Urban interiors theatre of interaction ma thesis

THEATRE OF INTERACTION DESIGN REPORT ROHIT RAKA

ABSTRACT: I belong to a country which culturally, traditionally and historically possesses extremely strong attributes. India is the second most populated country in the world. Cities, streets, trains are crowded and thus personal space is considerably small. This intrusion of private space makes people more conscious about their existence in a space, leading to awkward silences and escaping eye contacts.

Like India, London too as a city is culturally diverse yet tolerant towards all the people around the world that it inhabits.

The activities are carried out in cohesion and the city’s ability to balance entire ethnic diversity is significant. Having stated that various so called ‘public spaces’ of London can accommodate numerous people at the same time but social interaction seems to be inadequate resulting in hum-drum city life.

Social media’s rise in popularity has increased the connectivity amongst the people. However, increase in each other’s virtual lives creates superficial connections as they are less comprehensive than physical interaction. Thus, there seems to be a desperate need to incorporate design solution which could cater to the social interaction amongst the people and their surrounding environment, which will pull them from their digital world and bring them back to physical space.

The main objective of this project was to establish and reinforce the social interaction amongst the people and the environment within a mundane space. The proposed objective was to be achieved by selection of five unknown(yet known) characters from the site, that is Paternoster Square and instituting interaction between them by choreographing their movements through subtle and bold design elements. This was to be achieved by setting off their conscious and subconscious mind.

The entire theatre of selection of characters and their movements was conceptualized on the basis of one of the two epics of India, called ‘Mahabharata’.

The project focuses on various research methodologies which helped to understand different activities, functions and types of public spaces in an urban context. The research was also carried out to understand ‘private space’ that is proxemics and social behavior of people in a public space. Mapping of the movements of the people, recording videos and photography served as tools to identify the 5 characters and also movements of the other people in context with the site.

CONTENTS -PROGRAMME -OBJECTIVE (A) RESEARCH

1. Man: A Social Animal Understanding the social aspects of humans.

2. About Public Spaces Understanding democratic public spaces and the factors affecting their day to day function.

3. Shared Space Urban design approach of shared space fascilitating all inclusive and pedestrian friendly environment.

4. Proxemics Study of the theory to understand personal space and territory.

5. Life Between Buildings: Jan Ghel (book research) (a) Activities (Understanding type of activities carried out in a public spaces and factors affecting them) (b) Contacts (Understanding types of contacts at their various levels from low intensity to high intensity) (c) Social conditions and heirarchy in spaces (Studing of current social situations of public spaces) (d) Evolution in public realm (Studying how public spaces have evolved ovver the period of time) (e) Physical arrangement preventing and promoting contacts (sketches illustrationg the same)

6. Precedents Studying of the elements to be used in the public space (a) Public seating (b) Pedestrians (c) Pergolas (d) Sculptures

7. Artist’s Work Studying the work of the artists who have done related work on an urban scale (a) Jeppe Hein’s (b) Candy Chang

(B) DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

1. Possible Sites Analysing various spaces which would serve the site for the project to achieve required objective.

2. Selection Of Site ‘Paternoster Square’ , the selected site considered to have strong attributes to achieve the desired objective

3. Mapping of the movements Various movements were mapped during the field work through series of visits everyday for 10 days

4. Base Story Conceptual development through establishing base story of ‘Mahabharata’ for the design

5. Identifying the 5 Characters Selection of five characters for the further development of the project based on the base story

6. Mapping of the 5 Characters Analysing the movements of the 5 selected characters 7. Zoning AND Conceptual sketches 8. Design Solution

(A) RESEARCH

1. Man: A Social Animal 2. About Public Spaces 3. Shared Space 4. Proxemics

5. Life Between Buildings: Jan Ghel (book research) (a) Activities (b) Contacts (c) Social conditions and heirarchy in spaces (d) Evolution in public realm (e) Physical arrangement preventing and promoting contacts

6. Precedents (a) Public seating (b) Pedestrians (c) Pergolas (d) Sculptures

7. Artist’s Work (a) Jeppe Hein (b) Candy Chang

PROGRAMME The major design solution of the thesis was to be achieved by identifying the five characters on the selected site that is Paternoster square and establishing interaction amongst them in a designed pavilion.

The entire selected site was zoned into conscious and sub conscious elements of design in a public space (further studied and analyzed in the research work) and choreographing encounters of all these five characters in that pavilion.

During this entire design process it was assumed that the site caters to only the selected five characters and thus the pavilion too was designed keeping in mind the existnce of only these five characcters.

2. ABOUT PUBLIC SPACES

1. MAN: A SOCIAL ANIMAL

The swapping of ideas, knowledge, friendship, material goods and skills facilitated the existence of the city, these virtues regulates cultural, economic, social and environmental aspects of it. Public spaces act as plausible and tangible everyday arena for this barter system thus serving as an indispensable backbone to our urban social fabric which in turn helps to elevate social living standards of any city.

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once stated that, “Man by nature is a social animal, an individual who is unsocial naturally and not accidentally, is either beneath our notice or is more than human.” We as humans are always depended on each other and the environment for our daily necessities. The existence and well-being of us thus is impossible without this symbiotic relationship with our society. Being in presence of others and interaction with them, helps human to develop a sense of ‘self’ which in turn leads to evolution towards appropriate social behavior.

