TACTICAL URBANISM
P L AY S PA C E O N A D A P T I V E S T R E E T , C H O R R I L L O S , L I M A , P E R U
R E N Y R E VA R I A H | M U D
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
Street is a vital element in the neighborhood, not only as a connector but also as a public space. A street could be an adaptive space
Street is one of the vital element in the neighborhood which potentially perform
to gather, socialize, stay and play. This idea is potentially relevant in Alto Peru neighborhood as it is facing disconnection problem
more than as linear open space that connects people to destinations. As Nancy
within the neighborhood itself. Interestingly, it has primary assets which are youth and existing condition in the neighborhood of
Rottle wrote, “streets are public spaces that can support a multitude of activity
how people actively perceive street as a public space. But, as an informal neighborhood, low-cost intervention and bottom-up
and function- not only movement of vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists, but
process are somewhat needed. In relation to that, tactical urbanism seems to be a good initiative, especially to respond to social,
also places to gather, socialize, stay and play.” (2014, p. 4) Furthermore, adding
economic and cultural needs of the residents. This study primarily examines how could adaptive street function as shared public
adaptive value on the street could help to strengthen neighborhood interaction,
space that accommodates different activities, especially for youth? How can street life experience be maximized through street
encouraging active transportation and safe street, activating street for new uses
design with tactical approaches? I argue that with tactical urbanism concept, a street could perform actively as a shared space
and play and fostering human and ecological health. (Lewis & Schwindeller, 2014)
in the neighborhood by combining it with youth energy. Based on the findings, I proposed a tactical intervention on Alto Peru’s
But, this case might not apply in an informal neighborhood when its informality
street as a linear adaptive shared space by considering the assets. The aim of this suggested intervention is to create a playful
leads the neighborhood to be un-prioritized in the development plan.
street to connect disconnected neighborhoods within Alto Peru by reimagining a street as an active adaptive shared space.
Waiting for new improvement, especially in the informal neighborhood could
Peru
Lima
require more patience. Apart from that, planning strategies somehow failed to create spaces in response to social, cultural and economic needs of residents. (Wohl, 2017) But, tactical urbanism as an urban movement with bottom-up processes seems to be a good initiative in tackling those issues especially in transforming and enhancing street function in an informal neighborhood. Tactical urbanism in reimagining street fits the concept of self-organization which could form different local initiatives in an unpredicted way. (Silva, 2016) The relations in space could determine what succeeds which need to be activated by enabling a generative, selective and adaptive process that includes evolutionary design. (Wohl, 2017) Furthermore, youth is the best resource in the neighborhood that can contribute to a successful street because they are very active and always moving forward. (Omar, 2016) Youth has various activities including sport and play in general. So, by
Chorrillos, Alto Peru
considering youth and existing activities on the street, this study has been carried out to find how could adaptive street function as shared public space that accommodates different activities especially for youth? How can street life experience be maximized through street design with tactical approaches? This study argues that tactical approaches in adaptive street combined with youth energy could create an action-oriented and active place to play.
| Key Map
CASE STUDIES
How could adaptive street function as shared public space that accommodates different activities especially for youth? 16th Street Mall, Denver, US
New Road, Brighton, UK New Road, a street in Brighton, was focused on the needs of vehicles instead of people. So, the initial brief was to close the street and reclaim as pedestrianized linear square. But, in regards to unique condition at the site, the new plan of the street incorporates all different activities instead: cycling, sitting, standing and walking to create more walkable, relaxed, attractive and accessible city through a shared street. Basically, the visual quality of street markedly forces all users to become more aware of the surrounding. Changes in tone, module and materials are coupled with street furniture arrangement to provide extra layers of information. Paving, seating, and lighting have invited people to possibly to have interaction and change the dynamic of the street. Now, this shared street becomes the most important connective public space that links the principal cultural institutions of the city. Since its opening, the traffic level
Denver’s 16th Street Mall is a buzzing downtown destination of mile-
dropped by 93%, while numbers of cycling and pedestrian have
long street and transit corridor in the city’s historic downtown core that
increased by 22% and 62% respectively. Lingering activities also
becomes a magnet for people. Basically, 16th Street is a shared space for
experience a massive 600% increase.
pedestrian, cycling, and shuttle with various typologies of a segmented street. In some parts of the street, the median is occupied as public space for flexible programs that could change over time. This also encourages temporary programs that are organized by age categories, such as: 1. Playing
2.
Talking and dining
3. Entertainment
4.
Sitting and watching
But, since it has potential to be more lively and vibrant space by not only attracting people to move through the space but also to spend more time there, the 16th Street is planned using people-first action-oriented approach, Meet in the Street (MITS), that will bring life to the street and turn 16th Street into the true destination. Through the MITS program, this tactical intervention programmed several blocks along the street with many diverse activities, ranging from extended cafe seating to art installations. This also prototypes festival that invites the community and engages people. This program has impacted business sales better.
How can street life experience be maximized through street design with tactical approaches?
