MPavilion  

How have public space experiments of 2020 changed our perception of the city?

Over the last year, we’ve been compelled to use our city and streets in new ways as we’ve adapted to life during a pandemic. Cities around the world have sought to meet a surge in demand for public spaces that enable us to safely gather, dine, shop and move around our neighbourhoods, bringing us together while keeping our distance.

The way we use our streets has had to adapt. Around the globe, experimental reuse of public spaces – particularly roads and carparks – is changing the way we engage with our cities. For decades, city makers and communities have fought for many of these interventions, such as parklets, pop-ups and play streets, in the face of fierce resistance.

Temporary installations employ creative solutions that are immediately responsive to our current needs and help us imagine alternative futures for public space. In 2020, what did we experiment with, how did our neighbourhoods look different, and importantly, how did our attitudes change as a result?

Join us in a conversation with a panel of speakers well versed in the experiments of 2020, including outdoor dining, fast-build bike lanes, play streets and community-led placemaking. This promises to be a lively discussion on what positives might be salvaged from a tough year in Melbourne and explores the role of experimentation in creating better cities in the future.