Publica

Publica's Community and Research unit is leading a campaign to ensure that our urban public realm addresses the lived experiences and needs of women, girls and gender diverse people.

We are supporting community groups, developers and local policy makers to imagine alternative futures, and we are making knowledge and expertise around gender inclusion openly available so that anyone can make a difference through their own work.

WHAT WE DO

Over the past decade we have supported a number of charities and community groups to access the urban design expertise they need to provide equitable, safe, healthy and sustainable places for people to live, work, move and play in.

THE CHALLENGE WE ARE ADDRESSING

As we enter the third decade of the 21st century, we are still facing an epidemic of violence against women and girls and people are rightly impatient for change. In the UK, nearly 50% of women report feeling unsafe walking alone after dark, rising to over 80% in open spaces. We know it is possible to create cities that work for everybody, where streets feel like spaces where all belong and where women and girls are able to participate freely and fully in urban life. Yet responses to safety in public space often rely on outdated ideas about who women are, how they use the city, and what makes them feel safer.

An established programme of not-for-profit work

OUR ACTION PLAN

In order to deliver the changes needed, we plan to deliver three key programmes of work:

Knowledge Hub: A one stop shop and engaging platform for research and expertise on gender inclusive urban development
Ambitious Network: Curated cross-sector opportunities to re-imagine safer cities for women and girls
Action projects: Demonstrating the possibilities for gender inclusive urban development through practical projects delivered in partnership with developers, local authorities and communities

Publica brings research and intelligence to the process of urban change.

WHAT WE DO

Publica has gathered an evidence-base of surveys and analysis of over 75 urban neighbourhoods, alongside an extensive database of research into international best practice.

Publica is a London-based urban design and public realm practice that works to make our cities more successful, functional and beautiful. Publica surveys neighbourhoods, undertakes rigorous research and provide strategies and design for innovative, inclusive and sustainable growth, policy and planning.

OUR IMPACT

Publica operates at the heart of the debate about urbanism and cities. Our research and intelligence is part of an international conversation about how to make cities more efficient, integrated, vibrant and safe, and how to preserve the vitality of urban neighbourhoods in the midst of rapid growth and development. London’s diversity, complexity and openness to change has made it the ideal laboratory to test and develop this emerging field of practice

Publica was founded in 2010, at a pivotal moment in society’s thinking about the value of public space in cities, development and planning. Since then, our research-led visions and strategies have been adopted as urban policy and unlocked major public realm projects. As a result, Publica’s had the privilege of restoring and creatively reimagining some of London’s most significant streets and civic spaces.

PUBLICA’S COMMUNITY INTEREST COMPANY

Since our inception, we have supported a wide range of community organisations through our community interest company, including a community-led vision for a Peabody Tenants’ Association; support for Tonic housing, the pioneering UK community-led inclusive urban LGBT+ housing project for older communities; and support for the UK’s first urban parish council, Queens Park Community Council, helping in the development and preparation of its Neighbourhood Plan.

Our CIC is led by Dr Ellie Cosgrave and seeks to expand the influence of our research-led practice and to actively address an international programme of radical urban change that puts innovation, equity and long-term thinking at the centre of our work. Our aspiration is to apply Publica’s expertise and research excellence to the most pressing 21st century challenges through knowledge exchange, creative experimentation and on-the-ground urban development projects.