Landscapes are the settings for great human memories, and undoubtedly lockdown has made us all realize just how precious our open spaces are, particularly in high-density cities. These essential spaces are a vital factor in the well-being of individuals and the community and there is actually little difference in our fundamental need for, and the use of, open space regardless of generation, age group, or culture.
Creating a great experience is one of landscape architects’ primary considerations when designing the greens, squares, streets, marketplaces, parks, and gardens that we all identify as outdoor public spaces. The physical, mental, and cultural activities of humans require amongst other things spaces to breathe and to be inspired, spaces to linger, to exercise, to dream, to meet by intention or by chance, and be creative.
Public spaces - being a place of free and open access - is traditionally linked to social, cultural, or economic exchanges, and are once again gaining increasing importance as a component of everyday quality of life, especially in urban areas. Loneliness and disconnection are on the rise, exacerbated by social distancing, and the disruption of normal routines, and those disconnections manifest themselves in other health issues for individuals including depression. In fact, loneliness is seen by many as one of the largest health concerns we face this century and the importance of social connection and relationships has been brought into sharp relief by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Growing public attention to loneliness in our communities has been accompanied by designers and landscape architects beginning to challenge traditional modes of play and playground design and extending the role of open play spaces to include a range of different social agendas, which includes combating loneliness in all ages. The provision and use of these public open spaces (including privately owned spaces with areas for public use, such as shopping malls and public libraries), can have an essential role in promoting social cohesion, intergenerational connections, and opportunities for shared creativity.
We have historically divided our communities and our activities by ethnicity, language, age, and ability, but the potential for the hybridization of play spaces, where the spatial boundaries between adults and children’s activities merge, can result in innovative and uplifting settings which encourage connections and help secure the future prosperity of a community. One simple way to make this happen is through the introduction of outdoor musical instruments. Making music brings people together like nothing else and offering quality musical opportunities - on real instruments – for spontaneous music-making, provides an engaging experience where nobody is excluded from the fun whatever their ability, mobility, or age.
The notion of intergenerational activity and play has increasingly drawn attention over recent years, and a growing body of scholarly literature has begun to point more and more towards the premise that when adults and in particular seniors become involved in cross-generational learning activities with children and adolescents, huge benefits are accrued by both parties. Adding intergenerational play elements such as outdoor musical instruments to public spaces encourages connectivity and due to its universal appeal, playing music can successfully bridge intergenerational gaps. The combined effects of musical play and intergenerational social participation have proven to be incontrovertibly beneficial for the improvement and maintenance of both the physical and mental health of seniors. Given the opportunity to participate, regardless of physical or psychological impairments, intergenerational musical play in public spaces can serve as a fruitful, meaningful, and financially accessible activity for them.
Music is able to bring a diverse group of people together in the community because it transcends language limitations - instead providing its own language of rhythm and melody to enable its players and users to communicate with each other non-verbally. Providing opportunities for members of a community to be around each other in this way promotes familiarity and the formation of healthy relationships and helps to engender a sense of belonging for those who participate. It is apparent then that music can help us to develop a more cohesive society if access to it is provided and engagement promoted.
This growing body of emerging research is starting to relate music-making with place-making and specifically with the creation of an authentic community and the breaking down of stereotypes, all whilst simultaneously working to improve cognitive function, emotional capacity, and physical wellbeing of participants. Just as public music spaces bring people together and create a sense of civic vitality for communities, it’s also restorative for the individual.
While the pandemic has created enormous challenges, it has also potentially brought about positive change. The isolation it provoked was a good reminder of how much we need others — and places in which to be together — even in less trying times. Community wellbeing in the future depends on our taking a more joined-up harmonious approach to the use of public space and perhaps a little more music in the public realm could be the stimuli for positive community relations and a little less loneliness.
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