Publica has spent 15 years reshaping public spaces through research-led methodologies, participatory planning and innovative urban policies. AT talks to Lucy Musgrave, Anna Mansfield, Gaia Crocella and Lou Elena Bouey about working with CHANGE (City Hub and Network for Gender Equity) to investigate – and ultimately improve – the experiences of women, girls and gender diverse people in cities across the world.
(Credit: Publica)
So you’ve just got back from Bogotá. Can you tell us more about that project?
Bogotá is one of our three partner cities – along with Louisville, Kentucky and Stockholm, Sweden – with whom we are forensically investigating the experiences of women, girls and gender diverse people in urban space. Bogotá has an extremely sophisticated female leadership and has been a global leader in feminist urban planning for at least 20 years. This particularly manifests through its ‘care blocks’– neighbourhood hubs that provide free laundry services, childcare, education, and psychological support for caregivers. Our work there is in partnership with CHANGE, an international network for gender equity, and specifically aims to assess gender-based violence in their public transport infrastructure.
Our focus in Bogotá was on the new metro system. While the city already has an extensive bus transit network, it is overcrowded, and women are disproportionately affected by harassment. The metro is meant to alleviate this but also presents risks if gender-based violence isn’t proactively addressed. We conducted six workshops with government departments and local communities to map out safety concerns and propose solutions. A key takeaway was the importance of cultural change alongside infrastructure development. For example, Bogotá is exploring civic culture initiatives that promote co-responsibility and positive social behaviour rather than relying solely on policing.
What insights did you gain from engaging directly with residents in Bogotá?
One of the most impactful moments came from a ‘street tagging’ workshop, where local women identified areas where they felt unsafe. Every participant could point to a location where they had experienced harassment. However, they also highlighted spaces that made them feel secure, such as well-lit, busy areas or locations with visible female police officers. These insights underscored the importance of considering lived experiences in urban planning. Safety isn’t just about physical design but also about how people interact with their environment and each other.
Local women participating in Publica’s ‘street tagging’ workshop.
What are some of the key urban challenges Publica aims to address in its broader work?
Over the past 15 years, we’ve observed significant gaps in urban policy and planning, particularly in areas like gender inclusion, child-friendly spaces, and nighttime safety. Historically, urban planning has overlooked these perspectives, and our goal is to bridge that gap by integrating lived experiences into design and policy frameworks.
You’ve launched a campaign focusing on gender-inclusive cities. What inspired this?
As a female-led practice, gender inclusion has always been integral to our approach. However, the national conversation following the murder of Sarah Everard in the UK propelled us to take action. We began internal discussions and realised the need for a structured campaign. We invited Dr. Ellie Cosgrave, an expert in gender and urbanism, to lead our inquiry. This initiative has since expanded to explore disability inclusion, public safety, and participatory urban planning.
How does Publica define ‘safety’ in urban spaces?
There’s no such thing as a universally ‘safe city’. Safety is subjective – it varies based on personal experience, identity, and social context. While one person may feel secure in a crowded high street, another may experience anxiety. Traditional safety measures – such as increased surveillance, floodlighting, and policing – often fail to address underlying issues. Instead, we emphasise creating spaces that foster belonging, joy, and community connection. Lively streets, accessible public areas, and thoughtful lighting design can significantly impact how safe people feel.
What else have you got in the works?
Our work in Bogotá is part of a larger initiative spanning 15 cities. Next, we’ll be conducting similar research in Stockholm, focusing on gender inclusion in master planning.
It feels like the UK is quite a long way behind. Last June the National Police Chiefs’ Council declared a national emergency with regards to violence against women and girls . The commissioner of the Met Police has said this is way beyond policing and crime. This is a societal issue. We have been working with policy leaders to discuss the terms of how you address this in the built environment and are very excited to be able to have that conversation here in the UK.
Currently, in the UK, we are leading ‘Right to the City,’ an artist-led initiative reimagining London’s financial district as a more inclusive space. This includes workshops and a youth design challenge inviting young women and non-binary individuals to envision a city designed for them. Our broader goal is to create accessible resources, digital tools, and training programs that empower urban designers and policymakers to make cities more inclusive. Change is possible, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this transformation.
Source: Architecture Today
