Vision of utopic city. Serigraphy, 2014.
Uke 3
UKE 36 - Trondheim - nĂĽ og framover
Mandag 31.08
Tirsdag 01.09
Onsdag 02.09
Torsdag 03.09
Utlevering av oppgaver digitalt
Fredag 04.09
Tema
Cafe Latte Corner?
To forelesninger ATH-B
Bibliotekssøk
SATP ATH-C Introduksjon
Byplanutfordringer i Trondheim
Jakob Tigges
Stine Thordarsson Moltubakk Jakob Tigges
Tor Medalen Gro Lauvland
Per Arne Tefre
Gjester
Forelesninger
Oppgaver
Gjennomgang av forrige ukes oppgaver
ATH -B
Jakob
Mer Analyse med Markus
Reading a Wave The sea is barely wrinkled . . . The sea is barely wrinkled, and little waves strike the sandy shore. Mr. Palomar is standing on the shore, looking at a wave. Not that he is lost in contemplation of the waves. He is not lost, because he is quite aware of what he is doing: he wants to look at a wave and he is looking at it. He is not contemplating, because for contemplation you need the right temperament, the right mood, and the right combination of exterior circumstances; and though Mr. Palomar has nothing against contemplation in principle, none of these three conditions applies to him. Finally, it is not “the waves” that he means to look at, but just one individual wave: in his desire to avoid vague sensations, he establishes for his every action a limited and precise object. Mr. Palomar sees a wave rise in the distance, grow, approach, change form and color, fold over itself, break, vanish, and flow again. At this point he could convince himself that he has concluded the operation he had set out to achieve, and he could go away. But isolating one wave is not easy, separating it from the wave immediately following, which seems to push it and at times overtakes it and sweeps it away; and it is no easier to separate that one wave from the preceding wave, which seems to drag it toward the shore, unless it turns against the following wave, as if to arrest it, Then, if you consider the breadth of the wave, parallel to the shore, it is hard to decide where the advancing front extends regularly and where it is separated and segmented into independent waves, distinguished by their speed, shape, force, direction. In other words, you cannot observe a wave without bearing in mind the complex features that concur in shaping it and the other, equally complex ones that the wave itself originates. . . . and little waves strike the sandy shore. These aspects vary constantly, so each wave is different from another wave, even if not immediately adjacent or successive; in other words, there are some forms and sequences that are repeated, though irregularly distributed in space and time. Since what Mr. Palomar means to do at this moment is simply see a wave--that is, to perceive all its simultaneous components without overlooking any of them--his gaze will dwell on the movement of the wave that strikes the shore until it can record aspects not previously perceived; as soon as he notices that the images are being repeated, he will know he has seen everything he wanted to see and he will be able to stop. A nervous man who lives in a frenzied and congested world, Mr. Palomar tends to reduce his relations with the outside world; and, to defend himself against the general neurasthenia, he tries to keep his sensations under control insofar as possible. The hump of the advancing wave rises more at one point than at any other, and it is here that it becomes hemmed in white. If this occurs at some distance from the shore, there is time for the foam to fold over upon itself and vanish again, as if swallowed, and at the same moment invade the whole, but this time emerging again from below, like a white carpet rising from the bank to welcome the wave that is arriving. But just when you expect that wave to roll over the carpet, you realize it is no longer wave but only carpet, and this also rapidly disappears, to become a flinting . . . it is no longer a wave but only a carpet.of wet sand that quickly disappears, to become a glinting of wet sand that quickly withdraws, as if driven back by the expansion of the dry, opaque sand that moves its jagged edge forward. At the same time, the indentations in the brow of the wave must be considered, where it splits into two wings, one stretching toward the shore from right to left and the other from left to right, and the departure point of the destination of their divergence or convergence is this negative tip, which follows the advance of the wings but is always held back, subject to their alternate overlapping until another wave, a stronger wave, overtakes it, with the same problem of divergence-convergence, and then a wave stronger still, which resolves the knot by shattering it.