Our society not only provides us with the security but also takes care of our social, mental and physical needs. Isolation, for a long period of time on the other hand triggers negativity which amplifies into depression.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this project was to establish interaction between five unknown (yet known) characters in the selected site that is ‘Paternoster Square’.

The research work also includes investigation of human social behaviour in a public space and factors affecting the social interaction.

THE PROJECT

Social epidemiology research has provided persuasive evidence of the link between the social environment and health outcome. This correlation between humans and social interaction is extremely strong which not only enhances our physical development but also our emotional, mental and personality development. Our association to club, group, society, community (formal or informal) etc. gives us a sense of belonging which keeps our day to day human life balanced.

As we enter into ‘digital age’ at the outbreak of 21st century, where media plays a profound role in our lives, we are majorly connected to each other through emails, telephones, social media etc. Though they serve as major platform for interaction, actually these interactions are passive wherein the people are not actually present together in a physical environment which leads to superficial connections and thus interactions of the kind are less comprehensive. As we modernize, we head towards segregation of our social, economic, cultural and political activities information of which can be accessed without our existence in the physical environment. This has led to the decline in the use of public spaces of interaction. It has always been said in the past in the modern day times that spaces are shaped by people. Thus it is important to study human social behavior so that urban designers and planners can establish basic appropriate if not accurate rules while designing a space which would cater to people’s ability to adapt to an environment.

Research and Methodologies Literature Study Studying urban design theories Recording videos of the site during different period of time Mapping of movements of people in the site and its analysis Case studies

(A) RESEARCH

The democratic and inclusive nature of public spaces grants access to variety of range of people who come from different backgrounds, ethnic groups, age, (dis)abilities etc. As these spaces helps in the cohesion of various communities, groups, families, etc. it helps us to learn about people we inhabit with in our cities beyond our immediate circles, friends, families, work colleagues etc. hence endowing us with experiences which could not be formed at home in n enclosed personal environment.

Being in presence of others and meeting them in planned or unplanned ways not only makes us aware of our ‘self’ but also helps us to create a sense of belonging to community thus making us feel secured in our habitat.

Though public spaces traditionally are stated to be all inclusive, but urban renaissance has led to the formation of quasi-public spaces which are operated under private ownership mostly alongside or as a part of urban building complex. The increase in controlled activities has led to decline in the democratic nature of the public space but according to statistics has made the spaces safer.

The ownership of the space although is not responsible for making any public space ‘public’ but in-fact the mixed use and shared activities for different range of people is what makes any space ‘public’.

Various factors facilitates in making a public space successful example good access and time availability, exchange of good relation within the space, protection from weather, balanced set of rules and regulations etc.

The publicness of the space is depended on the experience created by the people’s participation, thus it is important to start from the people rather than from the physical space. Only with proper clear understanding of people’s diverse values, motivation and needs will help us to create appropriate space for public experience

Design Development

Conceptualising idea for design

the basic

Selection of the base story Selection of the five characters on the basis of the conceptual story Design development and achievement of interaction

The movie amazingly (obviously exaggerated) describes what living in solitary for a long period can do to a person and that it can lead to a mental disruption.

‘PEOPLE MAKE PLACES’

3. SHARED SPACE

4. PROXEMICS:

Streets are one of the most important everyday public spaces in an urban environment. The desire to create a safe environment for pedestrians by reducing dominance of vehicle, their speed and casualty rates led to an urban design approach of shared space. This approach involves minimizing segregation between vehicular traffic and pedestrian by removing features like curbs, road surface markings, traffic signs and traffic lights. By doing so it makes unclear as to who is to be given priority on the streets thus creating a sense of uncertainty amongst the people making them aware of their physical environment in return reducing casualty rates.

The theory of proxemics introduced by ‘Edward T Hall’ in 1963 deals with the study of non-verbal way of communication. The clearer research of the theory helps us not only to understand how people interact on daily basis but also helps to understand further organization of spaces, houses and layout of the town.

This approach has been said to be hostile by the organization representing the interest of blind, partially sighted and for deaf people who demand a clear separation for the users of this category. Shared spaces over the years have been implemented into various forms depending upon the various levels of separation used.

Edward Hall categorizes the theory into two parts: a) Personal Space b) Territory

EXAMPLE: Numerous towns and cities around the world have implemented schemes with elements based on the shared space principles.

The idea of personal space is relative in the sense that it does not exist unless it is considered in the context of our environment and the people residing in it. Since, we reside in a physical environment are we enclosed in our personal space bubble at all times and it is inviolable. Intrusion of our personal space may result in unintentional change in posture, shift etc. Social distance is directly proportional to the physical distance. The phenomenon although Edward Hall described not accurate recommended it but helps to gauge the effect of distance on communication. Personal space are affected by various factors including personal behavior, environment, situation and condition of the space, culture etc.

LONDON: EXHIBITION STREET The apprach of shared space was applied for the first time on the large scale at Exhibition Street. Since then the traffic accidents have reduced in number by making people aware of the physical environment. Thus helping to build a sense of contact and enhancing Public Interaction.

Though we attribute ourselves as a social animal, we all have our own personal space bubble. We keep our friends and family closer while the unknown distant unless we are ought to do the opposite.

A)

Personal Space:

Though distance violation is highly ambiguous in modern day times understanding basic behavioral ideologies helps to determine the principles of any urban quasi-public everyday space by establishing a specific non-verbal language within that space.

