Episode 17: Ethan Kent (PlacemakingX) — How Placemaking Creates Belonging

What turns a space into a place — and can belonging actually be designed? Naomi sits down with Ethan Kent, Executive Director and co-founder of PlacemakingX, a global network of more than 1,500 placemakers in over 85 countries. Before that, Ethan spent more than 20 years at Project for Public Spaces and has worked in and studied places across more than 1,000 cities around the world. From the cheap beach chairs that helped transform Times Square to markets, main streets, and neighborhood gathering places, Ethan explains why great places are built around purpose, meaning, and people — not just architecture. They discuss why sociability may be the most important measure of a public space, why cities should aim to be lovable rather than simply livable, and why successful placemaking starts with life first, then space, then buildings. In this episode:What turns a space into a placeHow beach chairs helped transform Times SquareWhy sociability matters more than beautiful designThe Power of 10 and why people need reasons to stayWhy “lovable” may matter more than “livable”Place-led development vs. “place taking”Why physical design can create the potential for belonging, but not belonging itselfWhy teenagers have been designed out of many citiesA conversation about how people shape places — and how places, in turn, shape community. Realtopia is hosted by Naomi Cohen.