Taking the pattern of the waves as model, the beach thrusts into the water some faintly hinted points, prolonged in submerged sandy shoals, shaped and destroyed by the currents at every tide. Mr. Palomar has chosen one of these low tongues of sand as his observation point, because the waves strike it on either side, obliquely, and, overrunning the half-submerged surface, they meet their opposites. So, to understand the composition of a wave, you have to consider these opposing thrusts, which are to some extend counterbalanced and to some extent added together, to produce a general shattering of thrusts and counterthrusts in the usual spreading of foam. Mr. Palomar now tries to limit his field of observation; if he bears in mind a square zone of, say, ten meters of shore by ten meters of sea, he can carry out an inventory of all the wave movements that are repeated with varying frequency within a given time interval. The hard thing is to fix the boundaries of this zone, . . . everything to be seen.because if, for example, he considers as the side farthest from him the outstanding line of an advancing wave, as this line approaches him and rises it hides from his eyes everything behind it, and thus the space under examination is overturned and at the same time crushed. In any case, Mr. Palomar does not lose heart and at each moment he thinks he has managed to see everything to be seen from his observation point, but then something always crops up that he had not borne in mind. If it were not for his impatience to reach a complete, definitive conclusion of his visual operation, looking at waves would be a very restful exercise for him and could save him from neurasthenia, heart attack, and gastric ulcer. And it could perhaps be the key to mastering the world’s complexity by reducing it to its simplest mechanism. But every attempt to define this model must take into account a long wave that is arriving in a direction perpendicular to the breakers and parallel to the shore, creating the flow of a constant, barely surfacing crest. The shifts of the waves that ruffle toward the shore do not disturb the steady impulse of this compact crest that slices them at a right angle, and there is no knowing where it comes from or where it then goes. Perhaps it is a breath of east wind that stirs the sea’s surface against the deep drive that comes from the mass of water far out to sea, but this wave born of air, in passing, receives also the oblique thrusts from the water’s depth and redirects them, straightening them in its own direction and bearing them along. And so the wave continues to grow and gain strength until the clash with contrary waves gradually dulls it and makes it disapopear, or else twists it until it is confused in one of the many dynasties of oblique waves slammed against the shore. Concentrating the attention on one aspect makes it leap into the foreground and occupy the square, just as, with certain drawings, you have only to close your eyes and when you open them the perspective has changed. Now, in the overlapping of crests moving in various directions, the general pattern seems broken down into sections that rise and vanish. In addition, the reflux of every wave also has a power of its own that hinders the oncoming waves. And if you concentrate your attention on these backward thrusts, it seems that the true movement is the one that begins from the shore and goes out to sea. This is the sea near my home in Mallorca. Is this perhaps the real result that Mr. Palomar is about to achieve? To make the waves run in the opposite direction, to overturn time, to perceive the true substance of the world beyond sensory and mental habits? No, he feels a slight dizziness, but it goes no further than that. The stubbornness that drives the waves toward the shore wins the match: in fact, the waves have swelled considerably. Is the wind about to change? It would be disastrous if the image that Mr. Palomar has succeeded painstakingly in putting together were to shatter and be lost. Only if he manages to bear all the aspects in mind at once can he begin the second phase of the operation: extending this knowledge to the entire universe. It would suffice not to lose patience, as he soon does. Mr. Palomar goes off along the beach, tense and nervous as when he came, and even more unsure about everything. Italo Calvino Mr. Palomar
“. . . In that Empire, the Art of Cartography attained such Perfection that the map of a single Province occupied the entirety of a City, and the map of the Empire, the entirety of a Province. In time, those Unconscionable Maps no longer satisfied, and the Cartographers Guilds struck a Map of the Empire whose size was that of the Empire, and which coincided point for point with it. The following Generations, who were not so fond of the Study of Cartography as their Forebears had been, saw that that vast map was Useless, and not without some Pitilessness was it, that they delivered it up to the Inclemencies of Sun and Winters. In the Deserts of the West, still today, there are Tattered Ruins of that Map, inhabited by Animals and Beggars; in all the Land there is no other Relic of the Disciplines of Geography.” On Exactitude in Science Jorge Luis Borges 1946
“That’s another thing we’ve learned from your Nation,” said Mein Herr, “map-making. But we’ve carried it much further than you. What do you consider the largest map that would be really useful?” “About six inches to the mile.” “Only six inches!” exclaimed Mein Herr. “We very soon got to six yard to the mile. Then we tried a hundred yards to the mile. And then came the grandest idea of all! We actually made a map of the country, on the scale of a mile to the mile!” “Have you used it much?” I enquired. “It has never been spread out, yet,” said Mein Herr: “the farmers objected: they said it would cover the whole country and shut out the sunlight! So we now use the country itselve, as its own map, and I assure you it does nearly as well.”