Edward T Hall divided the personal space into four sub categories as below: 1.

Intimate distance: for embracing, touching or whispering Close Phase-less than 6 inches (15cm) Far Phase- 6 to 18 inches (15 to 46cm) 2.

Personal distance: for interactions among good friends or family member Close Phase: 4 feet to 7 feet (1.2m to 2.1m) Far Phase: 2.5 feet to 4 feet (2.1m to 3.7m) 3.

Social distance: for interactions among acquaintances Close Phase: 4 feet to 7 feet (1.2m to 2.1m) Far Phase: 7 feet to 12 feet (2.1m to 3.7m) 4.

Public distance used for public speaking Close phase: 12 feet to 25 feet (3.7m to 7.6m) Far phase: 25 feet (7.6m) or more

B) Territory: There are four forms of human territory in the proxemics theory.

They are: 1.

Public territory: A public territory is a place where one may freely enter. This type of territory is rarely in the constant control of just one person. However, people might come to temporarily owned areas of public territory.

2.

Interactional territory: Interactional territory is a place where people congregate informally.

3.

Home territory: Home territory is a place where people continuously have control have control over this individual territory.

4.

Body Territory: Body territory is a space immediately surrounding us.

5. Life Between buildings (Jan Ghel): The book ‘Life between buildings’ was first published in 1971 by author Jan Ghel. It is highly influential approach to find appropriate methodologies to improve urban living conditions by documenting the urban space usage and the factors influencing it.

The author has considered human dimension as the starting point for the recording of space usage and the success of the urban form is measured on the basis of pedestrian traffic and strength of stationary activities including human contact and social interaction.

A) Activities To understand functioning of any public space it is important to understand type of activities carried out in these spaces. These activities are influenced by many factors, physical built form of the space is one of them.

1.

Necessary activities: It is independent of the choice of the participants and only is slightly influenced by the physical framework.

2.

Optional activities: These activities take place only when the external conditions are favorable.

This relationship is particularly important in connection with physical planning because most of the recreational activities that are pleasant to pursue fall in this category and are depended on exterior physical condition.

3.

Social activities: These activities are resultant of the two above mentioned activities and occur when the conditions in the public spaces are the best.

B) Contacts

A sourse of inspiration, an offer of stimulating experience

Contacts are extremely crucial phenomenon, being amongst others, seeing and hearing others imply positive experiences, alternative to that of being alone. One is not necessarily with a specific person but nevertheless with others. In a ‘Public Space’ a person is actually ‘present’ unlike watching something on T.V. where the observer is passive.

Contacts could be of any sort, visual, hearing, smell, and touch ranging from high intensity to less comprehensive. There are numerous opportunities for contacts in the

Contacts at moderate level

LOW INTENSITY

Possible starting point for contacts at other level

Possibility of maintaining already existing contacts

A sourse of information of the social world outside

HIGH INTENSITY

C) Social Conditions

D) Evolution in public realm

The character of social activities differs depending upon the physical context they occur in.

DURING MIDDLE AGES Piazza Del Campo, Siena

1.

Residential/everyday streets/Schools and places of work: People in these spaces know each other and thus activities are more comprehensive.

2.

City Streets/ city centers/ public parks and public squares: These activities are more superficial majorly involving seeing, hearing other people as the mode of passive contacts.

Both these contacts help people to come in contact with each other which could serve as seeds and starting point for more comprehensive social activities.

HIERARCHY IN SPACES Within the cities the spaces are layed in a specific pattern. These zones if considered as the whole, the city zones would start from Public to Semi-Public to our Private space.

There is always need of all types of public spaces from little everyday residential streets to city squares. Though more than the physical conditions are responsible for the interaction in public space, but the design which is more inclusive and conducive to such interaction will however enhance the phenomenon.

PUBLIC SPACE THE RENAISSANCE Plamanova City, Italy

SEMI-PUBLIC SPACE

SEMI-PUBLIC SPACE

‘People attract other people’ SEMI-PUBLIC SPACE

‘People come where people are’

SEMI-PRIVATE SPACE

For any sort of communal activity to develop something beyond a superficial level a meaningful common denomination will be called for common background, common interests or common problems. Though it seems that physical framework does not have direct influence over social activities but designers and planners can affect the possibility of public interaction which could help to establish other forms of contacts. Physical framework thus influences inhabitant’s social situation. The physical framework can be designed to make contacts possible or even disappear.

When the quality of outdoor space is good, optional activities occur with more increasing frequency and in turn affect increase in social activities.

Our cities are laid out in a specific pattern. These zone if considered as the whole of the city starts Public to Semi-Public to our private spaces.

This subdivision of spaces is important in terms of smooth functioning of the democratic nature of the city. The contacts that occur in public spaces may seem to be of low intensity and insignificant (Than private space) but are valuable as independent contacts and are essential for developing more complex interactions.

SEMI-PRIVATE SPACE

PRIVATE SPACE

PRIVATE SPACE

FUNCTIONALISM Independent of Aesthetics

E) Physical arrangement preventing and promoting visual and auditory contacts Various factors result in the inhibition or promotion of contacts at various level. Although Physical conditions and space arrangement are directly proportional to the contacts at various levels. Below are the illustrations which show the existence of the elements either promotes contacts or prevents it.

