Neighbourhood Streets as Public Space Covid-19 Public Life in Kimisange, Rwanda
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Published:
Nov 30, 2020
Keywords:
COVID-19 neighbourhood street public space quality of life Rwanda
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Abstract
Since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Covid-19 a global pandemic in March 2020, countries have had to swiftly adopt lockdowns and social distancing measures in order to prevent worse public health outcomes that are likely to influence the relationship between urban society and space. Whereas the economic impact of the pandemic is obvious, its influence on public life remains uncertain, and yet the pandemic has drastically changed our relationship with our streets, public spaces and public facilities. A longer term concern lies in understanding the risk that living the new normal could have on our future perception and use of public space. Using activity mapping on a neighbourhood street in Kigali, Rwanda, this paper explores the relationship between public space and quality of life before and during Covid-19 lockdown. The research found that neighbourhood streets are increasingly becoming popular for recreational activities, and hence more valuable to users. This positive sensory experience, at a time when the pandemic preys on public life in urban areas, shines new light on the notion of street as public space.
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How to Cite
Malonza, J. M. (2020) “Neighbourhood Streets as Public Space: Covid-19 Public Life in Kimisange, Rwanda”, The Journal of Public Space, 5(3), pp. 39–52. doi: 10.32891/jps.v5i3.1367.
Section
Space
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Bravo, L., Guaralda, M. (2016). ‘An open access forum for the discussion and advancement of research about public space’, The Journal of Public Space, 1(1), p. 1-4.
Caldwell, G. A., & Guaralda, M. (2016). Blurring the physical boundaries of the city: Media architecture and urban informatics for community engagement. In G. A. Caldwell, C. H. Smith, E. M. Clift & G. Cairns (Eds.), Digital Futures and the City of Today. New Technologies and Physical Spaces (pp. 235-250). Bristol, UK: Intellect.
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Corbera, E., Anguelovski, I., Honey-Rosés, J., Ruiz-Mallén, I. (2020). ‘Academia in the time of COVID-19: Developing an ethics of care’, Planning Theory & Practice,1–9. doi:10.1080/14649357.2020.1757891.
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Freeman, S., Eykelbosh, A. (2020). COVID-19 and outdoor safety: Considerations for use of outdoor recreational spaces. National Collaborating Centre Environmental Health. 2020. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340721289_COVID-19_and_outdoor_safety_Considerations_for_use_of_outdoor_recreational_spaces_Prepared_by/link/5e9a24a8299bf13079a24c5c/download (Accessed:16 July 2020).
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Gubic, I. and Baloi, O. (2020). ‘Public open space initiatives for healthier cities in Rwanda’, The Journal of Public Space, 5(2), pp. 129-146.
Joye, Y., Willems, K., Brengman, M. and Wolf, K. (2010). ‘The effects of urban retail greenery on consumer experience: Reviewing the evidence from a restorative perspective’, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 9(1), pp. 57-64.
Kondo, M. C., Fluehr, J., M., McKeon, T. & Branas, C. C. (2018). 'Urban green space and its impact on human health', International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(3), p. 445.
Lee, A. and Maheswaran, R. (2011). ‘The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence’, Journal of Public Health. 2011;33(2), p. 212–222.
Maas, J., Verheij, R., Groenewegen, P., (2006). ‘Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?’, Journal of Epidemiol Community Health, 60(7), p. 587–592.
Malonza, J. and Rukwaro, R. (2017). ‘Rethinking urban public space in the rapidly urbanizing East African region; case of car free zone, Kigali’, Africa Habitat Review. ISSN2519-7851, 11(1), p. 1107-1124.
Malonza, J., Rukwaro, R., Anyamba, T. (2018). ‘Mapping socio-cultural influences in contemporary urban public open space: The case of Biryogo, Kigali city’, International Journal of Creative Research and Studies ISSN-0249-4655, 2(9), . p59-77.
Mehta, V. (2014). 'Evaluating public space', Journal of Urban design, 19(1), p. 53-88.
Nutsford, D., Pearson, A., Kingham, S. (2013). ‘An ecological study investigating the association between access to urban green space and mental health’, Public Health. 2013;127(11), p. 1005–1011.
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REMA. (2017). State of Environment and Outlook Report: Achieving Sustainable Urbanisation.
Sandford, A. (2020). Coronavirus: Half of humanity now on lockdown as 90 countries call for confinement. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/02/coronavirus-in-europe-spain-s-death-toll-hits-10-000-after-record-950-new-deaths-in-24-hou (Accessed: 16 July 2020).
