Abstract:
In recent years, rapidly developing contemporary cities inevitably produced a gap, the urban interstitial space. They are left-over or remnant spaces located in between buildings without any function or purpose. In contrast to old cities, modern cities are formed by more complex elements and their respective elements exist by being disconnected rather than by having a relationship. Medieval cities are mostly formed with five major elements, which are connected buildings, alleyways or streets, squares, parks, and people. I believe that a city composed of these five important elements is an ideal city that encourages interactions of respective elements. On the other hand, as the modern age has got vaster and more complex, diverse technology, information and people than in the past, the city is formed with individuality with clear boundaries between various programs and spaces. If so, how can a new form of a city be developed by finding a correlation between old and current cities? This idea can be solved by suggesting ways to utilise the gaps in the city. The purpose of the thesis is to activate the urban interstitials by connecting the collected gap spaces and to give function by suggesting the application of both spatial and social purposes. Moreover, each new architectural intervention for interstitial spaces (in-between spaces) are intended to be connected in order to restore the relationship and interaction between various concepts of ‘between.’ Here, the in-betweens of spatial aspect are between individual buildings, inside and outside, streets and buildings, and new insertions and existing buildings. The in-betweens of social aspects are between individual people, private and public, and finally home and city. When conflicting polarities coexist, which creates continuity and ambiguity of both spatial and social boundaries, relationships can be created. This concept is based on the analysis of Aldo van Eyck’s theory and works especially ‘Twin-phenomena.’ The final proposal is a series of architectural interventions for each in-between space of a whole block. It is intended to be connected and transformed as new alleyways, extended from existing laneways or streets. This will also make existing buildings to be connected together, aiming at a similar urban fabric as medieval cities. Like van Eyck recognised traditional cities and settlements as concretised patterns of human interrelations, as built expressions of human values, if the daily patterns or daily rituals of inhabitants can happen in this new alleyway, it is hoped that the change of their behaviours and perception can shape our city and make it more liveable.