Determining The Needs of Social Affordance in an Open Public Space for Gen Z

Abstract

Gen Z, who are adolescents, need places for social interaction, places for retreat, and places for restoration to support their development phase. Their needs could be settled by utilizing the space and perceiving the social affordances of open public spaces. The study examined the social affordances of open public space that sustain Gen Z’s development needs. The study was conducted in a famous open public space in Yogyakarta, Titik 0 km Yogyakarta. Questionnaires and observations were carried out for data collection from the visitors of Titik 0 km Yogyakarta between 12-25 years old. The result indicated that Gen Z tends to utilize the physical setting of the open public space to achieve social interaction needs. The variety of seating facilities, enclosure levels, and crowding influenced Gen Z’s decision to do activities in certain locations. The finding indicated the adolescent’s needs for social interaction, retreat, and restoration experiences could be obtained from perceived social affordances by doing social activities in open public spaces. More needs are achieved in open public spaces, more opportunities for Gen Z to enhance their development quality.