Development of urban public spaces: social and philosophical aspects

The article deals with the ontological and axiological aspects of the transformation of urban public spaces (squares, pedestrian roads, parks, etc.). The author discusses the following questions: which practices and values are reproduced by urban public spaces, how they reproduce themselves, and how they change their functions. It has been found that the public spaces neutralize social, economic, ethnic and other differences between people and form the urban identity. Transformation of public spaces in contemporary cities is focused on their openness for all citizens, balance of standards, and involvement of people into the city management.