5
Urban Design and Rewilding for Free Space
Architects are not just responsible for buildings, but the space between their buildings. A collaborative approach between architects, governments and the design team situate them in the perfect position to begin designing urban and civic spaces in tandem with buildings.1
Civic spaces, town squares and market were once the core of urban life and can still be seen functioning in many medieval European cities.2 As the private sector has increasingly taken ownership of urban space, our once free spaces have become malls and high streets, littered with multinational companies.3
We are desensitised to the architecture of neoliberalism to such an extent that projects such as the New York Highline, the Docklands renewal and Barangaroo Sydney can be disguised as public works by tokenistic garden beds and public seats.4
Rather than stark concrete forecourts, harbour views from casinos and streetscapes for endless consumerism, the space between buildings must become free, programmed for community interaction and the rewilding of cities.
Spaces for Peace by Pico Estudio was a collaboration with communities and architects to design interventions in five troubled communities around Venezuela that aimed to reduce violence and crime and increase the use of urban space.5 The projects are an example of urban acupuncture, taking up vacant or abandoned land and offering programmes such as basketball courts, computer labs, sunlit decks, reading rooms and multipurpose areas.6
The political world is becoming more polarised as we continue to pursue our individualistic desires driven by the ‘free’ market. The poor are left behind as the rich increase their accumulative wealth, causing tensions to rise and boil over in dense cities such as Caracas.7
By designing our buildings with the urban fabric and community in mind, we are future proofing for social unrest, increased populations, climate change and pandemics.8
[1] Stephanie Carlisle and Nicholas Pevsner, "The Performative Ground: Rediscovering the Deep Section," Scenario Journal, Spring 2012. https://scenariojournal.com/article/the-performative-ground/
[2] Jan Gehl, Life between buildings: using public space, (New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1987), 39.
[3] Charlesworth, Humanitarian Architecture, 34.
[4] Yarina, “How Architecture became Capitalism’s Handmaiden”.
[5] Antonio di Campli, “Designing Latin America. Spatial justice, social hierarchy, and power practices,” América Crítica. 1:2 (2017): 143, doi.org/10.13125/américacrítica/3012
[6] “Pico Estudio Transforms Urban Venezuela,” Designboom, published 2014, https://www.designboom.com/architecture/pico-estudio-transforms-urban-venezuela-with-5-spaces-for-peace-part-1-11-9-2014/
[7] di Campli, “Designing Latin America,” 144.
[8] Aravena, “Elemental: A Do Tank,” 37.