Public Spaces, Placemaking and Integration of Migrants in Finland

Abstract

Placemaking and urban public spaces are important but often neglected factors in the integration and wellbeing of forcibly displaced people and other migrants. Placemaking – a multifaceted approach to the planning, design, and management of public spaces – is highly relevant for many migrants, for whom spaces outside the home are important for building community and promoting wellbeing. Yet migrants tend to have limited access and ability to use public spaces and are under-represented in urban planning processes. Efforts to integrate migrants need to explicitly address spatial aspects, and processes of urban planning and redevelopment need to be more inclusive.