P R O J E C T A N A LY S I S
| Existing Analysis Map
Area of study is Alto Peru, precarious neighborhood in Chorrillos district, Lima, Peru. This neighborhood is located adjacent to the formal neighborhood, prestigious clubs, fish market and most importantly sea. Having a close connection to the sea, the majority of residents are attached to it in terms of livelihoods and activities. Within the neighborhood itself, there are few important places and potential sites, including existing interventions of playground, Muay Thai plaza, and Parque. Considered small area, the neighborhood of Alto Peru has an issue of disconnection within itself. Alto Peru has three disconnected neighborhoods that are divided by two main streets. This disconnection is caused by existing drug dealing in the neighborhood which is located in the center of it. This disconnection makes existing interventions impact smaller as they are not able to come to a place that is located in other neighborhoods. Youth has been an Alto Peru’s big concern as they are the next generation of this neighborhood. There are some programs already to support their interests, especially in sports. Surfing has become one of intervention that Alto Peru provides with a free class. There are some other potential activities that youth could engage to. Looking into how youth becomes energy in this neighborhood, they are considered an asset to transform space into more active and playful. Besides youth, the way how people practice their everyday life in Alto Peru could also be considered as an asset. Street and sidewalk become shared space where they could interpret their body into it. Even though they somewhat privatize sidewalk as part of their property and walk on the street instead, the existing activities activate this shared space into a place for everyone.
| Site Analysis
| Youth Activities
D E S I G N S T R AT E G I E S By analyzing and identifying problems and assets in this neighborhood, this design aims to create a corridor that performs as shared space. This corridor connects important places within the neighborhood while indirectly also creates a connection to other neighborhoods beyond Alto Peru. Basically, by connecting destinations using places in Alto Peru, the corridor is proposed to be equal infrastructure to reduce the fear of going to other parts of the neighborhood which has been a problem for years. Specifically, this corridor also uses an adaptive approach where elements and features on the street could be interpreted differently by users. Since, this design addresses youth as an essential element in this neighborhood, the corridor considers more in play elements that youth could share even though their physical activities are different. Temporal elements are also used as a design strategy in this project. Movable characteristic allows people to have various activities as they would be able to use furniture differently based on their demands, for example, folded tables attached on building’s wall could be used by residents to play chess and folded during the daytime when unused. In order to slow down the traffic, the corridor considers doable intervention using affordable materials as long as those could differentiate space and psychologically help people to be more aware with their surrounding. Those materials could be painted and textured. Other than that, since this neighborhood has less vegetation, this intervention also provides movable garden boxes for shrubs. Furthermore, considering safety as an important part to create successful street, electricity poles as one of a noticeable image of this neighborhood are attached with street lights. | Diagram of Intervention: Youth and Street
| Connection
| Conceptual Framework
DISCUSSION By creating shared space with an adaptive approach in this disconnected Alto Peru, the new active corridor would be achieved. Even though the design is focused on youth more, but this shared space is dedicated for all users; people and vehicles. The corridor would be able to accommodate various activities, ranging from sports, daily activities, leisure, commercial and events. But, beyond this activeness, this corridor positively would provide safe space for youth to play. Further, this corridor accommodates other programs to enrich the value of this neighborhood. The tournament is one of an important proposed program. This event would not only activate the corridor but also generate opportunities for Alto Peru specifically. By hosting an event that invites a large group of people, Alto Peru could promote its value in terms of sports and youth. This event also could invite sponsorships for youth and neighborhood improvement. Importantly, as people gather, there are a lot of opportunities to develop local economy whether for Alto Peru’s residents itself or Chorrillos in general. Another program is sports classes that are held randomly in the corridor area. This program not only would give vocational activities for youth, but also connect neighborhoods. Sports class could reduce the fear of people to go to other Alto Peru’s neighborhoods since it is free and for all, wherever they live. Moreover, this program would allow youth from other neighborhoods outside Alto Peru to join as a way to bond a broader relationship. In conclusion, this corridor’s main purpose is to not only connect neighborhoods of Alto Peru but improve the overall neighborhood. Design strategies are generally proposed to create a vibrant and active space that could perform as a connector using youth and existing conditions. But specifically, this corridor is intended to reimagine street and sidewalk as more than just a generic corridor but as shared space for diverse people and activities.
| Programs
REFERENCES Gehl. (n.d.). Downtown Denver 16th St Mall - Small Steps Towards Big Change. Retrieved from https://issuu.com/gehlarchitects/docs/denver_principles_report_ for_print Jaffe, E., & CityLab. (2015, March 24). 6 Places Where Cars, Bikes, and Pedestrians All Share the Road As Equals. Retrieved from https://www.citylab.com/ solutions/2015/03/6-places-where-cars-bikes-and-pedestrians-all-share-the-road-as-equals/388351/ Lewis, J., & Schwindeller, M. (2014). Adaptive Streets: Strategies for Transforming the Urban Right-of-Way. The Scan Design Fun-dation. New Road. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2011/04/new-road-by-landscape-projects-and-gehl-architects/ Oakden, H. (2014, September 08). New Road, Brighton – A Shared Space. Retrieved from https://thelandscape.org/2014/09/08/new-road-brighton-a-sharedspace/ Omar, D., Omar, K. A., Othman, S., & Yusoff, Z. M. (2016). Youth Participation in Urban Neighbourhood Community. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 234, 309-316. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.10.247 Pedestrianization of New Road in Brighton – Gehl. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://gehlpeople.com/cases/new-road-brighton-uk/ Silva, Paulo. “Tactical Urbanism: Towards an Evolutionary Cities’ Approach?” Environment and Planning B: Planning and Design, vol. 43, no. 6, 2016, pp. 1040– 1051., doi:10.1177/0265813516657340. Wohl, S. (2017). Tactical urbanism as a means of testing relational processes in space: A complex systems perspective. Planning Theory, 147309521772280. doi:10.1177/1473095217722809
| Perspectives