Factors Illustrated are: 1. Walls (Physical seperation though walls or screens) 2. Distance (The distance between the people) 3. Speed ( Speed at which the people interacting are travelling) 4. Orientation (Direction in which the users are oriented) 5. Levels (Presence of people on the same or at different levels)

DIFFERENT LEVEL

WALLS

NO WALLS

LONG DISTANCE

INHIBITING CONTACT

INHIBITING CONTACT HIGH SPEED

PROMOTING CONTACT

BACK TO BACK ORIENTATION

SHORT DISTANCE

PROMOTING CONTACT FRONT TO FRONT ORIENTATION

LOW SPEED

INHIBITING CONTACT

SAME LEVEL

INHIBITING CONTACT

PROMOTING CONTACT

INHIBITING CONTACT

PROMOTING CONTACT

PROMOTING CONTACT

6. PRECEDENTS Interaction in a ‘Public Space’ is affected by various factors. Physical environment is one them. The design elements in a physical framework are responsible to control the movements of the people by triggering their conscious and sub-conscious mind. Various such elements were looked as the part of case studuies and research work. These were categorised as elements influencing consious or sub-conscious elements.

PUBLIC SPACE

CONSCIOUS ELEMENTS IN DESIGN Public Seating Protection from the weather Focal Points (Like Sculpture) SUB-CONSCIOUS ELEMENTS IN DESIGN Pavement Pattern Sound incorporated in design Light and Shadow patterns through design

Public Seating: Though seats provided in the public zone serve users as the place to sit and relax, depending upon their layout and design they can serve as the opportunity to promote interaction.

Pedestrians: Steerts, pedestrians and everyday spaces serve as an important space for people to come in contact with each other on daily basis. The design, pavement pattern and protection from the weather and harsh sunlight can play part in the interaction at various level.

Sculptures: Sculptures and fountains placed in the public spaces act as focal point to draw people people towards them. Once the people are placed together in an environment there is a possibility of interaction at different levels to occur.

(A) PUBLIC SEATING

(B) PEDESTRIAN

(C) LITE PEDESTRIAN

(D) PERGOLAS

(E) SCULPTURES

JEPPE HEIN’S QUIRKY ‘SOCIAL BENCHES’ ACTING AS INTERACTIVE SCULPTURES: Jeppe Hein re-imagined the average public bench by creating a series of modified benches that open up discussion about social behaviour in urban spaces. The Danish artist took the form of typical bench and adapted it in different ways, using raised platforms or diagonal sections to alter staid seat fuction.

Installed in the sea side belgium town of De Haan, the benches turned seating into a conscious task. Their finished forms lie somewhere between dysfunctional objects and work of art. Hein aimed to open up a dialogue between those that use them and the people passing by about the often overlooked social qualities of the common bench.

BEFORE I DIE____________

CONFESSIONS

GOOD NEIGHBOURS

I WISH THIS WAS

CANDY CHANG Candy Chang is an artist, designer and an ‘Urban planner’ who makes cities more comfortable for people.

She believes that one of the greatest things in life is spending time in public spaces with the people you love. She also believes that these spaces can better serve the people who live, work and play in them.

(B) DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

1. Possible Sites Analysing various spaces which would serve the site for the project to achieve required objective.

2. Selection Of Site ‘Paternoster Square’ , the selected site considered to have strong attributes to achieve the desired objective

3. Mapping of the movements Various movements were mapped during the field work through series of visits everyday for 10 days

4. Base Story Conceptual development through establishing base story of ‘Mahabharata’ for the design

5. Identifying the 5 Characters Selection of five characters for the further development of the project based on the base story

6. Mapping of the 5 Characters Analysing the movements of the 5 selected characters 7. Zoning AND Conceptual Sketches 8. Design Solution

POSSIBLE SITES AND SITE SELECTION Central part of the London is highly dominated by business centers, retail shops and other corporate work places. As we move away from the center, the residential environment increases considerably. We as human, always feel the act of belonging where we live on the other hand corporate places demotes this feeling.

Numerous banal spaces and public squares were looked at for the site selection. Paternoster Square was concluded to be the most crucial site for the project.

GRANARY SQUARE It is one of the largest Public Spaces in London and is adjacent to historically listed Granary Building which in the past was used by canal boats to mooror unloard the goods. The building is now home for University of arts, London.

Granary Square is a pivot point for people crossing over canal who further disperse in North or East direction. Though is at acs an urban social space it is mostly dead and empty during weekends, winters and rainy days.

BISHOPS SQUARE The site comprises of 1.6 Hectares and includes two new squares, restored historic streets, pedestrian routes and spitalfields market. The main aim was to serve local residents, business communities and providing them with new destination for interaction.

BOROUGH MARKET Borough Market has been place for people to contact to each other, however the conditions in the public spaces don’t promote social intraction on a comprehensive manner.

PATERNOSTER SQUARE

SELECTION OF SITE As the main objective of this project was to achieve interaction in a mundane environment, various urban spaces in London were studied for selection of the site which included Granary Square, Borough Market, Fleet Place, King’s Cross St. Pancras Station, Paternoster Square etc.

Paternoster Square has been an extremly critical site since the time of World War II. With various imporant attributes in connection to the site and the narrative behind made it the most potential site amongst the other considered site.