Silva, M. M. and Costa, J. P. (2018). 'Urban floods and climate change adaptation: The potential of public space design when accommodating natural processes', Water, 10(2), p. 180.
Thompson, I. (2004). Ecology, community and delight: Sources of values in landscape architecture. London: Taylor & Francis.
UN-Habitat (2020) UN-Habitat Guidance on COVID-19 and Public Space. UN-Habitat, Nairobi.
UN-Habitat and World Health Organization. (2020). Integrating health in urban and territorial planning: a sourcebook. World Health Organization.
UN-Habitat. (2015). Global public space toolkit: From global principles to local policies and practice. UN Habitat, Nairobi. ISBN: 978-92-1-132656-7.
UN-Habitat (2013) Streets as Public Spaces and Drivers of Urban Sustainability. UN-Habitat, Nairobi.
Uwimbabazi, P. and Lawrence, R. (2011). ‘Compelling Factors of Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration in Rwanda’, Rwanda Journal, Series B, 22(1), p9-26.
van den Berg, A., van Winsum-Westra, M., de Vries, S. and van Dillen, S. (2010). ‘Allotment gardening and health: a comparative survey among allotment gardeners and their neighbors without an allotment’, Environmental Health, 9(74).
van den Berg. A., Maas, J., Verheij, R. and Groenewegen, P. (2010). ‘Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health’, Social Science & Medicine. 2010;70(8), p. 1203–1210.
WHO, (2020a). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. Available at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public (Accessed 19 May 2020).
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Baffoe, G., Malonza, J., Manirakiza,V., Mugabe, L. (2020). ‘Understanding the Concept of Neighbourhood in Kigali City, Rwanda’, Sustainability 12(4). 10.3390/su12041555.
Bhowmick, S. (2019, May 17). Toward the SDGs: The Rwanda story. Observer Research Foundation. Available at https://www.orfonline.org/research/toward-the-sdgs-the-rwanda-story-50935 (Accessed: 15 July 2020).
Björk, J., Albin, M., Grahn, P., Jacobsson, H., Ardö, J., Wadbro, J., Östergren, P-O. and Skärbäck, E. (2008). Recreational values of the natural environment in relation to neighbourhood satisfaction, physical activity, obesity and wellbeing. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 62(4), e2.
Bravo, L. (2013). Open Spaces, Public Spaces, Publics, Open-minded Places. Ricerche e progetti per il territorio, la città e l’architettura. Special Issue No 1/2013.
Bravo, L., Guaralda, M. (2016). ‘An open access forum for the discussion and advancement of research about public space’, The Journal of Public Space, 1(1), p. 1-4.
Caldwell, G. A., & Guaralda, M. (2016). Blurring the physical boundaries of the city: Media architecture and urban informatics for community engagement. In G. A. Caldwell, C. H. Smith, E. M. Clift & G. Cairns (Eds.), Digital Futures and the City of Today. New Technologies and Physical Spaces (pp. 235-250). Bristol, UK: Intellect.
Carmona, M., Heath, T., Oc, T., & Tiesdell, S. (2010). Public Places Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. New York: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
Carmona, M. (2019). 'Principles for public space design, planning to do better', Urban Design International, 24(1), pp. 47-59.
Corbera, E., Anguelovski, I., Honey-Rosés, J., Ruiz-Mallén, I. (2020). ‘Academia in the time of COVID-19: Developing an ethics of care’, Planning Theory & Practice,1–9. doi:10.1080/14649357.2020.1757891.
Das, D. (2008). Urban Quality of Life: A Case Study of Guwahati, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., Social Indicators Research, 88, pp. 297–310.
Freeman, S., Eykelbosh, A. (2020). COVID-19 and outdoor safety: Considerations for use of outdoor recreational spaces. National Collaborating Centre Environmental Health. 2020. Available online: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340721289_COVID-19_and_outdoor_safety_Considerations_for_use_of_outdoor_recreational_spaces_Prepared_by/link/5e9a24a8299bf13079a24c5c/download (Accessed:16 July 2020).
Garau, P., L. Lancerin, and M. Sepe. (2015). The Charter of Public Space. Trento: LiST.
Gehl, J. (2010). Cities for People. Washington DC: Island Press.
Gehl, J. (2011). “Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space” Translate by Jo Koch. Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data. Washington, DC: Island Press.
Government of Rwanda. (2020). Office of the Prime Minister official twitter handle. Available at https://twitter.com/PrimatureRwanda/status (Accessed: 2 July 2020).
Government of Rwanda. (2012). Rwanda Vision 2020 revised 2012. Available at http://www.minecofin.gov.rw/fileadmin/templates/documents/NDPR/Vision_2020_.pdf (Accessed: 12 July 2020).
