POPS in Central Europe

Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) have been influencing urban development since the 1960s, first introduced in the United States as a means of integrating public spaces into private developments. In exchange for additional building rights, developers were required to provide publicly accessible plazas or open areas. However, these spaces were often poorly designed, hidden from view, or unwelcoming. Over time, regulations were introduced to enhance their quality, and nowadays, POPS often feature sustainable landscape and water management elements, along with a focus on inclusiveness—creating spaces used by everyone.

In Central Europe, POPS began to appear only after the post-socialist transition, primarily as part of office and commercial developments. Despite their growing presence, they remain largely absent from public debate and are insufficiently discussed among architects, urban planners, and the general public. This lack of discourse is concerning. The way POPS are designed and managed directly impacts their accessibility, inclusivity, and long-term viability.
Although these spaces are rapidly spreading across Central European cities, we still know too little about their legal, social, and urban implications. The time to act is now: we must critically examine and shape these emerging spaces before they redefine our cities in ways that may compromise public life, social equity, and urban justice.

Project in collaboration with:
– Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Architecture
– Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Faculty of Architecture and Design
– Cracow University of Technology
– KÉK – Hungarian Contemporary Architecture Centre