Ruprechtice: Public space according to mental maps

The restoration of democracy and civil society in the Czech Republic after 1990 brought new challenges for the creation of public spaces in municipalities. This study examines the creation of public space in Liberec-Ruprechtice through a two-year interdisciplinary research project by sociologists, philosophers, and architects. Led by the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Science, Humanities and Education at the Technical University of Liberec, the research was conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Sociological Studies at Charles University. The research focused on collecting mental maps and carried out a comprehensive evaluation by experts from various fields. The study also explored the previously neglected area of children's mental maps and their perception of public space. < br> The intersection of the oral history approach and the mental mapping technique gave rise to a new category of "memory maps" during the research. Furthermore, the study analysed the function and dynamics of alternative public spaces that emerge informally in this part of Liberec. The authors proposed a new teaching methodology for primary schools to help children develop a positive relationship with public space and its values. The final chapter consists of architectural designs by students of the Faculty of Art and Architecture at the Technical University of Liberec, shaping the public space based on both field research and the theoretical evaluation of the research findings.