Stitching
Forgotten Spaces in the City
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Individual Work
Fall 2020
During the large-scale plannings and constructions in the urban renewal, some inconspicuous corners and spaces often lack planning and management, which called forgotten spaces, being prone to the problems such as dirty environment, illegal using and traffic jam. This site is a narrow passage which is under above mentioned situation.
This project plans to take full advantages of this forgotten space, creating a space that changes according to human behaviors. It will not only keep the activities currently happening on the site, but also add more activities in order to activate this forgotten space, solve the problem of traffic jam, and improve space utilization, offering more public areas for city.
This is a conceptual project, I propose a strategy with modular spaces and movable function to activate the forgotten urban voids left behind by redevelopment.
By stitching these fragmented spaces back into the city, I aim to create flexible, shared environments that reconnect the old and the new.
The site is a narrow passageway nestled between two buildings, an urban void forgotten amidst the surrounding wave of redevelopment. Unlike the adjacent commercial buildings that have been renovated and revitalized, this corridor remains untouched. Defined by blank, inactive walls and devoid of any storefronts or public amenities, it exists as nothing more than a threshold space, a transitional corridor between the new and the old.
It connects a shopping street with an aging residential housing, home to predominantly elderly residents. Despite being a vital route in their daily lives, the space has been neglected in the city's broader vision of renewal. Even along the commercial street, there is a lack of public seating or rest areas for shoppers.
By reactivating it, I aim to transform this residual void into a shared, inclusive public space that provides moments of rest, interaction, and relief for both residents and visitors.
Currently, the site mainly serves three functions: illegal parking, deliveries, and pedestrian passage.
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I plan to preserve the existing functions and activities of the site while introducing new programs.
To do so, I began by observing and analyzing how the space is currently used. I documented patterns of movement and behavior and created a timetable that maps out the rhythms of daily activity within this passageway.
Study models
In order to maximize spatial circulation and flexibility, I began by testing the idea of small-scale modular movement within a larger space. However, this approach led to an excessive number of small units, making the program overly complex and difficult to manage.
Since the current activities on site occur at different locations and at different times, I divided the space into separate modules, imagining that these modules could move to accommodate changing needs throughout the day.
Before doing so, I first envisioned other possible activities that could take place in this space.
Since pedestrian circulation occurs throughout the entire day, I divided the site’s circulation into two types: a fixed circulation path and a dynamic one that shifts according to the movement of the modules. Therefore, the space is also organized into fixed zones and movable zones.
Based on the activity analysis and circulation design, I further divided the movable area into three equally sized modules. Each module consists of two levels—an upper and a lower platform.
I then simplified the system by dividing the space into four equal grids, allowing the modules to move clockwise or counterclockwise to generate different spatial arrangements. Eventually, I refined the design further by reducing the number of modules from four to three. This not only introduced a clearer spatial directionality but also improved natural lighting within the space.
The green zone represents the fixed module, while the red, yellow, and blue zones are movable modules.
In the fixed module, users can either take the stairs to access each level of the movable modules, or simply pass through the ground floor without ascending.
Among the three movable modules, the lower platforms remain fixed, while the upper platforms are capable of moving vertically along predefined tracks to generate different spatial configurations.
When a module needs to shift, the upper platform first aligns horizontally with the lower one, allowing the entire module to move laterally—up, down, left, or right—into a new fixed position.
This movement occurs cyclically, with the space transforming three times a day.
Based on the density and timing of daily activities, the space is programmed to transform three times a day, adapting to changing functional needs throughout the day.
This diagram shows how the four modules can be arranged and combined.
Each movable module has two forms, as its upper platform is capable of vertical movement. One of these forms occurs when the upper platform aligns flat with the lower one, this configuration allows smooth horizontal shifting, enabling the module to move into position. However, in this flat state, the module no longer functions as a defined space but rather becomes a transitional floor plane.
Through movement and reconfiguration, these modules generate three distinct overall spatial arrangements throughout the day.
Mode 1: Working Mode
This time period is the busiest time of the day.
Workers are busy delivering and unloading, and the surrounding residents rush to work.
Mode 2: Semi-Working Mode
The delivery work is basically completed during this time. People who work or shop nearby can relax, chat or play chess here.
Mode 3: Leisure Mode
During this time, people go for a walk after dinner, they drink and chat in the wind, and some artists perform here.
