INTERPRETARE LO SPAZIO PUBBLICO COME MEDIUM DELL’ABITARE URBANO INTERPRETING PUBLIC SPACE AS A MEDIUM FOR URBAN LIVEABILITY

The emphasis placed on urban living issues concerning public space seems well- founded based on the many spatial, environmental, social and psychological effects connected the processes of urban transformation. The liveability of the contempo- rary cities cannot ignore the features of quality and diversity of the system of public spaces, intended here as an infrastructure capable of connecting places and peo- ple, goods and services in continuous flow. This contribution highlights the need for tools able to interpreting the ever-changing physical and social demands of contem- porary public space and propose an interpretative cognitive model to support to Public Administrations order to better orient urban transformation and regeneration strategies and goals.