From Inclusion to Coexistence: Designing Proximity Services and Spaces Through Place-Based Actions

The article explores the concept of coexistence in public space, drawing parallels between urban environments and the ecosystems they inhabit, between the actions and tools that foster encounter and sharing. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this conceptual shift, emphasising public spaces as collective and shared domains crucial for social interaction, community building and democracy. Public spaces are seen as palimpsests, subject to constant rewriting and reorganisation, serving as reservoirs of cultural identity and social affiliation. The use of public space to undertake community-led neighbourhood actions can transform local neighbourhood services into open entities that directly involve the communities of place, increasingly fostering an environment of coexistence. The article explores the role of public participation as a tool of participatory democracy, emphasising the power of citizens to transform common interests into action. Through participatory processes, communities transform local neighbourhood services, fostering physical and relational proximity and creating design communities. Participatory processes in public space are explored as mechanisms to foster coexistence, with attention to the actors involved and the need to consider the socio-political and socio-economic dimensions of the context. This scenario emphasises the importance of designing spaces beyond mere accessibility to promote meaningful interactions and shared ownership, fostering a sense of belonging and shared responsibility within communities.