The daily rhythm of users and uses of public spaces: the case of Černý Most housing estate in Prague

Abstract

Housing estates of post-socialist cities and especially the public spaces inside them still belong to one of the most underestimated branches of contemporary urban studies. These areas are however sometimes perceived from outside world misleadingly.

We have thus decided to focus on these topics and have examined the daily rhythm in two localities of different age inside the Cerny Most housing estate and their users. We have used a number of methods - observation, mapping and the analysis of own photographs and notes, and have tried to target on often omitted groups such as women or elders.

We have found out that the public spaces are overall vivid and provide clear patterns of the daily rhythm. The structure of their users, however, depends on the function of space as well.