Thresholds intervention: Transforming threshold spaces on Gothenburg's cultural district

Abstract

Threshold spaces—transitional zones such as entrances, plazas, and pathways between urban areas and cultural institutions—play a vital role in shaping public accessibility and participation. Yet, these spaces are often ignored in urban renewal processes, which tend to focus on building interiors or largescale redevelopment. This thesis investigates how strategic interventions in these neglected thresholds, guided by principles derived from architectural theory and tested through diverse typologies across the site, can foster informal (spontaneous, open-access, and democratic) cultural activities, bridging the gap between formal institutions and the surrounding urban fabric to create vibrant, interconnected cultural districts. Gothenburg's Cultural District, a historically significant area anchored by neoclassical landmarks, is fragmented by isolated buildings and underused urban space. These transitional spaces—Entrances, plazas, and pathways currently serve only as static access points to formal institutions, their rigid layouts and closed designs failing to encourage spontaneous public interaction or cultural engagement. Thresholds, classified by location/context/space, receive tailored interventions transforming them into hybrid spaces that link formal institutions with spontaneous cultural engagement, stitching fragmented landmarks into cohesive corridors. These interventions are guided by site analysis (transition layers, spatial sequences), and three more specific strategies that activate thresholds: Cross-programming ( Tschumi, 2000) integrates hybrid activities into existing cultural events; promenade-driven (Corbusier, 1962) design reconfigures pathways' experience with installations and intervened entrances; Phenomenal transparency (Rowe, 1963) guides a rotated intervention system that overlays and interact. The interventions transform thresholds into hybrid spaces where formal institutions and spontaneous cultural engagement coexist. By layering these activities, thresholds stitch fragmented landmarks into a diverse but cohesive cultural corridor, balancing heritage preservation with contemporary needs. This approach experiments with how adaptable, different-scale interventions can revitalize underused zones, offering a model to enhance inclusivity and vibrancy in cultural districts globally.