Abstract

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Reshaping an old industrial laundry building into a public space in a diverse neighbourhood in Ghent. The process existed out of mapping the area and research public spaces and how people interact with each other.

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     How can public interactions be driven through design?

     When does space feel appealing and comfortable for the neighbourhood?

Most of the research consisted of reading many papers: public space and the importance of the social, human aspect. Designing public space is a delicate subject. It is not always clear what the effect of a certain intervention would be. It is definitely not possible to say in advance if something would work or not.

Therefore it is important to be considerate on what to add and what to take out of the public space. References such as Herman Hertzberger and Aldo Van Eyck played an important role in this investigation. The study of their buildings and how their ideas took shape helped in developing a design.

This ended with the importance of small interventions and how these could make a difference in the public space.
Design ‘tools’ such as different height levels, walls small enough to look over it... But it could be even smaller like ‘dividing tools’: a change in the street tiles, they could indicate a new area, a new space...

Details added to the public space that could have a positive impact.