A STUDY OF THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF CORNER TO RE-EVOKE THE

NEGLECTED URBAN SPACE

A DISSERTATION

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE

REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER SCIENCE

IN

ARCHITECTURE

MORATU«ft. .-

. 6

By

GAJANAYAKA P. K. D.

2003

7 9 0 1 9

L4rA Th&Sis

7 9 0 1 9

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I offer my sincere thanks to Prof .Samitha Manawadu.the head of the department of

architecture of University of Moratuwa for the guidance and encouragement given on

such kind of research base self exploratory study, to senior lecture and coordinator of

M.Sc dissertation Dr R.Emmanuavel for the proper guidance and directionality given

to me.

I forwarded my thanks to Arct Ravin Gunaratne for the inspiration and

encouragement given to me in up merging the heart felt idea. And ArctVidura Sri

Nammuni for the warmest effort made throughout the year in correcting me with the

verbalizing weakness.

I also extend my thanks to Arct Channa Daswattha Arct. Madura Prematilika,Senior

Lecture K.D. Fernando for the productive lectures they offered on sociology .urban

architecture and city planning, in nourishing my dissertation and Dr. Herath for the

support given through discussion.

My whole hearted gratitude forwarded to my tutor Arct Prasanna Kulatilika for the

immense encouragement devotion and support given to all of us throughout the

duration. My heartiest thank forwarded to all, at my temporary residence Hema

aunty ,Esmy aunty ,Loku Malli ,Podi Malli.and Uncle for their whole hearted

' cooperation and support given in helping me.

My heartiest thanks goes on to my dearest friends Chandrika .Manjula and Inoka for

their whole hearted devotion in helping me with typing and editing at the last moment

when I was up to trouble.

My heartiest thanks goes to Nuwan in helping me through out the study with

forwarding effective arguments and devotion paid in such of urban pockets and

comers together with the photographs.

My hole hearted gratitudes thanks forwarded to my direst Amma .Thaththa ,Loku

Nangi and Podi Nangi for their full time devotion language correction and helping me

in typing and sharing all thoughts and moods alike.

Gajanayaka P.K.D

Department of architecture

University of Moratuwa.

A S T U D Y OF T H E P H E N O M E N O L O G Y OF THE CORNER

T O RE-EVOKE T H E N E G L E C T E D URBAN S P A C E

C O N T E N T

A C K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

ABSTRACTS i

INTRODUCTION iii

CHAPTER ONE: The spatialrty of human emotions

1.1: human spatial Relationship 09

1.1.1: Primitive or pragmatic space 09

1.1.2: Perceptual space 10

1.1.3: Existential space 11

1.1.4: Architectural space 12

1.2: Physical attributes of space 13

1.2.1: Quantitative dimensions 13

1.2.1.1: Horizontal space defining elements 13

1.2.1.1: Vertical space defining elements 18

1.2.2: Qualitative dimensions 21

1.2.2.1: Composition 21

1.2.2.2: Colour 23

1.2.2.3: Rhythm 24

1.2.2.4: light 25

1.3: psychological attributes of space 26

1.3.1: Permeability 26

1.3.2: Variety 28

1.3.3: Legibility 29

1.3.4: Robustness 30

1.4: The "emotional "attributes of space 31

1.4.1: Center, Enclosure, Continuity 32

1.4.2: Expression of space 34

1.4.2.1: Articulation

1.4.2.2.: Coherence

1.4.3: Sprite of place

1.4.3.1: Spatial juxtaposion and interpenetration

1.5: Corner space - The untapped spatiality

1.6: Concluding remarks

CHAPTER T W O : "Corner space" in Architecture; the purpose and

meaning.

2 .1 : Psychological and phenomenological corner

2 .1 .1 : Introverted dimensions of corner space

2.1.2: Extroverted dimensions of corner space

2.2: Physical corner

2.3: Environmental corner

2.4: Corner space and its phenomenon

2.5: contemporary controversial use of corner space.

2.6: Corner space in relation to other spaces

2 .6 .1: Den

2.6.2: Cell

2.7: concluding remarks

CHAPTER THREE: Urban space and urban life

3 .1 : Concept of urban space

3.2: Urban space in local context

3.2.1: Historical evidence

3.2.2: the contemporary context

3.3 Role of urban space in city dwellers life

3.4 Concluding remarks

CHAPTER FOUR: Corner as an under layer of urban space

4 . 1 : Typology of urban space

4 .1 .1 : Introductory explanation of elements of urban space

4.2: Neglected urban space as"nobody's land"

4.2.1 Case study one -Negatively treated corners in terms of

Articulation and formation with in Colombo city.

