Open Access

The role of a positive spirit in the attractiveness, sociability and success of a public place


Cite

Fig. 1

The two dimensions of emotions.Source: Myers 2004.
The two dimensions of emotions.Source: Myers 2004.

Fig. 2

The market place of Ghardaïa.Source: Google Earth.
The market place of Ghardaïa.Source: Google Earth.

Fig. 3

The market place of Ghardaïa taken around the end of the afternoon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.
The market place of Ghardaïa taken around the end of the afternoon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.

Fig. 4

The market place of Ghardaïa taken around noon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.
The market place of Ghardaïa taken around noon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.

Fig. 5

Place of August 20 of Metlili.Source: Google Earth.
Place of August 20 of Metlili.Source: Google Earth.

Fig. 6

Place of August 20 of Metlili.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.
Place of August 20 of Metlili.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.

Fig. 7

View of the passage and gallery with semicircular arcades.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.
View of the passage and gallery with semicircular arcades.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.

Fig. 8

Metlili’s August 20 place taken in the afternoon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.
Metlili’s August 20 place taken in the afternoon.Source: Rahmani, May 2018.

The valence scores for the three spirits.

Cognitive spirit (4 items)Valence of the spirit
4 ≤ mean < 8very negative
8 ≤ mean < 12negative
12 ≤ mean < 16positive
16 ≤ mean < 20very positive
Emotional spirit (8 items)Valence of the spirit
8 ≤ mean < 16very negative
16 ≤ mean < 24negative
24 ≤ mean < 32positive
32 ≤ mean < 40very positive
Spirit of the place (12 items)Valence of the spirit
12 ≤ mean < 24very negative
24 ≤ mean < 36negative
36 ≤ mean < 48positive
48 ≤ mean < 60very positive

Comparison between the means of cognitive spirits of the two public spaces.

NMeansStandard deviationsddltSignificance (P-value)
Cognitive spirit of the place of the market of Ghardaia2416.672.353474.0250.01
Cognitive spirit of the place of August 20 of Metlili2512.604.444

Sociodemographic structure of the sample.

Variables by social classNumber (frequency)Percentage (%)Number (frequency)Percentage (%)
MetliliGhardaïa
1. Gendermale251001979.17
female

Women rarely use the public space of Metlili city.

00520.83
2. Age groupteenager624283.33
adult19762291.17
3. Employment statusjobless/retired416520.83
student936416.67
employee/employer12481562.50
4. Education levelprimary0000
middle312625
secondary1040520.83
higher12481354.17
5. Marital statusmarried7281979.17
single1872520.83
6. Users or non.usersnon-user6241250
user19761250
7. Accompanied or unaccompaniedaccompanied18721771
unaccompanied728729

Items of the different dimensions of the experiential tool of public places.

Behavioural dimension
– I find that this place is good to sit and have coffee.
– I feel attracted to this place.
– The place offers buying and selling opportunities.
– I sometimes throw trash on the ground in this place.
– I spend a lot of time in this place.
Relational dimension
– I can easily find a place to sit here.
– I like being in this place with loved ones.
– I find the interaction between the users of this place
wonderful.
– I seldom interact with strangers in this place.
– I sometimes arrange to meet friends and colleagues
in this place.
Sensorial dimension
– I find this place unbearably loud.
– I love the movement in this place.
– I find that the shape of this place corresponds to it.
I find that the place has the right shape.
– I smell trash in this place.
– I find the air pure and fresh in this place.
– I like the colours of this place.
– I think the view is beautiful from here.
– I am attracted by the good smells that come out of
this place.
– I find that the coating of the ground of this place is
suitable.
Emotional dimension
– I feel pleasure when I come to this place.
– I feel well relaxed when I am in this place.
– I feel safe in this place.
– I feel free in this place.
– My presence in this place arouses a good feeling in
me.
– I feel joy when I am in this place.
– I feel choked in this place.
– I am happy that we have such a place.
Cognitive dimension
– I intend to come back to this place.
– I have good memories in this place.
– Many things attract my attention in this place.
– This place is a landmark for me.
Global satisfaction
– I am satisfied with the place.

Observation grid of attractiveness and social life.

Criteria for attractiveness, sociability and success of the placesGhardaïa MarketplacePlace of August 20 in Metlili
Self-congestion (the crowd attracts the crowd) (1980: 19–23)10
Gender differences10
Sittable space11
The urban stay and the seating (1980: 24–39)10
The role of natural elements (sun, wind, trees, and water)11
(1980: 40–49)
The food (1980: 50–53)10
The street (1980: 54–59)11
Triangulation (the event atmosphere) (1980: 94–101)10
Score (S)8/8 = 1.003/8 = 0.37

The difference between the score means of the spirits of Market place of Ghardaïa and the place of August 20 of Metlili.

NMeansStandard deviationsddltSignificance (P-value)
Spirit of the place of the market of Ghardaia2450.9214.942476.4640.01
Spirit of the place of August 20 of Metlili2534.2011.906

Comparison between the means of the emotional spirits of the two public spaces.

NScoresStandard deviationddltSignificance (P-value)
Emotional spirit of the place of the market of Ghardaia2434.254.183476.4990.01
Emotional spirit of the place of August 20 of Metlili2521.608.742

Criteria and indicators constituting the experiential dimensions.

DimensionsCriteriaIndicators
Behavioural experiential– behaviour of approach– attractively, time passed in the place
– behaviour of escape– suppression, avoidance
– positive civic behaviour– conviviality, good use
– negative civic behaviour– bad use
– engagement in a stay activity– different stay activities, opportunity of buy and sell, different postures
Relational experiential– intimate relationship– romantic outing or with family members
– personal relationship– appointment with friends or colleagues
– social relationship– interaction of the users
– public relationship– communication and discussion between unknown people
– attachment and faithfulness– attachment and faithfulness to the site
Experiential of sensorial atmosphers– visual atmosphere– lights, colours, matter, shapes, movement, crowd
– sound atmosphere– sound, noise
– tactile atmosphere– humidity, textures, purity of the air, freshness of the air
– olfactory atmosphere– odours
– gustatory atmosphere– tasting of sweets, of drinks etc.
Emotional experiential– the well being– joy
– the escape– pleasure
– the pleasure– pleasant sensations
– the nervousness– relaxation/stress
– the relaxation– security
– the freedom or the oppression– feeling of being free or controlled
Cognitive experiential– expectation– gap between the expected experience and the lived experience
– intention– willingness to comeback
– evaluation– satisfaction, judgement of value
– memorisation– memory and nostalgia
– attention– landmark

Rank of spirits dimensions for public spaces.

PlacesDimensionsNo. of itemsNRelative Importance IndexRanking by dimensionsSignificance level of the dimensionsValence of dimensions
Market Place of Ghardaiaemotional spirit8240.861high (H)very positive
cognitive spirit4240.833high (H)very positive
spirit of space12140.852high (H)very positive
Place of August 20 Metliliemotional spirit8250.546medium (M)negative
cognitive spirit4250.614high-medium (H-M)positive
spirit of space12250.575medium (M)negative
eISSN:
2081-6383
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Geosciences, Geography