The Invisible Frontier François Schuiten and Benoit Peeters 2004
Oppgave: Byromssatlas
1. Finn en partner, oppgaven skal gjøres parvis 2. Finn et byrom dere vil jobbe med. Det kan være et sted dere kjenner godt fra før, eller et helt nytt sted. Det kan være et sted som fungerer godt i dag, et sted som ikke fungerer eller et byrom vi ikke nødvendigvis tenker på som et byrom. Hovedkriteriet er at det er et sted i byen som har et potensiale for en eller annen form for opplevelse. Vi vil helst at ikke for mange jobber med det samme stedet, marker derfor deres område i Google My Maps på laget byromsatlas. 3. Analyser byrommet. Fysiske forhold som vegger, gulv, form, forhold mellom høyde og størrelse. Lag plan og snitt som viser størrelsen. 4. Byrommet i dag. Hva er karakteristisk med plassen? Hva er styrkene og svakhetene? Hvor oppholder folk seg? Hvordan beveger man seg? Hvordan bruker man plassen? 5. Jobb med potensialet i byrommet. Hva kan byrommet bli - på kort og lang sikt. 6. Se på og bruk mal som ligger på server. Lever i pdf-format: byromsatlas_navn_og_navn innen fredag kl 12.00
Denne oppgaven gjøres parallelt med et prosjekt i Trondheim Kommune kalt Byromsstrategi. Kommunen har selv utarbeidet et hefte som skal ligge til grunn for arbeidet med byrom i Trondheim. Dette dokumentet begrenser seg til bykjernen (midtbyen, bakklandet, solsiden og brattøra) og viser ti eksempler på analyser av byrom i Trondheim. Hvert byrom har fått hver sin visjon og beskrives gjennom en firestegs modell (se neste side). Vi skal jobbe med andre byrom enn de kommunen allerede har forslag til. Vi kommer også til å bruke noe av den samme metoden, med en analyse av byrommet i dag kombinert med forslag for hva byrommet kunne blitt/kan bli både på kort sikt (også med tanke på Do it!-oppgaven i neste uke) og på lengre sikt (ting som må bestemmes og planlegges). Vi vil også prøve å bruke en metode fra en bok som kalles Situational Urbanism, noen ark som viser hva det går ut på ligger lenger ute i dokumentet. Boken bygger på et teoretisk rammeverk, men det viktige er metodene og framstillingene av mulighetene i de forskjellige byrommene som er mest interessant i denne uka. Dersom noen ønsker å sette seg mer inn i teorien bak eller se flere eksempler finnes boka i et eksemplar på biblioteket og noen kan også låne boken av meg eller Markus. For at dette skal kunne brukes videre vil vi at dere jobber ut fra malen som ligger på serveren, men det er mulig å endre/forbedre på ting dersom det passer deres prosjekt bedre eller hvis noen tenker at noe mangler eller er overflødig/ikke relevant.
Geografisk område
STASJONSPLASSEN - Velkomstplass
KANALEN - Byens blå perle
RAVNKLOA - Byens mest attraktive allmenning
TMV-ODDEN - Entreen til Nedre Elvehavn
UTVALGTE BYROM: Torvet Ravnkloa Cicignons plass Peter Egges plass Stasjonsplassen TMV-odden Bakklandstorget
CICIGNONS PLASS - Intim arrangmentsplass
PETER EGGES PLASS - Barnas torg TORVET -Trondheims storstue
KJØPMANNSGATA - Levende bryggemiljø
BAKKLANDSTORGET - Trivelig torg
INNSATSOMRÅDER: Kjøpmannsgata Kanalen Nidelva
NIDELVA - Strømmende stolthet
TI UTVALGTE BYROM Denne delen av strategidokumentet beskriver de ti byrommene vi vil sette fokus på som en start for gjennomføring av strategien. Utvalget og innholdet vil oppdateres løpende. Målet med denne delen er å samle et kunnskapsgrunnlag for hvert enkelte byrom og samtidig et grunnlag for å se de ulike byrommene i sammenheng. Byrommene har fått hver sin visjon, samtidig som hvert enkelt beskrives ut fra nå-situasjonen gjennom tekst og faktabokser.
