A Valuation of Public Spaces: Selected Research Results

The aim of the study is to draw attention to the fact that the value of public spaces has an interdisciplinary character, and should be viewed as such. The multifaceted function of public spaces requires a thorough recognition of their role and functioning in a city, especially from the estate management point of view. The fact that well-designed and managed public spaces have a great effect on social, cultural, market and communicative behavior, makes them an axis of urban development. The extent to which public spaces affect neighboring property markets, especially when it comes to the commercial segment, is also very important. The way in which a public space is utilized, is an incentive to search for optimal directions as to how a given property should function.

The research results presented in the present paper concern three case studies of big Polish cities - Poznań, Gdańsk and Wrocław. The research incorporated sociological survey tools (questionnaire), indepth interviews and observations.