4.3: Potentials of corner phenomenon to re-awake the neglected

spaces as "every body's land"

4 .3 .1 : Corner space as under layer to other elements

4 .3.2: Case study two - positively treated corners in terms

of articulation and formation, with the photographic

illustration of local and foreign examples

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PLATES

Plate 1.1: Embryo finds his space in his mother's womb Plate 1.2 :"Wewai Dagabi Gamai Pansali" Plate 1.3: Elevated base plane Plate 1.4: Application of Depressed base plane Platel .5:The form of the shape is determine by the shape of the overhead plane Plate 1.6: On space Plate 1.7: Under space Plate 1.8: Side space Plate 1.9: Side space Plate 1.10: Light effect on designed space Plate 1.11: Recessed Junction Plate 1.12: Coherence within Neighbourhood Unit Plate2.1: Environmental comer Plate2.2: Environmentally exist corner Plate 03: Conner fire place Plate 04: Corner as Storage places Plate 03: Conner fire place Plate 04: Corner as Storage places Plate 3.1: Contemporary context at street Pattha Plate 4.1-ancient streets Street as a live warm gathering Plate 4 .2: Beira cannel at the junction of Beira Plate 4.3: Street corner at Pettah near old Municipal council building. Plate 4.4 Unfinished pavement at Nawam Mawatha - Beire Plate4.5 Garbage point near bambalapitiya Station Plate 4.6 Distance view of bambalapitiya junction. Plate 4.7 Closer view of Bambalapitiya Junction. Plate 4.8 Accessing Alley way to the hidden pocket Plate 4.9 Alley - Bangasala St Pettah. Plate 4.10 Alley at Bambalapitiyaln front of MC. Plate 4.11 Alley Bangasala St. Pettach Alley Plate4.12: Introverted exterior abandoned corner space: Plate 4.13 : Navam Mawatha, Bera Lake - positively articulated

junction Plate 4.14 : Junction Nawam Mawatha, Bere Lake. Plate 4.15: Vision through Nawam Mawatha Bo-Treet Plate4.16:Negative articulation corner at Kollupiya Plate 4.17: Muslin Commercial Bank, Main St. Pettah. Plate 4.18: Timeless potential of street comer. Plate 4.19: Timeless gathering ofstreet corner Plate 4.20: Light up spark with the wilderness of dark.

Plate 4.21: Light up night time corner activity pocket. Plate 4.22: Positively acticulated comer; Plate 4.23: Sense of withdrawal through the volume over the

space Plate 4.24: Corner exists beneath overhead plane provides a

shade in deserted scape. Plate 4.25: Positive respondent towards street comer Plate 4.26: Naturally exist alley way Plate 4.27: Positive articulation of an environmental corner Plate 4.28: Positive articulation of natural corner

Plate 4.29: Naturally exist short distance alley way Plate : 4.30: Positively articulated mixed residential alley. Plate 4.31: Positive treatment over the directional focus Plate 4.32 : Positively treated corner space alley

Plate 4.33: Off centred corner space over looking square Plate 4.34;Positively treated two dimensional corner space

FIGURES Fig 1.1 Base plan Fig 1.2: Elevated base plane Fig 1.3: The degree of spatial and visual continuity Fig 1.4: Depressed base plane Fig 1.5: spatial and visual continuity- depressed base plane Fig 1.6: Over head plane Fig 1.7: Liner vertical element Fig 1.8: Clock tower Fig 1.9: A vertical planes will articulate the space that if fronts Fig 1.10: A "L" shaped configuration of planes Fig 1.11: Void introduced at the comer of the configuration Fig 1.12: Neither plane extent to the comer, make the field

more dynamic in nature. Fig 12: An Unshaped configuration of planes Fig 1.13:"L" configuration establishes a corner of it's site Fig 1.14: "L" configuration of planes are stable and self supporting, and can stand alone of space. Fig 1.15: Open ended "L" configuration Fig 1.16: Parallel planes define a volume of space Fig 1.17: Four planes enclose an internal space Fig 1.18: In door and out door relation ship through visual and physical permeability Fig 1.19: Locating magnet activities Fig 1.20: Physically centralised space with the negligence of off centred attention Fig 1.21: Physically off centred dominance with self centred