SITE PLAN OF PATERNOSTER SQUARE

v

ABOUT THE SITE, PATERNOSTER SQUARE It is an Urban development project owned by Mitsubishi Estate Co. The name ‘Paternoster Square’ derives from the ‘Paternoster Row’ centre for London Publishing trade of the past (which was destroyed druring Blirz attack of the World War II on 29th December 1940) .

Now location for London Stock Exchange and of investmest banks such as Goldman Sachs, Merill Lynch and Nemura Securities Co. and Fund manager fidelity investments.

In 1996, master plan by William Whitefield was adapted and put into action for following years. By october 2003 the redevelopment was complete along with buildings

by Whitefield’s firm and several others. Among others was newly located London Stock Exchange.

SUPPORTERS Harmonious architecture, built in stone and brick like Wren’s chapter house for St. Paul’s cathedral (which is intergrated in the plan) Mixure of offices and shops, coherrent organization of space by means of large central piazza and urban walkways that cut through the block in the logical ways to tie it into the surrounding urban fabric.

CRITICS Critics called the architecture banal,dismissed the mixed use of credentials that didn’t incorporate housing.

At weekends outside peak tourist season, they claimed, the pedestrian zone would be dead, its shops and

SITE STUDY THROUGH RECORDING OF THE VIDEOS FROM DIFFERENT AREAS AND ANALYSING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE SPACE USERS DURING DIFFERENT TIME OF THE DAY AND DAY OF THE WEEK

MAPPING OF THE MOVEMENTS ‘Mapping’ has been the most important and thus used methodology for the project. Numerous visits were made to the site throughout the thesis work during different time of the day and days of the week.

People using the space on daily basis and the visitors were recorded and documented through a series of mapping diagrams. These illustrations proved to be extremly helpful to understnad flow of the people in the site, their proxemics, behaviour (in terms of presence of numerous people, that is rush hour and during off peak hours.

These methodology also helped to iddentify and to understand the five selected characters which became the crusial aspect of the project on the later stage.

The mapping of the movments of these five characters helped to identify the necessary elements required to establish interaction amonst them eventually which lead to the evolution of the ‘Designed Pavillion’

MAPPING OF PEOPLE WORKING AT ‘LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE’ (ACTIVITY: SMOKING)

This movement pattern was prominent during lunch breaks and aftr office hours.

Time during which the movement was recorded: 12:30PM to 2PM and 5:00PM to 6:30PM The movement can be observed the most during weekdays.

MAPPING OF PEOPLE, GUY WORKING AT SAINSBURY (ACTIVITY: SMOKING)

For the selection of characters, the ‘Sainsbury guy’ was the first to be observed and studied.

This movement pattern of his was seen through the day during different time from 10AM to 6PM (Assuming to be its working hours) during weekdays. The red dots indicates his ‘territory’ for smoking. The act lasted from 10 minutes and 20 to 30 minutes during lunch breaks.

PATERNOSTER COLUMN: OCCUPIED MAJORLY BU TOURIST FOR LUNCH, DURING RUSH HOUR OCCUPIED BY CORPORATES FOR QUICK CHAT OR A SMOKE

Out the various small spaces withing Paternoster square, the ‘Paternoster column’ was the busiest area. Was predominently occupied by tourist with very little people from the offices around. The seating at the column wa not only used to have lunch by tourist but also was used to relax and have interaction with their friends and family after their visit from St. Paul’s cathedral The movement pattern is prominent during 9AM to 10:30 AM and 4:30PM to 5:30 PM

PEOPLE TALKING ON THE PHONE (3 OUT OF 5 SUB-CONSCIOUSLY FOLLOWED THE PAVEMENT PATTERN)

As studied and researched previously as to various factors affect the movement pattern of the people in a public space. Pavement pattern at ‘Paternoster Square’ acts as an sub-conscious element fascilitating coreogrphed movement of the people. People talking on the phone tend to follow the pavement pattern marked on the square.

This obsevation was made during lunch hours , when people working in the offices around stopped to talk on the phone before going to their respective offices Time 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM

STATIONARY PEOPLE: DURING RUSH HOURS (LUNCH HOURS) OCCUPIED BY PEOPLE ON THE PHONE (NOT TALKING), READING NEWSPAPER OR GRABING A QUICK COFFEE

The benches(fixed) in the Paternoster Square were occupied completely during lunch hours by the people working around the space.

Time: 12:30 PM to 2 PM People occupying the benches were mostly alone and not in the groups. Seating was used not only to have their lunch but also to sit and relax.

Tourists too occupied these benches during weekends.

MAJOR CIRCULATION PATTERN ON THE SITE

As discussed previously ‘Paternoster Column’ was the most occupied space by the users. the mapping indicated was the most dominated mapping for the site. the pattern followed not only by tourists from St. Paul’s Cathedral to St. Paul’s station (and vice versa) but also followed by the commuters working in the offices around the “paternoster Square and St. Paul’s Cathedral

MOVEMENT OF THE SITE CLEANER

Site cleaner’s job to clean the site using his cleaning car was observed during weekends and during alternate evenings.

Time: 5 PM to 6:30 PM His movement pattern was absolutely fixed without any slight changes

MOVEMENT OF THE TOURISTS PASSING FROM PATERNOSTER SQUARE WHILE GOING TOWARDS ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL FROM ST. PAUL’S UNDERGROUND STATION

This movement pattern indicated was dominated by the tourist during the entire day and maximum during the weekends.