Firestegs modell
Dynamisk prosess
“I går” er en kort historisk beskrivelse av plassen og sammenhengen den inngår i. “I dag” er utgangspunktet for byromsstrategien. Områdets og byrommets viktigste karaktertrekk beskrives, potensialer som bør styrkes og utfordringer som må løses. “I morgen?” er forslag til mindre initiativ som på kortere sikt kan skape muligheter for byliv uten for store konsekvenser fysisk eller økonomisk. “I overmorgen?” er forslag til større initiativ, ment som innspill til en permanent opprusting.
Oppdelingen i “i morgen” og “i overmorgen” er ment å gi et hint om en kortsiktig eller langsiktig løsning. Hver enkelt prosess vil imidlertid være dynamisk i samspill med de prosessene som gjør byrommet aktuelt. Alle byrommene er allerede aktuelle i pågående prosjekter for midlertidige eller permanente endringer. Beskrivelsene er ment til å gi et bilde av en nå-situasjon ut fra verdier som delvis vil gjelde uansett hvordan byrommet endres, og delvis vil måtte oppdateres etterhvert som et byrom forandres.
Utvalget består foreløpig av ti byrom: fire i Midtbyen, ett på Bakklandet, ett på Nedre Elvehavn og ett på Brattøra. I tillegg kommer innsatsområdene Kjøpmannsgata, Nidelva og Kanalen, som representerer flere oppholdsplasser. Delen med byromsarkene vil oppdateres og utvides løpende i takt med at byen og forutsetningene endres, og nye byrom aktualiseres.
Fra Trondheim Kommune sitt dokument om byromsstrategi Det ligger på serveren.
Det er lagt opp til sykkelparkering i tilknytning uteservering og kontorvirksomhet.
Bomiljø Historisk verdi Handel/servering Kultur/aktiviteter Rekreasjonsverdi
TORVET VISJON:
Aktiviteter: sitteplasser, servering Arrangementer: konserter, markeder, torghandel, idrettsarr. Fasadeliv: Kafé/restaurant, handel og kontor/bank Solforhold: Gode Trafikk: Stengt for bil- og busstrafikk
Materialbruk og møblering - Dekke: brosten, betongfliser. - Beplantning: Trær i randsonen - Møblement: Benker, statue, toalett, skulptur, statue/fontene, sykkelparkering, scene. - Vegetasjon: To trær, plantekasser
9740 m2 Areal Totalt sittbart areal: 1,8 prosent/173 m2
1:1500
DAGENS SITUASJON:
TRONDHEIMS STORSTUE
San Sebastian Tapas & vinbar
Nordea Bank Norge
Nor Contact sport
Det norske oljeselskap
SVAKHETER:
NOEN AKTUELLE pROSJEKT:
Byrommet er fleksibelt på grunn av størrelse og møblering, og kan huse mange ulike type arrangementer, også samtidig.
Det er få ukommersielle sitteplasser.
Opprusting for Torvet er under planlegging. Se www.torvetitrondheim.no
ATA
KEG
MUN
Torvet er Trondheims viktigste byrom, et flott og stolt samlingssted for hverdag og fest og høytidelige anledninger.
STYRKE:
Lille - restaurant og kjøkken
Apotek1
Ågot Lian
KONGENS GATE
Hornemannsgården
McDonalds Hornemannsgården
Trondheim Torg
REMA 1000
DnB Nor
Det er et populært møtested sentralt i Midtbyen og er lett tilgjengelig fra kollektivknutepunkt. Plassen gir oversiktlig orientering i byen med brede siktlinjer. Torvet har lav bebyggelse i menneskelig skala. Torvet er del av et sammenhengende handelsstrøk med gågatenett.