prominence Fig 1.22: Offering flowers at open aired space Fig 1.23: Articulation creates internal volume and external edge Fig 1.24: The negative articulation the recess Fig 1.25: Negative articulation; Fig1.26: opening introduced at the comer Fig1.27: neither planes extended to define the corner Fig 1.28: Positive articulation; corner plinth and cornice in relief Fig 1.30: Positively articulated corner as markets sequences Fig 1.31: Comer detail: Fig 1.32: Comers define the meeting of two planes, Fig 1.33: Unadorned comers emphasizes the volume of a form -Everson Museum; syrasouse, New York 1968. Fig 1.34: Rounding off the corner emphases the continuity of a form's surfaces Fig 1.35: A rounded comer emphasizes continuity of surface, Fig 1.37: Einsteim Tower: Pstsdam, 1919 - Eric Mendelsohn Fig1.38:Corner condition which creating a volume Fig 1.39: Only angles that are nearly right angles pack successfully Fig 1.40: The range of possible corners F Fig 1.42: Spatial juxtaposition and interpenetration

1.41: Kaufmann (Desert) House Fig 1.43: The most neglected but the heights attachment enwraps with it. Fig 2.1 Indoor out door relationships Fig 2.2 Indoor out door relationships Fig 2.3 Corner as a beginning point Fig2.4: Office environment Fig 2.5: House environment Fig 2.6: Extrovertly exists corner Fig 2.7: Introvertially exists corner Fig 2.8: Design strategies could be taken to get the maximum of surrounding land.

, Fig2.9:lnside the building-considering the psychological aspect Fig 2.10 Corner defines with perceptual boundary

Fig 2.11 Physically established corner Fig 2.12: Public private special relationship of a building Fig2.14: Office intimacy gradient Fig 2.13: Familiarity of space to the inhabitants and visitors Fig2.15: Intimacy gradient of house Fig 2.16: Radiating warmth of corner fire place Fig 2.17:Air-conditioned rooms Fig 2.18: Rear corner space of rural houses and settings is being devoted to the custom of hospitality Fig 2.19: Later use of rear side exterior corner space ;"Pila" Fig 2.20: Transition of use of corner space from domestic

environment to public use Fig 2.21 Den; its relationship with the wilderness of nature, but not with surrounding inhabitants Fig 2.22: In side of a den Intimacy gradient have been symbolised with the sketches Fig 4.1: sketch plan of beira Fig 4.2: Cross sectional sketch though junction.

* Fig 4.3 Proposed sectional sketch Fig 4.4: Descriptive sketch upon demarcating side volumes Fig 4.5: Complete volume of spatial entity that has been.

Demarcated by adjoining buildings. Fig 4.6 Accessibility is easily provided. Fig 4.7 Accessibility through alley Fig 4.8: Circular segment of forming a pocket Fig 4.9 Activity growth circle around space Fig 4.10:Corner spaces forming an activity pocket. Fig 4.11: Forming of alleys Fig 4.12 : Form and alley way with corner concerned volumes: Fig: 4.13: Maintain the oneness with regard to the concept of

canter enclosure and continuity. Fig 4.14: Quality of a den with darkness Fig 4.15: Quality of a cell with lacking visual and physical

* permeability Fig 4.16: contribution of corner space to create an alley Fig 4.17: spatial volume create a part box. Figure 4.18: As the same intensity of light reduces upwardly,

sudden emerge of light over the bottom darkness

A STUDY OF THE PHENOMENOLOGY OF THE CORNER TO RE-EVOKE

THE NEGLECTED URBAN SPACE

ABSTRACT

For an analytical study from cell to atom it is essential to study the

bond between atoms for a sure realization of criticality, where as for an

example water holds its all unique characters from the origin of life towards

well being of the being, because of its inter atomic bonds; the nature of

attachments in between two atoms; the hydrogen bond. Likewise when

considering an analytical study about urban environment especially in urban

fabric; its existence and disregard with the human attachments and

behavioural patterns. It would be interesting to investigate an elementary

feature that will hold the character, comfort and fantasy of urban environment.

Pockets, alleyways, squares, edges and comers etc. could be found, as

elements of urban environment. Urban pockets alleyways and urban pollution

has been previously discussed. But comers: spaces have been neglected as

. an under layered elementary feature to other aspect. It acts a major role with

regard to urban pollution such as garbage points, unethical service generating

points etc. likewise not only the materialistic pollution, but also attitudinal

pollution occur parallely with the rapid advancement of urbanization. Even the

attachment to adjoined land and ongoing streets is seems to be neglected.

Likewise abandoned comers exist unknowingly at the in between spaces of

the built structures. Hence this study mainly focus on external comer spaces,

its quantitative and qualitative attributes to maintain it as a positive space, and

its potentiality to become a negative space.

