Third Spaces and the Collective City

The fundamental premise of the studio is the political nature of space. In Delft, over the last twenty years the settlement has been radically altered. Other than the public buildings, which have remained static and unchanging, residents have actively transformed their governmentissue houses and reconfigured public space in new and interesting ways. The studio critically maps how these have been harnessed by local residents to construct a new spatiality. The studio seeks explorations as to how public spatial infrastructure, inclusive of the ongoing demand for housing, can be used to invigorate spaces in the area. This is approached as a discursive mode of architectural inquiry that brings into dialogue socio-spatial theories and practices, with architectural design imagination and making. The purpose of this studio is to explore how architecture can engender these creative strategies, enabling people to transform given space in ways that enhance their lives. In many instances it is these actions that collectively contribute to urban vitality and help build the city. The emphasis of the studio is on architecture as a generator, and on buildings which function as armatures for further engagement, rather than as closed and highly fetishised objects.