Abstract

Public space has become an essential component of resilient urban development. Despite the growing recognition of this reality, 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 spaces located in the hills of the city of Valparaiso, a territory characterised by its vulnerability to urban fires and earthquakes. Using creative, art-based methods to engage children in participatory workshops reveals differences between the three case studies related to public space design processes and institutional actions.