Three must see public spaces

Three great public spaces to visit

1.       Federation Square

I visited Federation Square in January of this year during the Melbourne Tennis Open. It was such an experience sitting in the square with a couple thousand people watching the final of the men’s tennis on a big screen. The atmosphere and the space made for an incredible night of entertainment. Federation Square is a mixture of open space and attractions in the heart of Melbourne. It works so well due to its size which is an entire city block and incorporates an array of attractions that are symbolic of all that is great about Melbourne, including fine art, hospitality, bold architecture and a vibrant calendar of events.

Federation Square (Photo courtesy of Google Images).

Federation Square (Photo courtesy of Google Images).

Federation Square is situated on the busiest intersection in central Melbourne across the road from Flinders Street Station and the most prominent section of the Melbourne Tram network. Federation Square offers a central and unifying square in which people can meet and gather. If you’re venturing to Melbourne Federation Square is worth a visit for its restaurants and café, Arts and events or simply to soak in the atmosphere and do some people watching. Definitely my favourite public space.

2.       Plaza Hidalgo

Plaza Hidalgo (Photo courtesy of Google Images).

Plaza Hidalgo is the heart of the pleasant bohemian suburb of Coyoacan outside of Mexico City. I have not visited Plaza Hidalgo, but it is placed highly on my top public spaces to visit in the world. Project for Public Spaces lists Plaza Hidalgo in the top spot of their list of top public spaces around the world, so it must be worth a visit. The area is pleasantly framed by tree lined streets which lead to the Plaza which has a Church on one side. Activity in the plaza is messy but vibrant with markets spilling over onto the church steps and restaurants spilling out onto the plaza, making for a wide range of activities and entertainment available within the plaza. Luckily car access is restricted into the centre of the plaza making it a pedestrian friendly area and adding to its vibrancy.

The plaza acts as a center of thriving activity, yet provides enough activity to act as a buffer from the persistent hustle and bustle that typifies life in Mexico City. There is a high level of local pride, and this public space is populated by both locals and tourists at its busiest times. Making it a must see when in Mexico City.

Plaza Hidalgo (Photo courtesy of Google Images).

3.       St James Park

Located east of Buckingham Palace in London and has been called a spiritual place which is the best central park in London. This wonderful park has always been considered a respite away from the busy city of London. Again I have not been to this park but have heard many positive things about it. It is spread over 53 acres and has a small lake within its grounds. Many different birds make their home the park including Pelicans which were a gift from the Russian Ambassador in 1664.

It is the oldest of the Royal Parks in London and has an interesting history of private ownership by Henry VIII and had the land drained and turned into a home for exotic animals such as camels, crocodiles and an elephant. Charles II then redesigned the park into a more formal style and opened it to the public. This park appears to be a lovely setting to avoid the hustle and bustle of London and a must see.


St James Park (Photo courtesy of Google Images).



St James Park (Photo courtesy of Google Images).

These three public spaces are beautiful and unique in their own right and attract visitors from far and wide. The most important aspect of a public space in my belief is the little things such as seating or tidiness or a cool piece of art therefore even the smallest of public spaces can be attractive through the implementation of little bit effective initiatives.