Corner is simply an engagement of two adjoining planes. This may exist

vertically or horizontally, the characters of marrying surfaces will govern the

character of the newborn space: the comer space. When this occurs with the

engagement of exterior surfaces of the same building or with the allocation of

adjoin buildings, the comer space would be named as exterior and

extroverted corner space. Like wise at the same manner introverted and

interior comer may exist. The basic generator of corner space may act

1

positively as well as negatively. However, Bachalard's, (1969) explains the

introverted comer (the corner existing within the houses and neighbourhood

units) as a "negation of the universe" because it most commonly

accommodate once isolated mind set and contracted set of thoughts with its

characterise darkness and safety hiding places physically. But on the other

hand it is an excellent observatory point as well as a place of generating new

thoughts and timeless intimate meeting place with limited attachments.

ii

INTRODUCTION

A study of the phenomenology of corner to re-evoke the

neglected urban space

A study of the phenomenology of comer to re-evoke the neglected urban space

INTRODUCTION

OBSERVATION

With the rapid urbanization and city development neglected urban

spaces have been left as result of urban oppression, pollution..., etc. Most of

the disregarded urban spaces have become negative destructive places as

• Major garbage points

• Spaces of crime occurrence

• Places of vandalism.

• Places of generating in human generic patterns & political

violence.

Above stated problems mostly emerges within the urban fabric infill.

(Within the ill-treated wounds in between object buildings.). Shanty dwellings

and squatter settlements are widely spreading with the above stated negative

points. Disasters and danger occur mostly because of prevailing nobody's

land. So the nobody's land has to be every body's land. Phenomenology

of comer is being selected as a theoretical explanation to engrave the sense

of Belonging towards the urban fabric.

CRITICALITY

When considering a historical overview and cross-cultural survey,

concept of corner is being used in several meanings with the cultural

variations and time factor. Above all social aspect of it changes from

introverted space (house .), to extroverted space (urban fabric ) when

considering social hierarchy.

• " cwSecS ©a> t$£? " - Socially disregarded or

never come into Limelight

• "®€> ©cafe}®" - For goods kept in safety.

• • "SO ©5«53®"- For a girl limiting the attachments with

opposite sex and culture the feminine attitudes onwards.

Introduction 111

A study of the phenomenology of comer to re-evoke the neglected urban space

Social impact of corner presence is discussed even in folk songs: CDC&ecD 6a> &S)a<£ c p g © © ' © ( ^

q®cd<S 5 0 ®© cpq> O© ©®'@®' ®Sfi>a>05 © c £ fi©<30> ©C©'®©'

&©<2 q>«i5 g>0 ctcdcd) @§)©*e©'

"A women wearing a blue sapphire on the necklace whilst rubbing the

tree lines on her neck said "though the fortune of a women lies in the corner

of the winowingfan at times it tend to hang on decaying branches of a tree""

The three lines on the neck of a woman used to be considered as a

sign of prosperity and blue sapphire on the necklace shows the wealth.

Corner of the winnowing fan is the place where heavy (values) gathers

departed from light (impurities). Decaying branch is something that tends to

be lost forever. In above verse sometimes "kunu mulla (where wastes gather

and allow values to be hidden)" is used instead of kulu mulla. According to

these social terms how ever corners has been identified as places where

' treasures are hidden to be discovered or to be discarded.

Though this relates to comers inside the house when differentiating the comer

spaces from indoors to out door, corners nooks and edges have been left as

nobody's land, mostly because of the oblivious placement of built structures

and secondary adding features to the built fabric. But the future potential also

lies in the same track as the oblivious urbanisation to be dealt with

underground rails etc. Overall darkness, dark corners and nooks, un

acquirable land, dead spaces in between built structures may continuously

prevail leading to the urban pollution. Therefore due concern has to be paid

for a solution for this present and futuristic pollution of both materialistic and

attitudinal.

As a whole for introverted spaces comer mostly treated as secured safety

place. But with the extroversion comer most commonly has become places of

danger. Mainly because those have been ill treated within the urban fabric. All

comers have become garbage points and place of danger, which are existed

iv Introduction

A study of the phenomenology of comer to re-evoke the neglected urban space

Introduction

in urban infill with the haphazard development. Future tendency of existence

of ill-treated comers with the introduction of underground rails would be a

major issue. The blame is mostly put on the shoulders of town and country

planners, sociologist, politicians...etc. But above all what ever the tyrannical

mows and ploughs of urban design, it is to be mentioned that the built

environment it self is a political system of its own rights.

INTENTION OF THE STUDY

The intention of this dissertation is to explore etiquette on behalf of

architecture to make the profession exonerate from other compatible fields

while engraving the essence of every body's land and sense of belonging

towards urban fabric.

