The UK Government Office for Science has published an essay written by John Bingham-Hall as part of Future of Cities, a foresight project looking at the opportunities and challenges facing UK cities over the next 50 years. This Theatrum Mundi essay explores the possibilities of collective approaches to public space. Many public spaces in cities are privately owned; “Future of cities: urban commons and public spaces”  looks at the practice of ‘commoning’ – creating spaces in the city owned and maintained by the local community.