UIA Special issue

Rethinking Public Space Evaluation.

Frameworks, Indicators, Impact (for Sustainable Urban-Rural Futures)

 

Special issue of The Journal of Public Space developed in partnership with the International Union of Architects (UIA), to be launched at the UIA World Congress in Barcelona, 28 June - 2 July 2026

 

Credit: Collage of digitally manipulated images by Judit Musachs and Pol Pérez selected by the UIA2026BCN curatorial team.

With the theme Becoming. Architectures for a planet in transition, the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona focuses on speculative, qualitative inquiries to explore material, political, ecological, and poetic interrelations. The Congress features a diverse array of events, including lectures, workshops, debates, exhibitions, visits and celebrations, all designed to encourage architectural dialogue and the sharing of perspectives.
Read more about the UIA World Congress of Architects 2026 Barcelona: https://uia2026bcn.org/

 

CALL FOR PAPERS

The Journal of Public Space, in collaboration with the UIA Public Spaces Work Programme, invites scholars, practitioners, and researchers from around the world to contribute to a special issue dedicated to rethinking how we evaluate public space. This issue will explore not only the effectiveness of existing indicator frameworks, but also critically reflect on the deeper questions of what, how, and why we evaluate public space in the first place.

Public spaces—whether designed or emergent, permanent or ephemeral—are vital to the sustainability and vitality of urban and rural life. They are where people gather, express, rest, protest, and connect. Yet, as cities and regions face increasing pressures from densification, privatization, climate change, and digital transformation, the need to assess the quality and impact of public spaces has become more urgent—and more complex.

This special issue acknowledges that while there is broad consensus on the importance of high-quality public spaces for thriving communities, there is no one-size-fits-all system for evaluating them. Public space is shaped by local cultures, governance structures, histories, and user practices. What is considered “inclusive,” “safe,” or “vibrant” in one context may not hold the same meaning in another. Quantitative indicators, while useful, risk overlooking the subjective, symbolic, and culturally embedded values that make public spaces meaningful to different communities.

We therefore invite contributions that not only apply or extend existing evaluation frameworks, but also question and redefine them. We are particularly interested in work that explores the perceived value of public space—how people experience, interpret, and assign meaning to places. Case studies that foreground user perspectives, cultural specificity, and informal or unexpected uses of space are especially welcome.

This issue also seeks to highlight the diversity of public space types, including those not originally designed as public but which have become so through appropriation, adaptation, or necessity. We invite contributions that reflect on this diversity and help redefine public space evaluation for the future. How we define, measure, and act to champion quality through diversity must remain open to debate, adaptation, and innovation.

 

Scope & Themes

We welcome submissions that explore:

  • Locally grounded public space evaluation frameworks
  • Perceived value and the role of subjectivity in public space assessment
  • Indicators of spatial justice, ecological resilience, and digital hybridity
  • Participatory and co-designed evaluation methods
  • Governance and policy implications of public space metrics
  • Temporal, ephemeral, and lifecycle approaches to public space quality

 

Submission Guidelines

We invite original research, case studies, theoretical papers, and methodological reviews. Abstracts should be max 500 words and must clearly outline objectives, methods, findings, and implications. 

Please submit your abstract using this online form.

Submissions sent by email will not be considered.

 

Important dates and deadlines
Launch of the call for abstracts: 22 December 2025
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 23 January 2026
Notification of acceptance: 9 February 2026
Submission of full papers: 27 March 2026
Peer review process completed by: 1 May 2026
Deadline for submission of revised papers: 22 May 2026
Publication online (expected): 15 June 2026

 

Only authors who will receive a notification of acceptance of abstracts will be entitled to submit full papers.

AUTHOR'S GUIDELINES FOR SUBMISSION OF FULL PAPERS

  • Research articles (academic): full papers between 5.000 and 8.000 words, the word limit includes notes and bibliographical references. The submission must also include an abstract of max 300 words, up to five keywords, and up to 20 copyright-free images with captions.
  • Case studies and essays (non-academic): full papers of max 3.000 words, the word limit includes notes and bibliographical references. The submission must also include an abstract of max 300 words, up to five keywords, and up to 20 copyright-free images with captions.

Read our guidelines.

Read about The Journal of Public Space's double blind peer review process here.

For inquiries, please contact the Editor in Chief Dr Luisa Bravo at submission@journalpublicspace.org