Reading Socio-Spatial Interplay - Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i ...

R E A D I N G S O C I O - S P A T I A L I N T E R P L A Y P A R T 1abstraction of the structural model and focus on the architectural systems as“products”:Firstly, I will make a description of the architectural systems of thesucceeding growth zones seen as historical products of the situation whereinthey were laid out.Secondly, I will make a description of how the architectural systems lateron have transformed, by way of identifying aggregated patterns ofmorphological change.My perspective is that the spatio-functional logic embedded in spatialorganization represents systems of possibilities and constraints for differentconducts of life, affecting repertoires of socio-spatial practices and encountersituations. The term socio-functional logic refers to the way architecturalelements are spatially organized as systems to define repertoires of more orles private and public spaces, and integration and segregation of activities andsocial categories of users – both between and within different scale levels:dwelling units, buildings, blocks, neighbourhoods, urban areas, city orregion. Different architectural systems have different ways of dealing withspatio-functional integration, both in terms of ranges of functions/activities(integration/segregation) and social categories of users at differentgeographical levels (spatio-functional hierarchies):Architectural spaces can be functionally integrated in different ways, atdifferent levels. Apartment layouts are, for instance, spatially organized indifferent ways to integrate or segregate the activities of the householdresidents: In an open plan apartment, activities like cooking, eating,children’s play, work/homework, discussions, relaxation, etc. take place inthe same architectural space – although more or less organized in zones.Bathroom-activities are usually segregated from the activities of the mainshared space of the apartment, but both bathroom- and bedroom-spaces andactivities may be more or less integrated with the main shared space,depending on how they are organized in relation to each other and how doorsor sliding walls are placed and designed. In other kinds of apartment layoutsactivities may be completely segregated: separate kitchen, dining room,living room, study room, children’s room, etc. The configuration of thedifferent rooms may also be more or less functionally specialized, making itmore or less difficult to switch uses and activities. Apart from the size of theapartment and the number of residents (which may be similar in twoapartments with different layouts), the functionality of the more or lessshared spaces of the apartment will also be affected by the residents’possibility of laying activities to other spaces, for instance within the vicinityof the apartment. The different principles of spatial integration illustrated bydifferences in spatial organization of apartment layouts reflect different ideas118