AbstractsGeography &GIS

The void is a complex urban existence that challenges our cultural perception of value and productivity. Seemingly empty of apparent worth and a symbol of a past now broken, architects and urban designers approach the void as space of emptiness that needs to be filled. Current uses and functions of the void are rendered invisible in this scenario. This thesis explores the aesthetics and perception of the fragmented urban form and accepts that vacancy is a natural and useful part of the evolving urban condition. It uses Foucault’s concept of Heterotopia, or other places, to re-frame the void as a useful cultural entity that is already filled with opportunities for diversity and possibility in urban life. By analyzing the ways in which people appropriate the void in their daily lives, the void is conceived as a reactive component in the urban fabric, rather than a passive ground surface. The project intervenes in a void located in downtown Cincinnati. The design ultimately aims for a sensitive engagement with the site and to provide for alternative programs in the realm of everyday life.