Abstract

Public space plays an essential role in resilient urban development. The open space it provides and the ability to accommodate the population are two of their most crucial characteristics in this respect. Despite the preceding, public space and its functionality amid socio-natural disasters are usually not considered in risk planning and management. The child population, certainly among the most vulnerable, is equally invisible amid mitigation measures and post-catastrophe reconstruction. Thus, this article seeks to advance the understanding of children's perceptions of public space, focusing on the role it could play in resilient urban development. To this end, a comparative approach was used, based on three public areas located in the hills of the city of Valparaiso, a territory characterized by its vulnerability to urban fires and earthquakes. The methodology consisted of focus groups activities besides using creative, art-based methods to engage children in participatory workshops. Finally, the results show that in those public spaces where participatory design methodologies were used, children are more likely to understand them as shelters from socio-natural disasters.