Tactical urbanism and the reactivation of residual spaces : reviving Ain Mreisseh's socio-cultural heritage -

Abstract

Everyday spaces are spaces in transition, spaces responsible for creating new social arrangements and forms of imagination (Crawford, 2010). Crawford praises an optimistic approach that aims at “reclaiming elements of the everyday that have been hidden in the nooks and crannies of the urban environment.” These are shaped in residual spaces which are marginal and not usually considered as valuable changing elements in the urban life. This thesis looks at this part of the social and human discourse of urbanism, where lived experiences become more crucial than physical forms in defining the city. The frequent changes in the built environment and the demographical shifts of the neighborhood of Ain Mreisseh have affected the livability and socio-spatial relations of its inhabitants. In an attempt at enhancing social interaction in this area and empowering its residents to preserve its socio-cultural heritage, this thesis investigates Ain Mreisseh’s residual spaces, the everyday spatial practices of its inhabitants, and the different ways in which people appropriate space. Through relating these analytical layers, the thesis explores possible ways of employing “Tactical Urbanism” tools to answer how design processes can foster social exchange and strengthen the sense of community identity in everyday spaces. “Tactical Urbanism” is employed to achieve neighborhood empowerment and the activation of residual opportunistic spaces using short-term, low-cost, and scalable interventions and policies. This thesis also highlights the existing neighborhood potentials in relation to tactics which can dictate and-or affect long-term development strategies. These layers are focused on supporting potential urban knots and creating opportunistic areas for social encounters and community development.