Shrinking Space

One reason why public spaces are failing is because the public realm is shrinking. Urban cities are influenced by public spaces. We know that public spaces serve to bring together people of different backgrounds and instill in them a sense of belonging and commonality. However, many of the places we consider as public are really “privatized” public spaces or “publicized” private spaces. Places like shopping centers, theme parks, arcades, gallerias, plazas and malls are advertised as being “public”, however access to these areas are based on financial status and appearance. According to an article by Tridib Banerjee , “The sanctity of the private spaces is preserved by excluding the unholy and unwashed – the panhandlers, the winos, the homeless, and simply the urban poor.” This results in segregation of the public as only certain people are allowed to utilize the area. The public realm is also being affected by the communication and information technology revolution. Instead of going outside and communicating face – to – face with other people, we now choose to do basic tasks online, such as chatting with friends and family, shopping, banking, even playing games, as it is easier and more time efficient. We are now all citizens of cyberspace and cyber communities where the conventional concepts of public space and place are increasingly becoming outmoded (Banerjee 2001). 

"A slave to technology!" This is one one the reasons for the shrinking of public spaces. Even in one of Trinidad's most frequented public space, the Chagauramas Boardwalk, these young people choose to be on their cell phones than to socialize with each other and make use of the beautiful space.

Publicized private spaces and privatization of public spaces are the drivers of a shrinking public realm. Even though shopping malls and plazas such as the one in the photo (Movietowne Port-of-Spain) are said to be open to the public, not everyone is welcome. Mainly because access and utilization of these areas are based on ones financial status and social class.