Methods of creating temporary public spaces

The use and creation of temporary public spaces becomes more and more popular, particularly occurring in large cities. This phenomenon remains somehow outside of the mainstream research interested in urban planning, however, it is one of the basic elements of modern urban policy. Temporary public realm can have various sources: lack of financial resources for development, a willingness to examine whether a type of function in a specific localiza­tion will work. Many public authorities today lack the financial means to resolve problems of public space. The social activities, not always lawful, resulting from the ongoing needs of the occupants or users, have very important impact on public space. Some temporary use projects show that many of them will become a professional business or may become a permanent function in the area. This paper presents some examples of temporary use or temporary creation of public spaces in chosen European cities.