In their new book, Michael Meredith and Hilary Sample, principals of acclaimed New York-based architecture firm MOS, offer a deep dive into the ever-changing nature of public spaces, revealing their complexity, instability, and contested nature. Through a focused examination of New York City—one of the most densely populated and symbolically charged urban environments—the volume explores how public spaces are shaped by legal frameworks, private interests, and community needs.

Drawing on historical context, legal principles, and detailed mapping of Manhattan’s public spaces, Meredith and Sample illustrate how spaces like parks, sidewalks, plazas, and even cemeteries serve as arenas for expression, conflict, and negotiation. From anti-homeless measures to inaccessible infrastructure: they highlight the ways in which public spaces can both include and exclude, reflecting the larger social and political structures that govern them.

A sequel to their precious Vacant Spaces, NY (2021), Public Spaces, NY invites an imagination of a more inclusive, equitable vision for the shared urban spaces we all navigate.