STRIVING FOR INCLUSION: ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF URBAN PUBLIC SPACES IN TETOVO

Fjolla IBRAIMI, Hazra MERXHANI

Abstract

In the last few years, the number of people living in the city is constantly increasing, due to ongoing migration from rural to urban areas. The increase in population is followed by an increase in diversity within the city, which results in a large number of people with different characteristics and needs that must be accepted, fulfilled, and respected. Therefore, one of the current challenges in city planning is the design of inclusive spaces that are welcoming to all citizens regardless of their gender, age, nationality, economic circumstances, disability identity, or religion. It is time that urban design revolves around the needs of residents, and the built environment allows everybody to enjoy equal rights and access to every part of the city. Considering that in terms of inclusion the unbuilt environment is as important as the built environment, this paper will focus on the research of public open spaces, as an important part of the urban landscape which should be enjoyed by all. Through field observations in Iliria Square, this research aims to expand how we evaluate the capacity for inclusion in public space, find out whether users in public spaces experience these spaces as inclusive, and if contrarily, find out why so and how to fight exclusion, how these spaces can be changed and improved. This paper will hopefully raise awareness for the design of inclusive spaces in the city and serve as a stimulus and valuable knowledge base for future research on this topic.

Pages: 95 - 110