Analysis of Selected Aspects of Public Space in Rural Settlements
Abstract: Czech rural settlements have undergone and are still undergoing considerable and currently quite rapid development. However, in many rural settlements it can be observed that this rapid process has resulted in little attention being paid to the design and layout of public spaces. This not only leads to the loss of opportunities to remain in the area and fulfil its potential, but also to the loss of the specific character of Czech rural settlements. The existence of public space offers the opportunity for the emergence of several processes and activities that influence human social life. It is thus essential for the meaning and interest of public space to pay due attention to several aspects in the context of rural settlement that define and influence public space, and which are also often neglected by current building practice. In the Central Bohemian Region in particular, we observe frequent inspiration in the design of urban public space. The paper will therefore focus on the analysis of a selected rural settlement in the Central Bohemian Region, which has been greatly influenced by the new wave of development, based on research mainly on the topic of public space, rural space and rural settlement, as well as on field surveys and map documentation of the selected settlement. The case study highlights the rapid and large-scale development, which often forms a separate settlement unit with its own new structure. This results not only in an urban and architectural transformation of the settlement, but also in an overall change in rural social life. This creates significant potential for the public realm of the countryside, which is supported by the easy orientation and accessibility of the rural space. However, finding approaches to address and reflect these new needs should still fulfil the character of the rural settlement.
