Re-imagining Streets: Increasing Livable Space Available to People

Sammanfattning

This thesis investigates how urban street design can be reimagined to increase livable public space and improve residents’ perceptions of safety in dense urban neighborhoods. Focusing on the districts of Högaborg, Eneborg, and Söder in Helsingborg, Sweden, the study examines how streetscape design interventions can address persistent negative perceptions of these areas, which residents often regard as unsafe despite crime rates comparable to other parts of the city. Through a combination of literature review, site analysis, municipal research, and precedent studies, the project explores the relationship between physical urban conditions and perceived safety. Particular attention is given to factors such as lighting, visibility, maintenance, vegetation, social activity, and spatial configuration, and how these elements influence residents’ experiences of public space. The research also situates these issues within broader urban challenges, including increasing urban density, limited access to green public spaces, and the dominance of automobile-oriented infrastructure in central neighborhoods. The thesis proposes a design strategy that prioritizes people over vehicles by transforming underutilized street space into flexible, inclusive, and environmentally responsive public areas. By integrating green infrastructure, improving microclimatic conditions, enhancing biodiversity, and supporting opportunities for social interaction, the project demonstrates how thoughtful street design can strengthen the public realm and contribute to safer, more livable urban environments.