The red dots marked indicates the stopping point to click pictures and ‘selfies’ with the St. Paul’s cathedral from the ‘Paternoster Square’. and of the ‘Paternoster Column.

Time 9 AM to 5:30 PM

MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE WORKING AT 10 PATERNOSTER SQUARE AND WARWICK COURT

The mapping pattern indicated is mostly marked on the observation of the movement of the people working at Paernoster Square and at Warwick court.

Time 8 AM to 10:30AM and 4:30 PM to 6 PM

PEOPLE RELAXING IN THE SUN

The red dots marked indicates stationary position of the people resting on the benches.

It was dominently used during sunny days while were kept un-used during rainy days.

BASE STORY AND SELECTION OF FIVE CHARACTERS The Epic that is the Indian mythology of ‘Mahabharata’ was the crucial foundation for the project. The base story of the mythology used and then implemented in the form of identifying the five characters (overlapping the characters of the five ‘Pandavas’) and then studying them was majorly based on the epic where there movements were choreographed to attain maximum interaction amongst them. In this process ‘I’ acted as the Lord Krishna wherein the movements of the charcaters selected was controlled by me.

This intersection of Indian mythology and Urban public space was the point of focus for the project.

PATERNOSTER SQUARE Over the years the site has been like a theatre to various events. This narrative helped to establish a BASE STORY which would serve as basic concept for the entire design development.

BASE STORY PANDAVAS: THE FIVE WARRIORS The story of Pandavas forms the important part of one of the two ancient epics of ancient India (the other being ‘Ramayana’).

The Mahabharata tells the story of two sets of paternal first cousins, the five sons of deceased king Pandu and the one hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra. These cousins became bitter rivals, and opposed each other in the war for the possession of the ancestral Bharata kingdom with its capital in the ‘City of Elephants’ called ‘Hastinapura’, on the bank of the river Ganges in the North-Central India. What is dramatically interesting about the story is within its simple opposition is the individual agendas, the perception of many characters, the numerous personal conflicts, ethical puzzles, sub-plots and the plot twist in total gives the story a strikingly powerful development.

The five sons of Pandu were actually fathered by five Gods (Sex was mortally dangerous for the king Pandu because of the curse). These heroes were assisted throughout the story by various Gods, sages andBrahmins’ including the great sage ‘Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa’ who later became the author of the epic telling the story. He was also grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The hundred sons of the blind king Dhritarashtra, on the other hand,

had a grotesque, demonic birth (they were also said to be the human incarnation of the demons who were perpetual enemies of the devotees of the Lord). The most dramatic figure of the entire Mahabharata, however, is Sri Krishna who is the supreme personality of the Godhead himself, descended to earth in the human form to re-establish his devotees as care takers of the earth, and who practice ‘Dharma’. Krishna Vasudeva was cousin of both the parties but was mainly the advisor of the Pandavas, became brother in law of Arjuna and served as charioteer and mentor to Arjuna in the Great War. Krishna Vasudeva is portrayed several times as ‘the one eager to see the war occur’ and in many ways the Pandavas were his human instruments for fulfilling that end.

The Dhritarashtra party behaved viciously and brutally towards the Pandavas in many ways since the childhood. Their malice displayed itself when they took advantage of the eldest son Pandava, Yudhishthira (who by now had become ruler of the kingdom) in a game of dice.

Dhritarashtra won all his brother, himself and even Pandavas common wife Panchali (Draupadi). They humiliated Pandavas and physically abused Draupadi then drove the Pandava party into the wilderness for 12 years and the 12 years of exile had to be followed by the Pandavas living somewhere in the society in disguise, without being discovered.

The Pandavas fulfilled their part of the bargain by living away from the kingdom, but the evil leader of the Kauravas clan, Duryodhana was unwilling to restore the Pandavas to their share of the kingdom when the 13 years of the exile was completed.

Both sides then called upon their many allies and the two armies arrayed themselves on ‘Kuru’s Field’ (Kuru was one of the eponymous ancestor of the clan). Eleven divisions in the army of Duryodhana fought against seven divisions of Yudhishthira. Much of the war action of the Mahabharata is accompanied by discussion and debate against various interested parties which includes most famous dialogue of Krishna Vasudeva and his ethical lecture and demonstration of his divinity to his devotee and his friend Arjuna. The holy book of Bhagwat Gita appeared in the Mahabharata just prior to the commencement of the war. Several of the important ethical and theological schemes are tied together in this Gita and this ‘Song of the Blessed One’ has exerted much the same sort of powerful and far reaching influence in the Vedic Civilization that the new testament has had in the Cristian world.The Pandavas won the eighteen day battle with the Kauravas.

MY FIVE WARRIORS BRETT THE SAINSBURY’S GUY A quiet and calm guy who keeps aloof. Possibly bored of his job which makes him take frequent breaks. Smokes during his break, if not smoking keeps himself sunk into his phone (like most of the people working around the site). Follows a regular pattern of movement, chooses to sit at the same placeand on the same seat, thus seeming to be organised. If at all the place is occupied he tries to hunt for a seat close by or waits till the person using ‘his’ seat to leave. He rarely prrefers standing. The people around him do not affect his daily routine. His ID badge idicated that his name is Brett.

