Evaluating Public Space Resilience: an index and a case study

Abstract

Urban resilience is a critical concept in urban planning, yet it often blurs the line between crisis-triggering events and adaptive processes. To address this, the concepts of multiresilience and multiadaptation clarify how public spaces can handle multiple, overlapping risks. Multiresilience focuses on restoring pre-crisis conditions through inclusive, place-specific strategies, while multiadaptation emphasizes adjusting to unforeseen risks by achieving a new, often improved, equilibrium. This study introduces the Multiadaptation Place Index (MPI), a tool developed under the PRIN 2020 SUMMA research project to measure the adaptability of public spaces. The MPI assesses physical, social, and infrastructural factors to guide planners in designing inclusive, flexible interventions. The Hudson River Park in New York serves as a key case study, illustrating how adaptable urban spaces can enhance resilience and liveability under multi-risk scenarios.