In relation to the previous observation disasters, danger and pollution

occur mostly because of prevailing nobody's land and also with the increasing

potentiality of oblivious urban growth. To obliterate this quandary, nobody's

land have to be every body's land.

Corner and its phenomenon are being selected as an overwhelming

but the most simmering special type, as the media to explore etiquette. As in

the tangible point of view it is the most neglected special type, but with a slight

touch could achieve a lot.

JUSTIFICATION

Though the architecture seems neglected, in such a huge problem it has a

major role in urban designing and city development. To day is the high time of

witch the implication is needed. The corner phenomenon and its implications

are selected as apart of curative process of urban wounds with the aim of

rectifying the destructive neglected spaces into more constructive places.

Thereby adding human to urban fabric that touches the deeper feelings of

soul and transplant the aesthetic sense for the nations continuity and on

behalf of architecture.

A study of the phenomenology of comer to m-evoke the neglected urban space

Architecture is a combination of art and science it is important to

maintain the significance of both equally. But what is truly happening is

scientific aspect prominent while obliterating the aesthetic part, which is the

most essential for the long lasting human habitation. To stop this urban

disaster, surface on going process has to be stopped and have to add

humane to the urban design. That aesthetic part could be recognized as the

architectural implication of studying the essence of a situation: to study the

nature of attachments in relation to the selected situation. (Comer and

comer space) that is to study the phenomenon of that situation.

Phenomenology is to study the description and classification according to that

occurrence (formation of comer and comer space) this portion of the study is

identified as the artistic part of the architecture. Then the study proceeds

onwards to study the existence of that selected situation. An rectifiable

curative process according to the science to engrave the positive impulse of

the phenomenon at the same time maintaining the other issues such as

planning and designing strategies. This can be identified as the scientific part

of the architectural solution.

This study proceeds with the artistic way of identifying the essence and

a scientific way of engraving the essence towards its existence. Hence the

architectural approach to a situation is then completed.

Comer has been defined in Gaston Bachelard's poetics of space

as 'the sure place, the place next to ones immobility. The comer is a sort of

half - box, part walls, part door, and that will serve as an illustration for the

dialectics of inside and outside.

Categorisation is given by Bachelard in his poetics of space

several spatial types that enhance human solitude; and controversial mind

set which has the both ways of turn it towards positive as well as negative.

There are shells, cellar, and corner.

This categorisation is basically done in relation with the engaged

intimacy with them. Some of them are fully intimate and introverted and

A study of the phenomenology of corner to re-evoke the neglected urban space

Introduction VII

some of them are fully extroverted. So as a curing process of urban fabric

comer phenomena is being selected because of the sense of withdrawal of

outer space with the equal contribution of self expressiveness. So the sense

of belonging is radiate in high intensity with the perceptual boundaries of

phenomenological corner.

So the characters and qualities of this phenomenon will govern the

neglected space in to more constructive space than destructive.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

In this dissertation introductory description is given about corner

space, and each and every type of existential corners, theoretical basis of

forming a comer space with it's controversial existence but the studies have

been extended over exterior corner spaces which exist at urban built fabric

within Colombo city.

This study is limited only to the potential expansion of comer space

towards alleyways and pockets , though the descriptive study about alleyways

and pockets have already been completed in several years and the scope of

study would widen with limited time duration.

METHOD OF STUDY

The study projects towards the neglected urban spaces mainly the

comer and its implications. (Edges as an extension of comers, pockets as

expansion of comers, e t c . . )

To identify the causality of urban neglected spaces in relation to human

mind set patterns with its resonating deepest feelings of soul, and transplant

> aesthetic sense to urban. Fabric, analytical study of corner phenomenology is

considered, which is quoted from the spatial classification from poetics of

space by Gaston Bachelard.

A study of the phenomenology of comer to re-evoke the neglected urban space

Introduction V l l l

Intimacy of space as a code of engraving the phenomenological part in

to physical fabric to reverberate it in resonance with the scientific and the

aesthetic aspect in Architecture to add human to the neglected urban

cityscape.

Finally a role of a positively treated corner to an urban built fabric is

mentioned and illustrated in regard to local and foreign examples.

(Photographic explanations)

• Key phases of the study

• Controversial use of corner space

• Potential expansion of corner spaces as an alleyway

• Potential expansion and composition of corner space as pocket

Case study one - Negatively treated comers in terms of articulation and

formation within Colombo inner city

Case study two- Positively treated comer and comer space in terms of

articulation and formation with the photographic illustration of local and foreign

examples.