YUDHISTHIRA

CEDRIC GUY FROM GRINDR

COURTNEY GIRL FROM TINDER

JAMES AND LUCIE THE TWO NEW FRIENDS

Grindr is a dating app for Gay and Bi-sexual guys. Cedric as his profile name suggests, is extremly confident and genuine guy. He is proud of his sexuality and uses grindr to meet guys to make friends and for casual dates. He is not into random hookups. He likes to travel, likes theatre, music, arts and books. He is extremly passionate about his work and knows where is going in life.

He can hold up a good conversation. He is quirky and funny. Extremly responsible and openly talks about his regular HIV tests. He hates people who smokes or do drugs.

Extremly opinionated girl. Her profile stated, ‘If we match, actulally talk, that is how you get to know someone or else what is the point’. She seems to be extremly intelligent, simple and good at heart girl ( as she describes, hippie at heart). She is into games, films, 80’s horror movies etc. She also loves theatre, jazz, singing and animated movies.

They met for coffee everyday after work. James and Lucie both work at London Stock Exchange, they met at a common friends house party after speaking to each other they realised that they both work in the same building. During their meets they discussed everything except work.

They discussed about common friends, parties etc. The day i met them they discussed about ‘Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus’.

The girl said they lived at Chancery Lane.

BHIM

ARJUN

NAKUL AND SAHADEV

According to the epic Arjun seem to be in control of all his senses. Neither lust nor anger could make him foresake virtue. He would never commit an act of cruelty. He is extremly good at his work.

Nakul was said to be the most handsome guy amongst all the brothers. He was intelligent and devoted to others. Sahadev was said to be heroic, wise and extremly skillful at his work.

Both Nakul and Sahadev were both twins and were sons of Pandu’s second wife Madri.

He is strongest amongst the five pandavas. Epic He is the eldest amongst the 5 Pandavas and is about Bhim suggests that he is the man with exson of Dharma( that is lord of judgement). Actreme harsh principles. He never forgives his enecording to the epic he possess the gold like commies and dedicaated to his all brothers. plexion like that of gold, prominent nose and big eyes. He had correct sense of morality and was forgiving in nature

LOCATION OF FIVE CHARACTERS AND MAPPING OF THE SELECTED FIVE CHARACTERS The movement were mapped by observing (Stalking, one might say) the movement of the characters though observation on daily basis.

LOCATION OF FIVE CHARACTERS ON THE SITE

JAMES

LUCIE

COURTNEY

CEDRIC

SAINSBURY’S GUY (BRETT)

MOVEMENT OF SAINSBURY’S GUY (BRETT) TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED ON THE SITE = 202.96M = 203 STEPS

SAINSBURY’S GUY (BRETT)

MOVEMENT OF LUCIE (WORKS AT LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE) TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED ON THE SITE = 127.72M = 128 STEPS

LUCIE

MOVEMENT OF JAMES (WORKS AT LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE) TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED ON THE SITE = 118.20M = 155 STEPS

JAMES

MOVEMENT OF COURTNEY (WORKING AT 1 PATERNOSTER SQUARE) TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED ON THE SITE = 88.56M = 115 STEPS

COURTNEY

MOVEMENT OF CEDRIC (WORKING AT WARWICK COURT) TOTAL DISTANCE TRAVELLED ON THE SITE = 221.53M = 220 STEPS

CEDRIC

EXISTING MAPPING OF THE FIVE CHARACTERS

NODES AT WHIICH THE FIVE CHARACTERS MEET

On the existing site, the main focal point of the site is the main ‘Paternoster Column’.

The pavement pattern of the site too focuses on the column.

NEW FOCAL POINT TO BE ESTABLISHED

Since the project deals with the interaction of 5 people and their main meeting points (nodes) are indicated in red.

The skewed arcs is the base to establish new pavement pattern which derived from the flow of the characters in their resprctive directions.

To establish interaction amonst the five charcaters it was important to first study the interaction between two characters individually to understand the meeting nodes and exisitng possibility of the interaction.

The interaction further which can be enhanced through the new coreographed movements

THE FIVE CHARACTERS SELCTED WERE MAPPED USING FIVE COLOURS 1. SAINSBURY GUY (YELLOW COLOUR), DENOTED AS ‘Y’ 2. LUCIE (MAGENTA COLOUR), DENOTED AS ‘M’ 3. JAMES (BLACK COLOUR), DENOTED AS ‘Bl’ 4. CEDRIC (BLUE COLOUR), DENOTED BY ‘B’ 5. COURTNEY (GREEN COLOUR), DENOTED BY ‘G’

BASIC FORMULAS: 1. FACTORIAL:

Let n be a positive integer. Then ‘n’ factorial (n!) can be defined as n!= n(n-1)(n-2)....1

2. PERMUTATIONS:

Permutations are the different arrangements of a given number of things by taking some or all at a time

3. COMBINATION:

Each of the different groups or selections formed by taking some or all the number of objects is called a combination NUMBER OF ‘COMBINATION’ OF ‘n’ DISTINCT THINGS AT ‘r’ TIMES: nCr = n!/r!(n-r)! = n(n-1)(n-2)...(n-r+1)/r!

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE THESIS WAS TO INTRODUCE ALL CHARACTERS TO EACH OTHER, THUS WAS TO THESE FIVE CHARACTERS WERE TO BE INTRODUCED TO EACH OTHER 5C2 = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1/2! (5-2)! = 5 x 4 x 3 x 2 x 1/2(3!) = 20/2 = 10 In total 10 meetings were to be made with each other.

