Not every problem in public space is solved by redesigning the physical space

Helsingin Sanomat (the biggest news outlet in Finland) recently reported on renovated parks in Helsinki where open drug use has affected residents’ sense of safety and comfort.

One response is physical: removing some of the wooden elements that have become popular places to gather.

But there is another layer worth considering.

What if the place also had more reasons for other people to be there?

A kiosk with a terrace. Food trucks. Outdoor cinema. Events. Everyday businesses and activity.

A kiosk will not solve a drug problem. But an operator who is present every day can influence who uses a place, when they use it and why they come.

That distinction matters in urban development.

The built environment creates conditions. But urban experience is also shaped by activity, people and the reasons a place gives us to arrive, stay and return.

So alongside asking what we should change physically, we should also ask:

What kinds of activity and actors does this place need for its patterns of use to begin changing?

Not every public space should be commercialised. But commercial activity and public space are not necessarily opposites. At its best, a café, kiosk or restaurant can make public space more public by bringing more people, presence and everyday life into it.

Vibrancy cannot be designed into existence. We can shape the conditions, but people and operators ultimately determine what a place becomes.

Frequently asked questions

Can commercial activity make public space feel safer?

It can influence perceived safety, but it does not solve issues such as substance abuse on its own.

A café, kiosk, restaurant or other everyday operator can bring more people, activity and presence to a place at different times of day. This can also diversify how the space is used.

Does public space need to be commercialised to become vibrant?

No.

Vibrant public space needs different reasons for people to come and stay. These can come from commercial services, culture, hobbies, events, play or simply good places to spend time.

What matters is the combination of activities.

Why do businesses and operators matter to urban experience?

Because they do more than provide services. They bring daily activity, people, encounters and reasons to return.

Businesses that remain in a place over time can also contribute to its identity and strengthen the sense that the space is actively used and cared for.

How can a city change the use of a place without major physical redesign?

By asking what kind of activity is missing and who could provide it.

Sometimes the intervention can be relatively small: a kiosk, terrace, event concept, recreational activity or space for a local operator. Instead of changing only the physical environment, cities can also change what people are able to do there and who has a reason to come.