Public Open Space Privatization and Quality of Life, Case Study Merdeka Square Medan

Quality of life of people in urban area is the outcome of people interaction with the urban environment. Many studies indicate that public open space is one of important urban environment elements which give a positive contribution to quality of life. This paper investigates how privatization of public open space affects the quality of life of people while many studies show degradation of ‘publicness’ of public space due to privatization. Research finding indicates that people keep doing their social activities both in privatized and public area but physically segregated. People are generally satisfied with their life condition and also satisfied with public and privatized public open space features, with management aspects of the privatized public space higher than the public one.