I came across an interesting paper on Shared Space written by Ben Hamilton-Baillie in August 2006. It describes this emerging approach to urban design. According to Hamilton-Baillie, the approach of Shared Space touches on how to reduce the negative impacts of traffic in cities. As an approach to urban design, Shared Space may hold interesting thought for the development of the PerfectCity Charter City of the Future…

On Wikipedia it reads: “Shared Space is a traffic engineering philosophy pioneered by the Dutch traffic engineer Hans Monderman. The approach relies on the principle that road users’ behaviour is more likely to be affected by the street environment and design than by the traditional deployment of measures such as speed bumps, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.”

Hamilton-Baillie explains that “shared space could also be seen as the default mode before the separation of vehicles and pedestrians became the accepted approach to designing public spaces. It was the status quo ante for most streets and public spaces before the introduction of segregation during the last century.” Consequently, the idea of integration is at the centre of attention, which counteracts the principle of segregation, that is to say the separation of “different functions and different users within the urban landscape”.

Hamilton-Baillie points out that the approach of Shared Space should not be confused with pedestrian zones, or traffic calming and the like. Rather, “Shared Space represents the most significant new philosophy to challenge the principle of segregation, and to open up new opportunities to develop a more inclusive and accessible environment.

For more information you may visit

• http://www.shared-space.org/
• http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2200098.html?menu=
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shared_space 
• http://www.hamilton-baillie.co.uk/

What is your opinion on Shared Space and do you know examples? With respect to the development of the Charter City of the Future , where do you see the role of Shared Space as an approach to designing urban landscape?

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