The sociopetal and sociofugal nature of public space. Case study of the city of Kobylin

Abstract

The aim of the article is to examine how public spaces function in the town of Kobylin and whether they are sociopetal or sociofugal. The empirical material was collected with the participation of children aged 9–13 (using a geo-survey) and adult residents of the town (in-depth interview). A scenario containing questions about the characteristics of selected public spaces of the town and the possibilities of spending time and interpersonal contacts there was used for this study. The selection and order of questions served to obtain information and at the same time gave the respondent control over reporting their own experiences. The article begins with theoretical considerations on public spaces and their social nature. The study part analyzes several spaces of the small town of Kobylin (approx. 3,000 inhabitants) located in the Krotoszyn district on the Rdęca river, approx. 15 km northwest of Krotoszyn. These spaces are selected and assessed by residents in terms of their social functioning and landscape planning. Empirical research provided answers to two research questions related to the space of the analyzed town: 1) What is the nature of the sociopetal space in the context of their social functioning and spatial development? 2) What is the nature of the non-social space in the context of their social functioning and landscape planning. The article ends with a collection of features of the sociopetal or sociofugal space, collected as a result of literature and empirical research. The research showed that the public spaces identified by the residents of the town of Kobylin do not meet their needs. They require functional changes and additional investment to ensure that their use is safe, allows outdoor activity and social relations.