Government of Rwanda. (2015). National Urbanisation Policy. Available at https://www.bpmis.gov.rw/asset_uplds/files/National%20Urbanization%20Policy.pdf (Accessed 20 June 2020).
Government of Rwanda. (2019a). 2019 Rwanda Voluntary National Review (VNR) Report. Available at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/23432Rwanda_VNR_Document__Final.pdf (Accessed: 25 May 2020).
Gubic, I. and Baloi, O. (2020). ‘Public open space initiatives for healthier cities in Rwanda’, The Journal of Public Space, 5(2), pp. 129-146.
Joye, Y., Willems, K., Brengman, M. and Wolf, K. (2010). ‘The effects of urban retail greenery on consumer experience: Reviewing the evidence from a restorative perspective’, Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 9(1), pp. 57-64.
Kondo, M. C., Fluehr, J., M., McKeon, T. & Branas, C. C. (2018). 'Urban green space and its impact on human health', International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(3), p. 445.
Lee, A. and Maheswaran, R. (2011). ‘The health benefits of urban green spaces: a review of the evidence’, Journal of Public Health. 2011;33(2), p. 212–222.
Maas, J., Verheij, R., Groenewegen, P., (2006). ‘Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?’, Journal of Epidemiol Community Health, 60(7), p. 587–592.
Malonza, J. and Rukwaro, R. (2017). ‘Rethinking urban public space in the rapidly urbanizing East African region; case of car free zone, Kigali’, Africa Habitat Review. ISSN2519-7851, 11(1), p. 1107-1124.
Malonza, J., Rukwaro, R., Anyamba, T. (2018). ‘Mapping socio-cultural influences in contemporary urban public open space: The case of Biryogo, Kigali city’, International Journal of Creative Research and Studies ISSN-0249-4655, 2(9), . p59-77.
Mehta, V. (2014). 'Evaluating public space', Journal of Urban design, 19(1), p. 53-88.
Nutsford, D., Pearson, A., Kingham, S. (2013). ‘An ecological study investigating the association between access to urban green space and mental health’, Public Health. 2013;127(11), p. 1005–1011.
Project for Public Spaces (2017a). Street as places- Using streets to rebuild communities. Available at: https://www.pps.org/product/streets-as-places- using-streets-to-rebuild communities (Accessed 12 July 2020).
Project for Public Spaces (2017b). Qualities of a Great Street. Available at: https://www.pps.org/reference/qualitiesofagreatstreet (Accessed 19 July 2020).
REMA. (2017). State of Environment and Outlook Report: Achieving Sustainable Urbanisation.
Sandford, A. (2020). Coronavirus: Half of humanity now on lockdown as 90 countries call for confinement. Available at: https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/02/coronavirus-in-europe-spain-s-death-toll-hits-10-000-after-record-950-new-deaths-in-24-hou (Accessed: 16 July 2020).
Silva, M. M. and Costa, J. P. (2018). 'Urban floods and climate change adaptation: The potential of public space design when accommodating natural processes', Water, 10(2), p. 180.
Thompson, I. (2004). Ecology, community and delight: Sources of values in landscape architecture. London: Taylor & Francis.
UN-Habitat (2020) UN-Habitat Guidance on COVID-19 and Public Space. UN-Habitat, Nairobi.
UN-Habitat and World Health Organization. (2020). Integrating health in urban and territorial planning: a sourcebook. World Health Organization.
UN-Habitat. (2015). Global public space toolkit: From global principles to local policies and practice. UN Habitat, Nairobi. ISBN: 978-92-1-132656-7.
UN-Habitat (2013) Streets as Public Spaces and Drivers of Urban Sustainability. UN-Habitat, Nairobi.
Uwimbabazi, P. and Lawrence, R. (2011). ‘Compelling Factors of Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration in Rwanda’, Rwanda Journal, Series B, 22(1), p9-26.
van den Berg, A., van Winsum-Westra, M., de Vries, S. and van Dillen, S. (2010). ‘Allotment gardening and health: a comparative survey among allotment gardeners and their neighbors without an allotment’, Environmental Health, 9(74).
van den Berg. A., Maas, J., Verheij, R. and Groenewegen, P. (2010). ‘Green space as a buffer between stressful life events and health’, Social Science & Medicine. 2010;70(8), p. 1203–1210.
WHO, (2020a). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. Available at https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public (Accessed 19 May 2020).
WHO, (2020b). Rwanda hastens safety measures against novel coronavirus. Available at https://www.afro.who.int/news/rwanda-hastens-safety-measures-against-novel-coronavirus (Accessed 5 May 2020).