Porch Placemaking. How In-between Spaces Work During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Koichiro Tamura

This article illustrates the concept of “porch placemaking” emerging in various neighbourhoods in the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. While people face difficulty going to and staying in public spaces, they invent micro-intervention to socialize with others at their front porch, balcony, or window with a lighter, quicker, cheaper approach. These spaces are in-between spaces interfacing private and public realms. Porch placemaking can positively influence socially, culturally, and mentally in neighbourhoods, but it seems conditioned to apply by physical, natural, and social settings.

Porch placemaking is a quick and improvisational reaction to the pandemic. However, it could be an effective way to enhance a sense of neighbourhood even after the pandemic. This article discusses ways to sustain and expand the practice.