4. TOTAL COMBINATION OF MEETS: MB, GB, YB, BlB, GM, YM, BlM, YG, BlG, BlY (Total 10 meetings)

CEDRIC AND LUCIE EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

CEDRIC AND LUCIE NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN WALK 51.65M = 52 STEPS TOGETHER

CEDRIC AND COURTNEY EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

CEDRIC AND COURTNEY NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 40.03M = 40 STEPS TOGETHER

BRETT AND JAMES EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

BRETT AND JAMES NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 13.85M = 14 STEPS TOGETHER

CEDRIC AND JAMES EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

CEDRIC AND JAMES NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 51.78M = 52 STEPS TOGETHER

LUCIE AND COURTNEY EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

LUCIE AND COURTNEY NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 31.1 M = 32 STEPS TOGETHER

LUCIE AND BRETT EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

LUCIE AND BRETT NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 25.62 M = 34 STEPS TOGETHER

LUCIE AND JAMES EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

LUCIE AND JAMES NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 127.72M = 128 STEPS TOGETHER

BRETT AND COURTNEY EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

BRETT AND COURTNEY NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 27.13M = 28 STEPS TOGETHER

JAMES AND COURTNEY EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

JAMES AND COURTNEY NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 30.93M = 31 STEPS TOGETHER

JAMES AND BRETT EXISTING MOVEMENT PATTERN

JAMES AND BRETT NEW MOVEMENT PATTERN 10 M = 14 STEPS TOGETHER

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Zoning of the spaces (conscious and un-conscious elements) and further developing the design through sketches and illustrations.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND ACHIEVEMENT: After identifying the movement patterns and choreographing the new circulation for better meeting chances of the five selected characters the zoning of the site was done. As described earlier factors affecting the movement pattern the conscious and sub conscious elements, the site was zoned into the two categories as per the movement patterns The main zone served as the site for the location of the main pavilion where the main meeting nodes of the five characters were located. For the design of the pavilion the nodes of the characters were studied, as the site was considered to serve only 5 characters, the pavilion too was designed for the same. Depending upon the number of the meeting nodes of the users the searing was provided. The two trees served as the focal point in the pavilion, while the pentagonal seating area was the most important element for the five characters to know each other together at the same time.

The whole theatre of interaction was based on the skewed arc pattern conceptualised based on the various movement pattern and movement. The fluidity of the existing circulation pattern was changed into more controlled circulation pattern for the characters to come together and providing them with the opportunity of interaction.

Paternoster column: The initial existing focal point the paternoster column attracted the tourist and thus there was this need to shift this focus towards the zone of maximum intersecting nodes. It was achieved through two strategies 1. Making the column invisible (the column to be covered with designed screen eradicated the focal point this leaving the site in ambiguous state with no focal point.

2. In the need of the new focal point on a large open space , the pavilion came into existence thus giving the site new focal point This conceptual approach to establish interaction amongst these five characters was to be achieved at less comprehensive level of the pedestrian pattern and more comprehensive in the designed pavilion .

INITIAL CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES OF THE PUBLIC SEATING

According to the analysed movement patterns, zoning the site into conscious and sub-conscious elements of design.

Adding the design layer of pavillion over the movement pattern Conscious element of design that is the seating. Developing the area as main ‘Pavillion’ where the movement of the characters would be directed for interaction Sub-conscious element that is the pedestrian pattern. Developing the zone as ‘Pedestrian’ pathway according to the movement of characters.

The Fixed seating for the 5 characters Main seating for all 5 characters Pedetrian pathway, covered by pergolas

Small seating for 5 characters

Small seating for 3 characters

Small seating for 5 characters

Small seating for 3 characters Small seating for 2 characters

Small seating for 2 characters

PAVILLION PLAN (SCALE 1:50) Depending upon number of characters crossing a junction the seating was to be provided accordingly

Main seating for all 5 characters

Meeting courtyard for 5 characters

Small seating for 3 characters

Small seating for 5 characters

Small seating for 2 characters

Meeting courtyard within the pavillion for 2 characters

PAVILLION PLAN (SCALE 1:50)

3D VIEW OF THE PAVILLION

3D VIEW OF THE PAVILLION

3D VIEW OF THE PAVILLION

EXISTING PATERNOSTER COLUMN

DESIGNED SCREEN TO HIDE THE COLUMN

3D VIEW OF THE PAVILLION AND THE COLUMN IN CONTEXT WITH THE SITE

3D VIEW OF THE PAVILLION AND THE COLUMN IN CONTEXT WITH THE SITE

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Poster of the movie the shining and stills from the movie shining Exhibition street: Concept of Shared space Proxemics and factors affecting the same Oxford circus station rush hour Office working hours Pedestrian traffic Bath for banks Free hugs Contacts at moderate level Possible starting point for contacts at other levels Possibility of maintaining already existing contacts A source of inspiration, a stimulating experience Evolution in Public Realm Factors preventing or promoting interactionPublic Seating Pedestrian patterns Pergolas Sculptures Jeppe Hein’s interactive furnitures Candy Chang Urban design issue Granary Square Bishop’s Square Borough Market Paternoster Square

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Mapping movements of the people at the Paternoster Square Mapping of the five selected characters Existing mapping of the two characters Modified/Coreographed mapping of the two selected characters Establishing focal point for the site Initial sketches for the designed public seating

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THANK YOU