? I GÅR: Byens torg ble anlagt her etter bybrannen i 1681, og er Norges største barokke torg. Torvet var planlagt som et storslagent byrom den gang dimensjonert for en befolkning på 5000. Det var sentrum i Cicignons byplan, et av Trondheims viktigste kulturminner, i krysningen mellom praktgatene Munkegata og Kongens gate som gir utsyn mot de store landskapstrekkene i alle himmelretninger. Statuen av Olav Tryggvasson fra 1928 har en stor symbolsk verdi som kjennemerke for Trondheim. Plassen ble formet som rundkjøring med kompassrose og solur i 1930-tallet, og ble stengt for trafikk i 2013.
I DAG: Torvet er en nasjonal festplass for store nasjonale anledninger som kongebryllup, signing og 17.maifeiring. Torvet ligger sentralt i handelskjernen, midt i hovedaksen mellom Nidarosdomen og Munkholmen, og er godt besøkt. Tilknytning til bussterminal i Prinsenkrysset og kjøpesenteret Trondheim Torg bidrar til folkestrømmen. Torvet er attraktivt for arrangementer og har 150 utleiedager i året, fra større konserter til festivaler, markeder, aksjoner og samlinger. Permanent scene ble etablert desember 2014 og er mye brukt.
Preges av tidligere tilrettelegging for biler. Kantstein og ujevn brostein gjør det vanskelig å ferdes og hindrer en rasjonell utnyttelse av hele torget.
Arkeologiske utgravninger planlegges fra august 2015.
Torvet mangler en helhetlig gjennomtenkt design og materialbruk som er verdig Trondheims storstue (Slitasje og setningsskader i belegning). Dårlig belysning og mye lysforurensing fra medieskjerm og reklameskilt.
? ?
?
IDÉBANK: EKSEMpEL pÅ TILTAK OG AKTIVITETER I MORGEN?
I OVERMORGEN?
Iscenesetting og formidling ved arkeologiske utgravninger
Nytt dekke, masse sitteplasser, uteservering, frodig vegetasjon, vanninstallasjon, riktig belysning som tilrettelegger for et mangfold brukere og aktiviteter.
Midlertidige tiltak i tråd med eget prosjekt for Torvet.
Fra Trondheim Kommune sitt dokument om byromsstrategi Det ligger på serveren.
Ravnkloa har en viktig plass i det historiske bybildet. Foto: Agraff
Skulptur
Siste opprusting: 1995 Aktiviteter: sitteplasser, sykkelparkering, fiskehall Fasadeliv: handel, restaurant Solforhold: Gode hele dagen Trafikk: Det går biltrafikk inntil plassen.
Bomiljø Historisk verdi Handel/servering Kultur/aktiviteter Rekreasjonsverdi Areal Totalt sittbart areal:
RAVNKLOA VISJON:
DAGENS SITUASJON:
BYENS MEST ATTRAKTIVE ALLMENNING
1:1000 Sushibar
FJ
O
Big Horn Steak house
RD
G
AT A
Ravnkloa skal være Trondheims viktigste og mest attraktive allmenning i sentrum, og som ny ankomstplass ved oppføring av broen over kanalen til Fosenkaia og sentralstasjonen
Agaton Sax frisører
STYRKE:
SVAKHETER:
NOEN AKTUELLE pROSJEKT:
Potensial av nye forbindelser er store og vil lede til mer aktivitet og anderledes bruk - det gjelder blant annet kanalpromenade og gang- og sykkelbro til Fosenkaia
Mange ulike funskjoner som konkurrerer om plassen
Gang- og sykelbro til Fosenkaia Miljøpakken
Parkeringsplasser som skaper gjennomgangstrafikk
Opprensking i kanalen - Renere Havn
Adkomst til vannet
Manglende forbindelser langs kanalen. Oppfattes som bakevje.
Revitalisering av Ravnkloa
Sterk historisk identitet Lang tradisjon for fisk og handel
Pilus Hair Extension
Kjøkkenet kaffe og bakeri
- Sykkelparkering i kantene
1990 m2 3,6 prosent/72 m2
MUNKEGATA
Simon Petersen Skotøy
Materialbruk og møblering - Dekke: storgatestein og smågatestein. - Skulptur: “Den siste viking” av Nils Aas - Beplantning: Lønnetrær på vestre del av plassen. - Møblement: Steinamfi
Solveggen på østsiden
Taj Tandoori Bar & grill
Skjermet mot trafikkstøy Ravnkloa Fisk & Skalldyr
Værutsatt.
