Public open space of large-scale housing areas are an important indicator of quality of living environment. In the initial phase of large-scale residential construction a spacious courtyard surrounded by standard multi-storey apartment blocks was seen as the most important element of a public open space. The analysis of the information acquired as a result of the study of a project for a typical courtyard in Purvciems, cartographic material and a site visit lead to a conclusion that most of the originally planned landscape elements and plantations had not been arranged, but developed elements have deteriorated or have disappeared altogether. The new building and its fenced-off territory covers big part of the courtyard what may lead to spatial as well as social conflicts. The results of resident’s survey show dissatisfaction with quality of public open space. In the first decade of the 21st century the public open spaces of large-scale housing estates of Riga have lost their meaning originally planned in the initial projects. Although public open spaces are treated as an important element of the living environment, their utilization considerably differs from the intended one. Today they have created an image of a neglected, unsafe, unappealing environment which today is often simply treated as an unused potential of the territory.