The Art of Jaywalking: a Contemporary Approach to Interaction, Creation and Ownership in Public Space
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2014-01-31 The Art of Jaywalking: A Contemporary Approach to Interaction, Creation and Ownership in Public Space Dmuchowska, Natalia Dmuchowska, N. (2014). The Art of Jaywalking: A Contemporary Approach to Interaction, Creation and Ownership in Public Space (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/28010 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/1356 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY The Art of Jaywalking: A Contemporary Approach to Interaction, Ownership and Creation in Public Space by Natalia Dmuchowska A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN CALGARY, ALBERTA JANUARY, 2014 © Natalia Dmuchowska 2014 Abstract The recent loss of interaction in public space has been a topic of debate amongst scholars, architects, urban planners and municipal authorities. This project was undertaken with the initial task of increasing interaction in and within public space. It was imperative to understand the current status of North American public spaces as well as the psychological importance of individual and collective needs for it. A group of radical, avant-garde artists known as the Situationist International theorized various approaches to encouraging awareness of the spaces we dwell in and deemed the term psychogeography: a method of re-contextualizing and learning about the urban realm through the construction of situations. Public experience and expression were at the forefront of their work and led to the final and most pertinent concern regarding public space – boredom. This Master’s thesis therefore turned into a study of expression and ownership of public spaces and is concluded with one design solution titled The C.I.T.E.E. Project. ii Acknowledgements Although my gratitude cannot be expressed through a few sentences I would like to sincerely thank my supervisor Barry Wylant for allowing me to learn and grow throughout my time in EVDS. Thank you for encouraging me to research and write this thesis my way and for guiding me through the mishaps and wrong turns. Arun Jacob, I hope that one day I will be able to reciprocate all the time you spent talking me through the original idea, working out the conceptual framework, sending me pertinent articles to review, and your constant encouragement. Finally, a great thanks is dedicated to my fellow EVDS thesis students, my family, my friends who volunteered on a cold October night, Maggie and Jenny for their meticulous edits, and all those who listened and helped me work through the hardships and bad grammar. Thank you all for your patience, unceasing support, and constant encouragement. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ........................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... iii Table of Contents .......................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................ vi INTRODUCTION: The Art of Jaywalking ....................................................................... 1 CHAPTER ONE: The Anatomy of Public Space ........................................................... 4 Public Space ................................................................................................................. 4 The Decay of the Urban Realm ..................................................................................... 6 The Active Life ............................................................................................................ 20 Fostering a Place for the Collective ............................................................................ 24 CHAPTER TWO: A Radical Approach to Urbanism ................................................... 33 The Situationist International ....................................................................................... 33 A Brief History of Thought and Action ......................................................................... 35 The Situationist City .................................................................................................... 44 Constructing Situations ............................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER THREE: Art and Public Space ................................................................... 56 Public Art ..................................................................................................................... 56 Public Art as a Facet of Government .......................................................................... 59 Psychogeography and Art ........................................................................................... 62 iv CHAPTER FOUR: Dissecting a Contemporary Art Festival ..................................... 76 A Case Study .............................................................................................................. 76 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 78 Sample of Featured Exhibits ....................................................................................... 84 Review of Event and Findings ..................................................................................... 89 CHAPTER FIVE: Designing Solutions ........................................................................ 92 Overview ..................................................................................................................... 92 Design Brief ................................................................................................................ 96 The C.I.T.E.E. Project ................................................................................................. 97 CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 109 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................. 112 REFERENCES: Figures .............................................................................................. 124 APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................ 129 APPENDIX B ................................................................................................................ 162 v List of Figures Figure 1: Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, Canada, 2011 ............................................... 4 Figure 2: Aerial View of GTA, Ontario, 2013 .................................................................... 7 Figure 3: Traffic Congestion, Toronto, Canada, 2013 ...................................................... 8 Figure 4: Map of +15 Skywalk in Calgary, Canada, 2013 .............................................. 11 Figure 5: Map of Toronto's PATH Underground System, Toronto, Canada, 2013 ......... 11 Figure 6: Murals in Belfast Commemorating Violence Between Protestant and Catholic Communities, 2012 .................................................................................... 16 Figure 7: Partial Map of the Internet IP Address Connections, 2006 .............................. 17 Figure 8: Kevin Lynch's Paths, Edges, Districts, Nodes, Landmarks, 1960 ................... 26 Figure 9: Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada, 2012 ........................................................ 28 Figure 10: Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada, 2005 .................................................. 28 Figure 11: Kensington Market, Toronto, Canada, 2012 ................................................. 30 Figure 12: The Forks, Winnipeg, Canada, 2008 ............................................................. 31 Figure 13: Cover Art for Debord's Society of the Spectacle, 1952 ................................. 34 Figure 14: Isidore Isou, Self-Portrait, Metagraphics,1952 .............................................. 38 Figure 15: Paris Streets in Rainy Weather by Gustave Caillebotte, 1877 ...................... 39 Figure 16: Street Poster Favouring May 1968 Uprisings, Paris, France, 1968 .............. 43 Figure 17: Illustrations of Psychogeographic Hubs, The Naked City, Guy Debord,1957 ............................................................................................................ 46 Figure 18: Abstract Visualization of New Babylon Nord, Constant Nieuwenhuys, 1971 ......................................................................................................................... 50 Figure 19: Ai Weiwei's Bicycle, Toronto, Ontario, 2013 .................................................. 57 Figure 20: Statue of Saints Norbert of Xanten, Wenceslas