Abstract
The resurrection of democracy and civil society in the Czech Republic after 1990 brought new opportunities to create the public spaces of all kinds. This study investigates the creation of public spaces in Liberec - Ruprechtice through two years of multidisciplinary - sociological, philosophical and architectonic research.
The research was lead by Philosophy department of Liberec Technical University in cooperation with The Institute of Sociological Studies of Charles University in Prague. The meaning of public space was investigated through collection and evaluation of the mental maps.
The study also focuses on children's mental maps and their perception of public spaces. The authors proposed new methods of teaching for primary and secondary schools which helps children to develop positive attitude towards the values of public spaces.
A new category of memory maps was created following the combining of oral history and mental mapping techniques. The analysis shows the functions and dynamics of the alternative public spaces which came into existence quite casually in this part of Liberec.
The final chapter consists of architectonic studies made by students of the Faculty of Arts and Architecture of Liberec Technical University. The final study of Main Square in Ruprechtice resumes proposed meaning of public spaces and theoretical evaluation of the research.