As a noted Urbanist once highlighted, suburbia’s attraction is that people cherish there “private realm” and those not so familiar with urban living feel they will lose their privacy if they were to live in such an environment. Certainly I have not heard much of complaints about the richness, variety, diversity and abundance of activity urban environment come with, but it is so clear that people are willing to forgo these for their perceived security of privacy and personal space in suburbia!
This is the importance of the “Spaces In Between”. These are the mediators of the public and the private realm. They are the transitional spaces where one experiences the connection, yet separation between the 2 realms. They exist in the urban environments of Europe as well as in the colonial urban areas of Asia and are key components in the best urban areas around the world.
This is the importance of the “Spaces In Between”. These are the mediators of the public and the private realm. They are the transitional spaces where one experiences the connection, yet separation between the 2 realms. They exist in the urban environments of Europe as well as in the colonial urban areas of Asia and are key components in the best urban areas around the world.
Colonnades / Arcades – Arcaded walkways in Italian Cities of Bologna and Turin are prime examples not only do they provide a transitional space from the inside to the outside in terms of public activity, they also serve as a climate mediator. In Asia some of the most valued properties are the colonial shophouses in Singapore and Malaysia. These early urban mixed use developments catering to small family run business on the ground level and living spaces up stair. They are all designed with what is known as a “5 foot way”, the dimension required for a covered walkway at the front of the property where it meets the public realm.
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| Singapore Shophouses - 5 foot way |
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| Arcade Proportions Bologna Italy - Europe Travels 1983 - Bertram Wong |
Balconies – before balconies became glass rails with no containment of space these have long been mediators of public and private. Traditionally of more solid railings and more often than not covered and partially enclosed with walls or colonnades. These balconies traditionally provide a great degree of privacy to the interior spaces. In addition serve a great outdoor rooms and sun shading from direct sunlight.
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| Siem Reap, Cambodia - Balcony |
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| Siem Reap, Cambodia - View from Balcony |
Porches / Porticos – Serving a primary purpose as the entry to the build and sometimes as part of a layer and sequence of “In Between Spaces” they can lead directly in the private real of a building but quite often lead into a vestibule / anteroom or courtyard. These spaces can be designed as appendages or attachments to building forms or as spaces carved out of a building massing. Their end result is very similar to arcades in the way they serve as transitional space.
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| Porch of the Pantheon Rome facing the Piazza - Rome Sketchbook 1982 - Bertram Wong |
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| Entry Porch - Kuching, Malaysia |
Vestibules / Anterooms – Usually part of a sequence of “In Between Spaces” that lead from a colonnade or porch into the anteroom and then into the private realm or courtyard which could be private or semi Private.
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| Entry Vestibule on left at entry to Courtyard House - Zhou Zhuang, China |
Courtyards – these serve as space where rooms can be oriented such that they have privacy away from the main roads. Usually some room perhaps more public will be oriented to the main roads and the more private will be fronting courtyards, isolating them from the public noise. The courtyards themselves serve as outdoor living rooms.
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| Courtyard S. Carlo, Rome - Europe Travels 1983 - Bertram Wong |
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| Courtyard - Foshan, China |
Architectural Features – in addition to and or in association with the “In between spaces” there are architectural features such as shutters with louvers that further add to mediating between public and private. In traditional shop houses these are usually hinge shutters that also have operable louvers as a second layer outside the window. They can be used in combination with the window in an open or closed position. In Europe the shutter are traditionally wooden that are able to roll up, but can also be opened out like an awning and can be adjusted to be completely opaque or opened to be slat like allowing in air and light.
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| Singapore Shophouses - Wood Shutters |
As all these above addressed climate conditions as well as privacy, with the introduction of air conditioning, much of these in between spaces and architectural features disappeared. The climate issue has been addressed by air conditioning with the availability of cheap energy, but the other issue of public to private mediator has for a large part been ignored. For true urban development to benefit from the richness of city life without giving up personal privacy the “in between spaces” need to be essential parts of development. This in fact will also reduce energy cost and be a step in the right direction to reduce global warming.
Singapore, November 2011
http://jiwastudioweb.blogspot.com/
See Also, Lessons of Rome - Part 7 - Porticos
What's a pity that the "privacy spaces" has gone due to the urbanization and dense developments in the city.
ReplyDeleteYet the new "sustainable building" recognition, like LEED or HK-BEAM, are lack of flexibility and encourage "prototype" buildings that is vertical development with large open space at ground floor - it does not have strong personal touch although "privacy" can be maintained.
It is really worth for discussion on what is the "future" spaces we need.