The rationales of managing public space: Changing values in a developing discipline

Public space managers are facing multiple transitions and increasingly complex challenges, prompting the emergence of new approaches that address diverse aims and involve a broader range of actors. As a result, the rationale behind management of public space is gradually changing. Gaining insight into the values that drive management of public space is essential. This research shows that, from the managers' perspective, the rationale behind management of public space is largely implicit, with a non-hierarchical relationship between means and ends. Where common approaches emphasised technical and economic values, a clear shift towards the integration of soft values, such as social inclusion and sustainability, is becoming apparent. This transition parallels historical paradigm shifts in spatial planning and underlines the dynamic nature of management of public space. This study examined the values pursued in the Netherlands based on a qualitative study consisting of narrative interviews and focus groups. The results offer insights into the values pursued and highlight the importance of an explicit and systematic approach, as well as research into the values that actually shape management of public space in current practice. • The quality of public spaces is largely determined by the values assigned to it by individual managers. • Management of public space increasingly embraces soft values, moving beyond purely the technical and economic nature. • Values of managing public space are applied in practice rather intuitively instead of systematically. • The ongoing shift of pursued values in management of public space seems to indicate a paradigm shift.