The use and meaning of residential open space in multi-culture residential area : case study of Afrikaanderplein, Afrikaanderwijk, Rotterdam

This research is an exploratory, qualitative study which attempts to capture issues regarding the use of public open space (POS) in a multi-culture residential area and the meanings given by users in the example of Afrikaanderplein, a POS located in Afrikaanderwijk, Rotterdam. The research starts from the basic thinking, that, to understand the use and meaning of a residential open space, it is necessary to understand the relationship or relatedness between physical space and social life of targeted or existing user groups. The relationship or relatedness between the physical space and the social life, then, can be explored by looking at its spatial characteristic and its utilization pattern. The research objective is to find out the use and meaning of Afrikaanderplein by looking at the relationship or relatedness between physical space and social life, through identification and `juxtaposition processes' of its spatial characteristic and its utilization pattern. This also includes the identification the influential factors which may contribute to higher use of Afrikaanderplein. For the research, a series of observation and interviews with targeted user groups were done so as to find out the relatedness between physical space and social life from two different perspectives, while at the same time approach regarding provision and management of POS is also analyzed so as to understand the perception of a good POS from provider's perspectives. The main findings of the research are: (1) there is relatedness between physical space (spatial characteristic) within Afrikaanderplein and social life (utilization pattern) of specific user groups_children, elder, and women, but not for group of teenager, which is shown by less density of activities done by this particular group in almost any space within Afrikaanderplein, except in `Plein 3', compared to other groups; (2) the perception regarding Afrikaanderplein as a good POS depends more on common agreement on accommodation to specific needs and interest based on life cycle phase and based on the stakeholders' point of views than cultural values and norms of users; and (3) The problem regarding the use of Afrikaanderplein exist both in domain of spatial characteristic (which is shown by no particular place for teenager as one of user group) and also in behaviour setting of the user groups (particularly teenager). The latter_behaviour setting_is an influential factor which affects the way users use and perceive space in Afrikaanderplein. This research supports the idea that space is subject to different interpretation and it obtains multiple meanings through social process of development, exchange, and use of individuals and collective. It also support the idea that space is not just a constantly transforming product of social process, but it also has impact on (collective and individual) social process which in the end affect the process of giving meaning to a particular space. In the case of Afrikaanderplein, space is the physical determinants which affect the activities occur in the square, which also means it affect the social process. At the same time, multi-layered meanings of space within Afrikaanderplein are socially constructed, individually and collectively. The construction of meanings, then, is in cycle of causal relationship with attempts made to affect social process. Keywords: public open space, spatial characteristic, activity pattern, behaviour setting, multi-culture residential area.