Street as a Place: Designing Urban Streetscapes Based on Visitor Demand and Perceptions During Car-Free Days

Abstract

After the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for a better public space has continued to grow. The significant growth of car-free day locations in the Makassar urban area indicates the demand for a quality public space. This research aims to 1) identify visitors' perceptions on road use as temporary public spaces; 2) analyze the demand for street as place according to place-making principles; and 3) design Boulevard Street Streetscape based on place-making principles. Data were collected through direct observation at the location and interviews with 207 car-free day visitors. The results indicate that 1) most visitors were satisfied with Boulevard Street being vehicle-free despite the poor condition of the pedestrian pathways; 2) most of the visitors enjoyed the car-free environment; almost 60% of them are people who live nearby. This highlighting the city residents' need for streets as social spaces; and 3) based on visitors' perceptions and their needs, the design proposed on widening pedestrian pathways and providing plazas for social interaction.