Abstract In Kenya public open spaces play a significant role in the life, form, and experience of towns and cities. According to UN-Habitat, urban areas should ideally allocate 45-50% of land to public space including streets. In Nairobi about 20% of land is allocated to public space; of this about 11.5% is allocated to streets suggesting that existing allocations are inadequate. Nairobi’s population continues to grow swiftly, and with it the demand for social infrastructure and services including suitable public open spaces. In view of rapid growth of urban population in Kenya, existing public open spaces are inadequate (Government of Kenya, 2012). There has been a decrease in availability of public open space in the city due to factors such as encroachment, illegal acquisition and haphazard development. On one hand therefore there is a continued demand for public open spaces while on the other hand some existing spaces seem not to be used optimally, having low levels of activity, relevance, and attractiveness. Against this backdrop the research focuses on the urban form of Nairobi, investigating public open spaces as multi-faceted, integral parts of the urban fabric. The research employs analysis of historic/archival documentation, observation checklists, and interview schedules to collect data. It establishes the factors contributing to sustainable public open spaces in the Nairobi Central Business District area, an important part of the growing city. The research analyzes spatial changes in urban form as a basis to better understand configurations of open spaces in Nairobi today in order to make recommendations on its public open spaces for the future. Key Words: sustainability, public open space, urban.
Abstract In Kenya public open spaces play a significant role in the life, form, and experience of towns and cities. According to UN-Habitat, urban areas should ideally allocate 45-50% of land to public space including streets. In Nairobi about 20% of land is allocated to public space; of this about 11.5% is allocated to streets suggesting that existing allocations are inadequate. Nairobi’s population continues to grow swiftly, and with it the demand for social infrastructure and services including suitable public open spaces. In view of rapid growth of urban population in Kenya, existing public open spaces are inadequate (Government of Kenya, 2012). There has been a decrease in availability of public open space in the city due to factors such as encroachment, illegal acquisition and haphazard development. On one hand therefore there is a continued demand for public open spaces while on the other hand some existing spaces seem not to be used optimally, having low levels of activity, relevance, and attractiveness. Against this backdrop the research focuses on the urban form of Nairobi, investigating public open spaces as multi-faceted, integral parts of the urban fabric. The research employs analysis of historic/archival documentation, observation checklists, and interview schedules to collect data. It establishes the factors contributing to sustainable public open spaces in the Nairobi Central Business District area, an important part of the growing city. The research analyzes spatial changes in urban form as a basis to better understand configurations of open spaces in Nairobi today in order to make recommendations on its public open spaces for the future. Key Words: sustainability, public open space, urban.