Exploring the Quality of Public Space and Life in Streets of Urban Village: Evidence from the Case of Shenzhen Baishizhou

The rapid economic development in China has resulted in the huge migration of people into city and the continuous expansion of urban areas, in which a new kind of urban landscape, named urban village has formed. Due to the high density of buildings and the status of disordered land utilization in urban village, many special and typical street and lane spaces are formed, which are usually neglected or simply managed. However, the crowds of people need a proper public space and public life for adjustment of all kinds of social and mental problems aroused from long-term staying in a narrow indoor and outdoor space in urban village. This research uses counting method, observations, interviews and space syntax to investigate the status quo of public space and public life in streets of Baishizhou Urban Village. Results show that the space accessibility of street is weak and the space comprehensive quality is low. The majority of public activities are necessary activities. People tend to expect different types of activities and functional facilities, as well as a confortable, safe and green environment. We suggest establishing a slow traffic; providing rest and landscape facilities; enhancing safety, and increasing the use of boundary space, which can solve most of the problems considering economic and practical aspects. The approach to investigate the public space and life in this study can be applied to other urban villages, and even different types of public space. The results and improvement suggestions are suitable for other research for the quality of public space and life in streets of urban village.