Designing public spaces for specific age groups, such as children or senior, is a widely discussed area of research. Paradoxically, not much is known regarding planning for adolescents, to whom outdoor exposure and presence in the public sphere are highly important and beneficial. Based on focus groups and a survey conducted with adolescents living in Jerusalem, this research aims to shed light on the spatial features that influence teenagers’ decisions regarding where to spend their leisure time, as well as on those that promote their positive development. Creating a better understanding of the aspects that answer this age groups’ unique wants and needs may assist in designing public spaces that better serve them, by being both appealing to them as well as conducive to their current and future well-being.
Supervisor: Prof. Karel Martens