finding sustainability in urban lost spaces
Lost spaces within Edinburgh
Contemporary urban environment is characterised by the loss of order and presents a disjointed, fragmented and inconsistent image, as the urban fabric is missing its coherent flow. This happens mainly because of the fact that new landscapes emerge within the post industrial city endangering its physical and social function, mainly mentioned in the relevant literature as lost spaces. Trancik defines them as “the undesirable urban areas that are in need of redesign; antispaces, making no positive contribution to their surroundings or users”.
Their existence within densely built urban environments is crucial, as they can become containers for viable solutions that reuse existing land and infrastructure, having a decreased environmental impact and providing energy savings and social benefits, such as amplifying the uniqueness of an area.The environmental aspects of lost spaces have not been studied so far to a great extent under the sustainability point of view.
This project is seeking to provide a new model of analysis of lost spaces within the urban context in order to explore their potential as sustainable transformation elements.Its application on specific case studies in Edinburgh will allow testing its suitability.
Their existence within densely built urban environments is crucial, as they can become containers for viable solutions that reuse existing land and infrastructure, having a decreased environmental impact and providing energy savings and social benefits, such as amplifying the uniqueness of an area.The environmental aspects of lost spaces have not been studied so far to a great extent under the sustainability point of view.
This project is seeking to provide a new model of analysis of lost spaces within the urban context in order to explore their potential as sustainable transformation elements.Its application on specific case studies in Edinburgh will allow testing its suitability.
Towards a new method of analysis and the methodology for testing it
In order to shape the new method of analysis a specific theoretical framework was critically examined (sustainability guides and theories of urban spatial analysis). Although the guides examine sustainable directives, they tend to treat the sites as individual objects, isolated from their surroundings. The second part of the theoretical framework examines three relative theories of urban spatial analysis that Roger Trancik (1986) developed in order to examine lost spaces. The two main parts that shape our method of analysis complement each other, as both of them on their own are considered to be incomplete for our study. The criteria that will be used cannot be considered to be definitive or exhaustive, as different approaches may address the matter in a considerably different way. The fact that some of the indicators are qualitative and not quantitative makes the analysis even more complex, as does the fact that lost spaces lack specific and typical characteristics.
These theories are applied in this way in the study area and the findings of this application will be explored in depth in the second stage. As the analysis goes into more depth, there is need for further improvement of the criteria. After the means of analysis have been established, a historical evolution study will be conducted in order to provide the appropriate data on the development and relocation of the industrial use in Edinburgh.
Historical development/ Specification of the study area/ Learning from the past
Historical develeopment of Edinburgh. Specification of the industrial areas and their relocation
The historical development analysis will examine an area of the city that featured industrial activity, and consequently created lost space through the relocation of the aforementioned activity, which will constitute the study area.
Stage I/ The analysis of the study area and detection of nodes of lost spaces
Matrix of the main diagrams of the analysis
After applying the new method of analysis and study of the area under the three categories, some basic conclusions emerged. There are non-viable everyday environment for
the local community,no public spaces and no pedestrian and bicycle lanes. The social dissolution is evident. Finally the area lacks of a specific character (genius loci). The most important finding was the identification of five nodes of urban lost spaces.
the local community,no public spaces and no pedestrian and bicycle lanes. The social dissolution is evident. Finally the area lacks of a specific character (genius loci). The most important finding was the identification of five nodes of urban lost spaces.
Stage II_ Analysing the sustainability of the found lost spaces within the study area
3d dimensional representation of the urban lost spaces
The five lost spaces were analysed under the refined sustainability criteria in order to explore their potential for transformation. In some cases there are already some redevelopment plans taking place, mainly residential projects.
Their availability in natural resources, such as the sun and wind, the quality of soil or the percentage of rain, as well as their treeless land, indicates the existence of their environmental value.Their redefinition within the urban fabric by the implementation of new uses that will be addressed to all the members of the community could assist to the creation of the missing linking and social networks. This could also provide sufficient public spaces within the area and along Leith Walk, and at the same time create the desirable by the residents social walking and cycle schemes. Their analysis proved that all the case studies are located in close proximity with existing green infrastructure and the reuse of the case studies can be such that will aid to reestablish the missing interrelationship of them. Moreover, the high social value that has been detected in case studies one, four and five (regarding the historical leftover infrastructure) can aid the enhancement of the area’s local character. Additionally to this, all the case studies are related to spaces where social interaction is evident.
Recommendations about the sustainable redevelopment of the lost spaces and the study area. A sustainability network
The proposed network.
The official treatment towards the examined lost spaces should alter and instead of individual interventions, a holistic one should be provided, which would have been more beneficial for the entire area. A creation of a network with interconnected public green and social public spaces that makes use of the existing land and infrastructure could constitute a more viable solution for our study area than the official proposed ones.
This intervention can provide a solution with low environmental impact and energy savings, by making use of the least possible means. Moreover, by mixing public spaces with the existing uses within the urban context of the study area will help minimize the transportation needs and preserve the quality of air and the natural environment and biodiversity of it.The area can be transformed into a sustainable district where the residents can work, live and spend their leisure time in compact and well-interconnected communities.
The intervention will aid the urban fabric to regain its compactness, which is a goal of the new proposed model for sustainability. The redevelopment of the area will have benefits on the city scale as well. By this, Edinburgh can become a more competitive city according to the new needs that globalization dictates, having “new” district with a unified character that differs significantly from the static image of the old city center.
This intervention can provide a solution with low environmental impact and energy savings, by making use of the least possible means. Moreover, by mixing public spaces with the existing uses within the urban context of the study area will help minimize the transportation needs and preserve the quality of air and the natural environment and biodiversity of it.The area can be transformed into a sustainable district where the residents can work, live and spend their leisure time in compact and well-interconnected communities.
The intervention will aid the urban fabric to regain its compactness, which is a goal of the new proposed model for sustainability. The redevelopment of the area will have benefits on the city scale as well. By this, Edinburgh can become a more competitive city according to the new needs that globalization dictates, having “new” district with a unified character that differs significantly from the static image of the old city center.
Master's Dissertation /// University of Edinburgh/// individual project. August 2011.