Abstract:
Sidewalk spaces in the Ancient Quarter of Hanoi (AQ) are places where diverse activities occurring throughout the day establish a space of intense relationality. Exploring the AQ sidewalks might produce useful suggestions to create a more sociable and plural public space, one that promotes social interactions, spatial connections, and cultural relations. This study is underpinned by territoriality theory, actor-network theory, and case studies. The research intent is to unravel behind-the-scenes relations that support the preservation of certain territories on the AQ sidewalks. Territory in this research is not seen as a ready-made or immediate consequence of an absolute strategy or power, static and never contested, but as effective control of an area achieved through constant struggle. From this perspective, an exploration of the AQ sidewalk territories can offer valuable insights into how the sidewalks are actually used and practiced in everyday life. This study further employs actor-network theory to explore the participation of materiality in the territorial network stabilisation. Particularly, the role of materiality can be interpreted as having territorial salience through four intersecting dimensions of network topology. The findings of this research broaden the discourse on everyday urbanism, providing useful information for public space research and design.