Extragraphic: Beyond graphics and urban space

Abstract

It can be easily observed that some public spaces appear empty, even if they have some features that could make them attractive, while other are bustling with life. This problem might occur if a space is seen as transitional, as in one which is used only to pass through and where nobody decides to stay. Some factors that cause this seem obvious, such as location or lack of facilities, however they do not answer what causes someone to make the decision to stay or not on subconscious level. The reason for this might be that this is caused by how the space is perceived, which can be affected by visual means on many levels. One such space is a pedestrian passage in between Frölunda Torg and residential areas. It appears empty, is used mainly on the way to the shopping center or as a shortcut to the tram station, which creates a striking contrast when compared to the interior of the mall, that is a meeting point of local community, used by every age group. With the site as an example of space with those qualities, I analyse the possible reasons of such state using the notion of liminality and develop a toolbox of visual methods, that can be used to affect the perception of the space, from transitional to a place of its own. I use both 2D and 3D abstract graphical forms that are supposed to convey spatial effects of architecture, create new directions and connections, highlight certain parts, as well as manipulate space with color and perspective. The designs are specifically not intended to be buildings or structures, instead they are supposed to be a spatial representation of a concept, that might be also applied in other contexts. The final result of the work is application of the concepts and methods in the same space as used for research, in the form of a specific design.