Public Space-the Ownership Issue Removing the Ownership Barriers

In recent years, sensitivity on public space issues has been increased, for their important role in physical and social structure of cities. In Albania, after a long period of negligence, public space has become again an element in urban design experiences and debate. The ongoing contemporary debates, 'Public space is declining or is just changing shape', raises a very important question towards the ownership issue: Can a private space that generates public life be considered a public space? This article elaborates this concept based on public space primary function ?to generate public life'. Through an analytical review of literature and practice, it argues that the concept of public space should be seen disengaged from the ownership element. Regarding to the network of city spaces that generate public life, it explains that the main element defining a space as 'public' should be the accessibility. Furthermore, focusing in a case study in the old city centre of Durr?s, it raises the debate that removing boundaries, but not the ownership status, increases the accessibility of spaces and their public use, creating thus spaces with strong public features (public space). This concept can be used as a management tool regarding urban regeneration process.