Plan for a playful city: a typology of ludic ways to increase pedestrian activity

Abstract

This research explores play as a motivator for pedestrian activity. A typology of playful pedestrian motivators grew from a literature review of walkability and public space, design for winter cities, and the developing concept of ludic cities (spaces guiding spontaneous and undirected playfulness). The typology was tested through comparison across 27 cases of playful urban pedestrian interventions. This process highlights what play can contribute to urban form, and what might be missing from standardized processes of designing, creating and evaluating pedestrian space. The analysis highlights key processes and design elements for incorporating play into the urban environment.