Ravnkloløpet
Manglende sammenheng mellom to oppholdssoner over gjennomgående veg. Ikke tilrettelagt for lett overgang for myke trafikkanter hindrer bruk av området i sin helhet.
Kloa servering
? I GÅR: Den er historisk sett en viktig forbindelse mellom byen og fjorden, og har lenge vært en plass for fiskehandel. Fra 1841 foregikk det også torghandel her. Opprinnelig var Ravnkloa en strand der fiskerne trakk opp sine båter, med trekai på sidene. Etter at Olsenmoloen ble bygget i 1860 ble Ravnkloa også en svært brukbar havn, og anløpet mot Ravnkloa ble forbygd og stensatt. Fiskertorget ble anlagt i 1896 av Trondhjem Fiskeriselskab, og det ble oppført bygg for innendørs fiskehandel i 1945, i 1960 og i år 2000.
I DAG: Allmenningen forbinder Munkegata med vannet og ligger i aksen mellom Nidarosdomen og Munkholmen. Den er historisk sett en viktig forbindelse mellom byen og fjorden, og har lenge vært en plass for fiskehandel. Fiskehallen trekker besøkende til plassen. Det samme gjør båten ut til Munkholmen, som har cirka 50 000 besøkende i sommersesongen. Det er mest aktivitet på sommerstid i godt vær. Byrommet er lite brukt til arrangementer med cirka fem-sju arrangementer i løpet av ti år.
? ?
?
IDÉBANK: EKSEMpEL pÅ TILTAK OG AKTIVITETER I MORGEN?
på fisk og sjøliv), torgselgere og iskiosk.
I OVERMORGEN?
Flere benker og sitteplasser i sola
Uteservering
Bro over til Fosenkaia
Bearbeidet kanten mot vannet med tanke på aktivitet og opphold
Messe
Oppgradering av plassen med tanke på utforming både for kjørende, myke trafikanter og opphold
Øke synligheten til aktiviter som foregår på vannet ved hjelp av tydelig skilting Utforske forbedring ved hjelp av belysning Tematiske markeder, matfestival (med fokus
Sommerteater, studentarrangement i amfi Temporære uteutstillinger
Å integrere Ravnkloa som en del av Midtbyens urbane liv og bruke det mer aktivt som bytorg
Fra Trondheim Kommune sitt dokument om byromsstrategi Det ligger på serveren.
Boken Situational Urbanism: Directing postwar urbanity An adaptive methodology for urban transformation av Otto Paans og Ralf Pasel (2014)
Kategorier for analyse , trusler og muligheter Lag ogs책 gjerne egne kategorier og ikoner eller finn passende ikoner p책 Noun Project
Jan Gehl - Three types of outdoor activity A street scene An ordinary day on an ordinary street. Pedestrians pass on the sidewalks, children play near front doors, people sit on benches and steps, the postman makes his rounds with the mail, two passersby greet on the sidewalk, two mechanics repair a car, groups engage in conversation. This mix of outdoor activities is influenced by a number of conditions. Physical environment is one of the factors: a factor that influences the activities to a varying degree and in many different ways. Outdoor activities, and a number of the physical conditions that influence them, are the subject of this book. Three types of outdoor activities Greatly simplified, outdoor activities in public spaces can be divided into three categories, each of which places very different demands on the physical environment: necessary activities, optional activities, and social activities. 1. Necessary activities - under all conditions Necessary activities include those that are more or less compulsory - going to school or to work, shopping, waiting for a bus or a person, running errands, distributing mail - in other words, all activities in which those involved are to a greater or lesser degree required to participate. In general, everyday tasks and pastimes belong to this group. Among other activities, this group includes the great majority of those related to walking. Because the activities in this group are necessary, their incidence is influenced only slightly by the physical framework. These activities will take place throughout the year, under nearly all conditions, and are more or less independent of the exterior environment. The participants have no choice.
