Urban public open spaces, including squares, have evolved significantly since their inception around 12,000 years ago. Initially serving as simple common areas, their function and structure have continuously adapted over millennia. This study focuses on urban squares, considered vital public spaces where diverse events, activities, and social interactions converge. Despite their significance, research directly examining the role of urban squares in the daily lives of their users remains limited. This research gap is attributed to the multi-functionality of squares, their dynamic spatial changes, and the often unconscious, unarticulated meanings attributed to them by users in their fast-paced lives. This study aims to address this gap by identifying the meanings urban squares possess in the minds of their users, answering three research questions: (Q1) How important is using urban squares to their users? (Q2) What meanings are attributed to urban squares by their users? (Q3) How does a person classify an urban space as a square?

The history of urban squares spans millennia, evolving from the Greek Agoras and Roman forums – spaces for political, social, and commercial activities – to medieval marketplaces and the aesthetically designed Renaissance and Baroque squares. The Industrial Revolution and 20th-century modernism significantly altered the significance of urban squares, leading to dehumanized spaces. Revitalization projects in the 1960s aimed to restore their importance. Current literature emphasizes the social aspects of urban squares, highlighting their roles in mental and physical health, community development, and various activities. However, meanings are often conflated with functions and uses. 'Function' denotes legal and spatial uses, while 'use' refers to observable actions. 'Meaning' encompasses the semantic level, symbolical attributions, and perceptual experiences. Literature confirms the shaping of place meanings through emotional connections and life experiences, underscoring the importance of understanding user perspectives. While recognizing the value of research on place meanings, existing literature also acknowledges the limitations: subjectivity of meanings, lack of clear measures for generalization, and the dynamic nature of urban spaces. Despite numerous studies, a comprehensive understanding of meanings attributed to urban squares remains lacking.

This study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection. Ten in-depth individual interviews (IDI) were conducted with Poznan residents who regularly use city squares. The interviews, guided by a structured plan, were conducted online due to COVID-19 restrictions and focused on the pre-pandemic period. Transcripts were analyzed using NVivo software. Concurrently, a Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) survey was administered to 384 Poznan residents, with 320 indicating regular use of city squares. The survey explored the importance of using squares, the purposes they served, and factors influencing their usage. SPSS was used for statistical analysis. The sample size was sufficient for drawing conclusions, although not representative of Poznan's entire population. The survey included a closed set of 15 squares, allowing participants to select their three most frequently used. The qualitative and quantitative results were integrated and presented using various methods, including word clouds, maps, and charts. The study included all administratively designated squares in Poznan (13 spaces) along with two additional spaces frequently perceived as squares by residents.

The survey revealed that for most participants (87.4%), using city squares was very important or essential. However, a significant difference emerged among age groups, with the youngest respondents (18-29 years old) exhibiting the highest percentage (13.6%) who deemed square use unimportant or irrelevant. The research identified two ways of understanding urban squares: administrative (official designations) and mental (user perceptions). The mental classification of urban squares is influenced by three factors: physical characteristics (size, paving, presence of seating, greenery), activities undertaken, and location within the urban structure. Physical characteristics played the most significant role in mental identification. Eleven meanings of urban squares were identified based on interviews: meeting space, social space, tourism space, cultural space, artspace, manifestation space, recreation space, dining space, marketspace, transit space, and learning space. These meanings often intermingled; recreational and cultural significances were most prevalent in user statements. The study also highlighted the presence of 'mental squares' – spaces not officially designated as squares but perceived as such by users due to their functional and spatial qualities. These spaces included areas in parks and along the river, as well as spaces in front of shopping malls.

The study's findings address the research questions by identifying eleven distinct meanings associated with urban squares in Poznan and demonstrating a significant age-related variation in their perceived importance. The identified meanings align with existing research, showing the multi-faceted nature of public spaces. The finding of 'mental squares' challenges the traditional, administratively defined understanding of urban squares, indicating that user perceptions play a crucial role in defining these spaces. The high percentage of respondents who value urban squares confirms their importance in daily city life. However, the low valuation among young people raises significant concerns about potential future changes in the use and meaning of these spaces. This finding could be related to competition from other spaces such as shopping malls and reflects broader concerns regarding poorly managed public spaces and potential alienation from urban environments among young people.

This study identified eleven meanings of urban squares in Poznan, highlighting their multi-functional nature and the influence of spatial context. While urban squares are generally highly valued, a concerning lack of importance was found among young people. This underscores the need for future research that explores the evolving relationship between young adults and urban spaces to address potential future challenges and better design and manage these spaces to meet the diverse needs of all users.

The study's findings are limited to the specific context of Poznan, Poland, and the year 2021. The sample, though sufficient, was not fully representative of Poznan's population. The use of the CAWI method might have excluded certain groups, while the retrospective nature of the interviews and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could have influenced responses. Future research should include broader geographic scope, a representative sample, and longitudinal studies to account for temporal changes.