Living with risk

promoting better public space design

Briefing exploring how reaction to health and safety concerns is affecting the quality of streets, parks and squares.

Living with risk

Is it a popular myth that we're becoming more averse to taking risks? How is this reaction to health and safety concerns affecting the quality of our streets, parks and squares? Is it creating an environment in which encouraging design innovation and risk-taking is becoming harder? Living with risk explores these questions, canvassing the views of national organisations and examining 10 recent schemes to improve public spaces. We find clear lessons for maintaining high quality and for boosting stakeholders' confidence to navigate risks in the design process.

Published on 21 May 2007