2. Optional activities - only under favorable exterior conditions Optional activities - that is, those pursuits that are participated in if there is a wish to do so and if time and place make it possible - are quite another matter. This category includes such activities as taking a walk to get a breath of fresh air, standing around enjoying life, or sitting and sunbathing. These activities take place only when exterior conditions are optimal, when weather and place invite them. This relationship is particularly important in connection with physical planning because most of the recreational activities that are especially pleasant to pursue outdoors are found precisely in this category of activities. These activities are especially dependent on exterior physical conditions.
utdrag fra pensum, fra boken Life between buildings, Jan Gehl , 1971 bilder og tekst hentet fra rudi.net
Outdoor activities and quality of outdoor space When outdoor areas are of poor quality, only strictly necessary activities occur. When outdoor areas are of high quality, necessary activities take place with approximately the same frequency - though they clearly tend to take a longer time, because the physical conditions are better. In addition, however, a wide range of optional activities will also occur because place and situation now invite people to stop, sit, eat, play, and so on. In streets and city spaces of poor quality, only the bare minimum of activity takes place. People hurry home. In a good environment, a completely different, broad spectrum of human activities is possible.
3. Social activities Social activities are all activities that depend on the presence of others in public spaces. Social activities include children at play, greetings and conversations, communal activities of various kinds, and finally - as the most widespread social activity - passive contacts, that is, simply seeing and hearing other people. Different kinds of social activities occur in many places: in dwellings; in private outdoor spaces, gardens, and balconies; in public buildings; at places of work; and so on; but in this context only those activities that occur in publicly accessible spaces are examined. These activities could also be termed “resultant� activities, because in nearly all instances they evolve from activities linked to the other two activity categories. They develop in connection with the other activities because people are in the same space, meet, pass by one another, or are merely within view. Social activities occur spontaneously, as a direct consequence of people moving about and being in the same spaces. This implies that social activities indirectly supported whenever necessary and optional activities are given better conditions in public spaces.
Graphic representation of the relationship between the qualtiy of outdoor spaces and the rate of occurence of outdoor activities. When the quality of outdoor areas is good, optional activities occur with increasing frequency. Furthermore, as levels of optional activity rise, the number of social activities usually increases substantially.
The character of social activities varies, depending on the context in which they occur. In the residential streets, near schools, near places of work, where there are a limited number of people with common interests or backgrounds, social activities in public spaces can be quite comprehensive: greetings, conversations, discussions, and play arising from common interests and because people “know� each other, if for no other reason than that they often see one another. In city streets and city centers, social activities will generally be more superficial, with the majority being passive contacts - seeing and hearing a great number of unknown people. But even this limited activity can be very appealing. Very freely interpreted, a social activity takes place every time two people are together in the same space. To see and hear each other, to meet, is in itself a form of contact, a social activity. The actual meeting, merely being present, is furthermore the seed for other, more comprehensive forms of social activity. The more time people spend outdoors, the more frequently they meet and the more they talk.Chart plotting the relationship between the number of outdoor activities and frequency of interactions. (Street life studies in Melbourne [20], see also page 191.)
This connection is important in relation to physical planning. Although the physical framework does not have a direct influence on the quality, content, and intensity of social contacts, architects and planners can affect the possibilities for meeting, seeing, and hearing people - possibilities that both take on a quality of their own and become important as background and starting point for other forms of contact. This is the background for the investigation in this book of meeting possibilities and opportunities to see and hear other people. Another reason for a comprehensive review of these activities is that precisely the presence of other people, activities, events, inspiration, and stimulation comprise one of the most important qualities of public spaces altogether. Life between buildings - defined If we look back at the street scene that was the starting point for defining the three categories of outdoor activities, we can see how necessary, optional, and social activities occur in a finely interwoven pattern. People walk, sit, and talk. Functional, recreational, and social activities intertwine in all conceivable combinations. Therefore, this examination of the subject of outdoor activities does not begin with a single, limited category of activities. Life between buildings is not merely pedestrian traffic or recreational or social activities. Life between buildings comprises the entire spectrum of activities, which combine to make communal spaces in cities and residential areas meaningful and attractive. Both necessary, functional activities and optional, recreational activities have been examined quite thoroughly over the years in different contexts. Social activities and their interweaving to form a communal fabric have received considerably less attention. This is the background for the following, more detailed examination of social activities in public spaces.
Contact at a modest level - but definitely contact.
Manu Duf, Louis (2013)
Ross Racine