A Prototyping Approach for Public Spaces Inspired by the Human Nesting Instinct

Abstract

This study explores a prototyping approach to public space design based on the concept of the “nesting instinct.” Drawing on research conducted in a pedestrian-priority area in Komae, Tokyo, it examines how small-scale interventions, such as participatory workshops using cardboard, can facilitate personal engagement with public space. The findings reveal that users often respond to spatial affordances through subtle actions such as placing, enclosing, and stacking, thereby ascribing personal meaning to shared environments. These actions are not merely physical but cognitive, enabling a process through which public spaces become personalized and meaningful. The study positions public space not as a finished container, but as an open-ended, reconfigurable setting shaped through user interaction. This nesting behavior aligns with the principles of participatory design and offers a new perspective for creating adaptable, human-centered urban spaces.