Placemaking: Explained

Introduction

Placemaking is all about the intentional design and management of public spaces to create environments that promote people’s health, happiness, and well-being. It’s not just about the physical layout but also about fostering a sense of community and connection. At its core, placemaking transforms spaces into places that people love to be in, whether it's a park, a plaza, or even a street corner.

Link with Biophilia & Biophilic Design

But placemaking isn’t just about human-centered design. It's deeply connected to plants, biophilia, and biodiversity. Now, you might be wondering, what do these concepts have to do with placemaking?

Let me introduce Dr Stephen Kellert, a Professor Emeritus at Yale University. His work focused on understanding the connection between nature and humanity with a particular interest in the human need for nature, and sustainable design and development. In relation to placemaking, he said:

“One of the great challenges of our time is to bring the beneficial experience of nature into the design of contemporary buildings, landscapes, communities, and cities.”

Let's break it down. Biophilia is the idea that humans have an innate connection to nature. We’re naturally drawn to the sights, sounds, and smells of the natural world. This connection is crucial when it comes to creating spaces that feel inviting and restorative. That’s where plants and biodiversity come into play.

Placemaking Benefits

As for the benefits of linking biophilia and placemaking, integrating plants and diverse ecosystems into urban spaces doesn’t just make them look more appealing—it also promotes physical health and mental well-being, supports local wildlife, and improves air quality. In other words, it makes these places more alive and vibrant, turning them into spaces where people want to spend time.

Another fascinating thing about placemaking is that it’s not just about aesthetics or community spirit—it also has economic benefits. Well-designed public spaces can increase property values, attract businesses, and reduce crime rates. For example, Bryant Park in New York City saw a significant increase in foot traffic and a decrease in crime after a placemaking initiative transformed it into a beautiful public space.

Who’s involved in Placemaking

Now, you might be thinking, ‘Who exactly is responsible for placemaking?’ Whilst the answer is “everyone”, the people who can have the most impact through their day jobs are urban planners, architects, interior designers, landscape designers, and indoor planting experts. On top of that, community members also play a part, whether it’s a small company like the Urban Oasis in Vauxhall who use their profits to plant up the local area, or the people who organise local litter picks and events. It’s a collaborative effort where each voice contributes to creating spaces that truly reflect the needs and desires of the people who use them.

Placemaking works best when it's inclusive, drawing on local culture, history, and the natural environment. By involving the community in the process, the resulting spaces are more likely to be cherished and maintained. If that sounds a bit cliched, an amazing example of this is Vauxhall Pleasure gardens.  This was once a 12 acre public space for events and entertainment, but almost all of it has been developed over.  The local community stepped in to preserve the remaining gardens and an amazing group of architects, engineers, local residents, and businesses joined together to form OurVauxhall, a community group dedicated to placemaking in the neighbourhood.

You can find out more about this amazing example of placemaking by visiting this site.

How we can enhance placemaking with planting

So, how can we enhance placemaking with biophilic design principles, and more importantly, with plants? Biophilic design is the practice of incorporating nature and natural elements into our built environments. It’s about more than just adding a few potted plants here and there—it's about creating a deep connection between the people and the natural world.

Think living walls, green roofs, and indoor gardens. These aren’t just decorative—they’re functional. They reduce stress, boost creativity, improve productivity, and as mentioned earlier, bring economic benefits to an area, too. There’s also biodiversity, where we use a variety of plant species that support local ecosystems, attract pollinators, and even provide food sources for urban wildlife.

Conclusion

So, to summarise, by prioritising biophilic design, we’re not only making spaces more beautiful but also more sustainable and resilient. These principles can be applied in parks, workplaces, schools, and even residential areas, turning every space into a place where both people and nature thrive.

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