from systemic thinking, considering the new urban challenges. The objective of this article, therefore, is to propose the start of a new systematization of design patterns for small public spaces based on three main classes: behaviors, processes, and elements. The methodology can be summarized as (a) theoretical foundation and literature review; (b) organization of the system into classes and attributes; (c) development of the patterns and relations. As a result, we have a friendly representation of the system which mainly discusses how new tools and people behaviors can interact with urban elements in small public spaces.