Public spaces are fundamental to our everyday lives. They spark social interaction and offer an escape from the noise. They are cultural epicentres with dynamic, changing identities. They are busy thoroughfares and quiet retreats. As Edward Relph, the author of Place and Placelessness  (1976), put it: ‘…people are their place and a place is its people’. These spaces are mine and yours; someone’s and everyone’s; used individually yet enjoyed collectively. Or at least they should be.

The campaigning charity, Make Space for Girls (MSFG), argues that parks and public spaces could be better designed for girls and young women. Imogen Clarke and Susannah Walker, the brains behind MSFG, are raising awareness of the issue in order to ensure that the voices of girls and young women are heard throughout the planning and design process. We must also acknowledge the complex intersectionalities at play when it comes to the domination of space – race, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, to name a few.

This issue has become increasingly topical. Recently Glasgow passed a motion putting women at the heart of town planning, making it the ‘UK’s first feminist city’, while the Mayor of London has recently published a report calling for active inclusion of 'women, girls and gender diverse people’s experiences, needs and realities in all stages of the design process.'

MSFG has done an extensive amount of research to find out what spaces designed for girls and young women look like, with Europe leading the way, including:

• Rosens Röda Matta, Malmö This is the only park in Europe designed by, with and for girls and young women. It transformed an old car park into a hub of urban activity with a rock climbing wall, performance spaces, climbing bars and a series of smaller sheltered spaces connected to the main area. This space is used equally by boys and girls.
  
  
• Gorky Park, Moscow This park consists of 29 different swings arranged in an oval. The playground is open 24 hours and has bright, dynamic, colour-changing scenarios – cold colours for hot summer nights, warm colours for cold weather.
  
  
• Bredäng, Stockholm In collaboration with a focus group of girls living in the suburb of Bredäng, this park was developed to support spontaneous dance, play and sports. It features a pergola and stage with sheltered seating to ensure that the park can be used all year round. It responded to the fact that the site was dominated by a football pitch, used mainly for male sports events.

The tide is slowly turning but as built environment professionals, we have the opportunity to push design teams to grapple with this issue and drive forward the agenda for more equitable space.

Ultimately, making spaces for girls makes better spaces for everyone.

Further information

Contact Lucy Wakelin

Savills Planning