Place Activation is about making spaces inclusive, memorable, unified, innovative and entrepreneurial: balancing both the discrete and the collective needs of owners and users.
It is also about connecting places and spaces in a way that is safe, aesthetic, enjoyable and legible. Place Activation is planning for people's diverse activities through both the design of the built form and the programming of the space.
Place Activation needs to be adaptable, flexible and achievable. It encompasses small-scale, short-term activities, improvements that can be started right away, long term, legacy and city wide activities.
The key to success is to first engage with the local community in a collaborative and collegial manner. Action/projects should only occur after genuine and representative stakeholder input. In other words, deliberative democracy in action.
Programming also includes careful consideration of existing assets; history, culture, built form, businesses, residents, biology, activities.
Objectives
• To facilitate the development of specific place propositions; in the context of existing place-based plans.
• To enable and empower the community in evolving and celebrating distinctive places, fostering a sense of community pride and supporting local economies.
Approaches
• Physical interventions: Art, pole banners, digital media, installations, nightscaping, safety measures, media architecture.
• Events: Funding pilot events as platforms for new or under-active spaces, enhancing existing events by extending them into the public realm.
• Advocacy: Negotiating changes to Council regulations, permitting, rules, navigation.
• Facilitation and Mentoring: Convening forums and workshops, assistance with project management, media planning, engaging speakers.
• Channels: Offering a digital information portal, access to council media, publishing case studies and providing access to data.
• Patronage: Attracting sponsorship, funding, resources and brokering cross-hybridisation, brand partnerships.